TicTac
Well-Known Member
What is the best way to start to re-train them as convential riding horses, both from a schooling point of view and hacking out.
My new horse is an ex chaser and allthough he has been out of racing for just over two years and hunted since, he has limited knowledge of ' school' work.
Since I have had him, which is 3 weeks today, I have started to introduce the pessoa to him and am currently lunging him about twice a week for short periods, at trot only at the moment. He has the odd moment where if he doesn't want to fo forward, he sticks his head up and runs backwards for a couple of steps before he realises that he's pulling against himself and relaxes. He's a big horse and has a lovely soft mouth, standing 16.3 and a good solid type but at 11, doesn't have the correct back muscle yet and seems prone to ' loosing' a hind leg every now and then, I think more from weakness than anything else. I hope! He does have some pretty substantial scarring to one of his hind legs, probably from racing.
After his pessoa work today, I encourage him over some trotting pole on the ground but took the pessoa off as he wasn't too sure about the poles at first. He actually seemed happier out of it and eventually went over the poles very nicely. I also always finish a lunge session with a bit of in hand flexing and lateral work which he has picked up extremely quickly. He does love praise and reward.
Im not in any hurry to rush this horse and I do have a physio coming to check him over next monday more as a pre caution. But I wouldn't be surprised if he's a bit sore somewhere. He was vetted prior to purchase but IMO that doesn't really mean much other than he showed no lameness.
Out hacking he can become a little keen and does the same thing with his head as on the lunge, only shooting forward but again the running martingale, (which I use more for safety) comes into play and as soon as he realises his head cant get too high, he softenes.
I know I must put an element of faith into him and learn to loosen my contact if he gets a bit fizzy, but there is alot of horse there and instinct can sometimes take over!!
So any advise from those of you who have been there with these types of horses would be much appreciated. Thank you
My new horse is an ex chaser and allthough he has been out of racing for just over two years and hunted since, he has limited knowledge of ' school' work.
Since I have had him, which is 3 weeks today, I have started to introduce the pessoa to him and am currently lunging him about twice a week for short periods, at trot only at the moment. He has the odd moment where if he doesn't want to fo forward, he sticks his head up and runs backwards for a couple of steps before he realises that he's pulling against himself and relaxes. He's a big horse and has a lovely soft mouth, standing 16.3 and a good solid type but at 11, doesn't have the correct back muscle yet and seems prone to ' loosing' a hind leg every now and then, I think more from weakness than anything else. I hope! He does have some pretty substantial scarring to one of his hind legs, probably from racing.
After his pessoa work today, I encourage him over some trotting pole on the ground but took the pessoa off as he wasn't too sure about the poles at first. He actually seemed happier out of it and eventually went over the poles very nicely. I also always finish a lunge session with a bit of in hand flexing and lateral work which he has picked up extremely quickly. He does love praise and reward.
Im not in any hurry to rush this horse and I do have a physio coming to check him over next monday more as a pre caution. But I wouldn't be surprised if he's a bit sore somewhere. He was vetted prior to purchase but IMO that doesn't really mean much other than he showed no lameness.
Out hacking he can become a little keen and does the same thing with his head as on the lunge, only shooting forward but again the running martingale, (which I use more for safety) comes into play and as soon as he realises his head cant get too high, he softenes.
I know I must put an element of faith into him and learn to loosen my contact if he gets a bit fizzy, but there is alot of horse there and instinct can sometimes take over!!
So any advise from those of you who have been there with these types of horses would be much appreciated. Thank you