Rehoming ex-racers?

[spike]

To those of you on here who have done this all before......advice needed by a new member.

I have owned an ex-racer before but she had been out of it for over 10yrs by the time I rescued her so Im not sure my previous experience now applies.

Is there any difference in re-homing between flatrace horses and NH racehorses?

When people talk about re-training am I correct in thinking that this is to teach them to bend etc etc.....or am I totally wrong and is it re-training them not to be fast lunatics who run in a straight line only!?

Any advice greatly appreciated

[ldf]

in my experience exflat racers tend to be more tricky as all they know is going fast - and from a very young age, hundlers/national hunt tend to be started later, and most have a more varied raining regieme.

Retraining refers to getting them let down from racing, and the start to teach them you accept a rider riding with a longer leg, different saddle, teaching them to understand the leg, different rein aids, to halt and stand, to use all the paces and then to bend and accept the bit - abd for many stand at mounting blocks etc.

This does not apply to all, but is a general idea.

Hope that helps

[spike]

Thank you that helps a lot but also now makes me wonder if I'm up for it. It is NH horse that is a possibility. Perhaps I should either forget about it completely or find someone who would be able to help me do that. Yikes!

[ldf]

:'(if its your first time I would suggest an experienced friend and a exracer sympathetic instructor and if you are on a yard - probably a thick skin too, but the rewards out weigh everything, where are you from?-oops just seen you are from Aryshire

[Eleanor]

In general NH horses are easier to retrain as they have never been taught to be coiled up like a spring ready to zoom. Most flat horses do tend to only know how to go forwards in a straight enough line rather fast - but not all are like that. NH horses are taught to go slower, preserve their strength and build up stamina. They also tend to be much easier to collect onto the bit and work in a school as they will have done all of this in their jump work. Most are taught to gallop long and low as well, not with their heads sky high. The only problem with a jumps horse is that if you want to jump you have to come right back to basics to teach them to jump slowly - which will result in quite a few "flying hurdles" until they get the idea. Flat horses would need taught to jump from scratch so they would probably be easier in that respect.

In theory the re-training process just involves getting the horse to chill out and accept its new life - whether it be a Grand Prix dressage horse or just a quiet happy hacker. What level of re-training you give your horse entirely depends on what you want to do with it.

Don't give up just yet, your perfect horse might just be in the yard around the corner!

[spike]

Thank you people! Think I'm a bit pre"mental" at the mo hence the crisis in confidence.

Just been reading another post on here about training of new horse - Leon.....LisaH had a great reply.

So, perhaps if I looked to just do loads of hacking over the winter and only a little bit of pootling round the arena with very, very brief spells of trying for an outline etc so that the muscles aren't in pain etc and basically just progress at the pace suited to the horse.

And find a racehorse freindly instructor to train me or the horse.....or eventually both!!

I loved my last TB and she had her wee flaws.....at least I'm used to them moving off before your backside is in the saddle.....see my sense of humour is coming back!

Ta peeps

[gillybounce]

Spike - I never thought I'd have an ex-racer - never in a million years. I thought they'd be way too hot for me - I'm a mad-keen rider, but not skilful and certainly not technical. I'm also not the bravest, so you'd definitely say I wasn't a great candidate for an ex-racer. However - I have two. And I love them both to the max. They're very different in character, they can be challenging but - OH SO fulfilling. I wouldn't swop either of them for the best schooled, most obedient, schoolmaster/mistress in the world.
And boy have I just set myself up for a fall! I'll probably get bucked off tomorrow after all that!

[lolly68]

Spike like Gilly I have several horses of which 2 are ex-racers, I have had one for 17 1/2 years and he is now 21 years old and the other just a little under 2 months and he has recently turned 7 yrs. I have found TBs to be intelligent, wonderful horses, and I have found patience and a kind voice helps considerably. I find patience, a calm manner and a kind understanding is important where ex-racers are concerned whether on the ground or on board. You have to give them respect. As far as I am concerned, reschooling starts from the basics of handling and ground work, leading halting etc then moving onto schooling on board.... remember taking your time has major benefits long term.....

I am in Ayrshire so if you ever need any help or an ear just email away....

[valerief]

:)When I got Todd,he was my first ever horse that I'd owned.I only ever owned ponies when I was younger,plus before I got Todd I'd had a 10 year break from riding.I must have been mad.

Todd raced over fences as well as on the flat.When we rode in company and we had a canter he did at first to try and race the other horses but he did settle after a while.With his jumping he tended to rush his fences cause that's what he was used to doing so I took him right back to basics with poles on the ground and grid work plus lots schooling work.Getting the balance and rhythm right in the end has worked wonders with him.

I've had him 7 years now and we have taught each other so much and I wouldn't change a minute of it.

They are all different and come with there own wee quirkes but would also try and get advice and help from someone you know.

[pippi]

Hi Spike, where abouts in Ayrshire are you? There are a few of us on here from Ayrshire, I'm from Galston.

I don't have a huge amount of time to teach these days but would be happy to help you as much as I can.

I've retrained a few ex racers and broke and brought on a good few youngsters so may be able to help. The main thing is getting the right horse for you. LisaH is the lady who will match make you a horse which would be suitable, you just need to give her some more info on your experience, good luck! Xx

[lisah]

Hi Spike

The main ingredients for successfully re-training an ex racehorse are a willingness to make changes to how you do things, a willingness to look for help, patience to give them time to trust you and understand what you are trying to show them, and going into it all with your eyes wide open with no expectations of a 'quick win'.

In your post you have demonstrated all of these qualities, and there is a wealth of knowledge and experience on here for you to dip into, nobody pre-judges or says 'that was a stupid question' etc - we all have a love for these horses and are willing to help in any way we can.

Just look at some of the people on here and how long it has taken them even to get started with the basics, but they stuck to it, took it slow and are now reaping the rewards of a fabulous partnership together :-)

So, now all we need to do is find you that horse or - as always happens - the horse will find you :-) Pippi is just up the road from you so she is there for the 'on site' help and encouragement, although you have had a TB before so you will already be used to their superior intelligence and need to be papmered

Let me know if you need any help looking :-) And we look forward to welcoming your new forever friend into the fold soon :-) :-)

Lisa xxxxx

[flash98]

:(Spike,

I am a bit like you when it comes to this as my boy has been out of racing for 5 years and has been in a riding school for some of this time and i had no idea he was an ex racer until he started digging...however don't be too hard on yourself as even if they've been out of it for a while it's still not an easy thing to do.
There is not a days go by that Flash doesn't fight some aspect of what i'm trying to do with him. Although he's been ridden (as in "schooled" ridden) for about 4 years now, he is still very much new to it and has never been ridden to the kind of standards you need for dressage, ie accepting the bit and working in a proper outline.

I've had him 18 months now (god time flies) and it's taken me until the last few months to start to achieve what i really want out of him. I wasn't even looking for a horse and if i had been i prob would have bought a Highland or a Freesian However Flash found me and i'm now a TB convert. I think people think because i got him from a riding school that he'd be a school master and it's easy hahaha defo not the case. Being in a riding school was probably the worst thing that could have happenned to him as it's made him even more stubborn. He's my first horse, although i've ridden since i was little, it's been very much a learning experience for both of us. I wouldn't change it for the world though and he's my forever boy. I love the fact that i know i've changed him and didn't realise quite how proud i'd be that he's an ex racer .

So i'm sure you have more experience than you give yourself credit for and i hope one day when i have a place of my own that i'll have enough experience (and bravery ) to take on some of these chaps who need a home so badly. Plus i know i always have the forum crew to help me out

I hope you find what you're looking for

[flash98]

Oct 15, 2009 22:35:59 GMT 1 pippi said:

Hi Spike, where abouts in Ayrshire are you? There are a few of us on here from Ayrshire, I'm from Galston.

Ooo that's where Flashy came from, the lady i bought him from stays near you in Darvel

[Fleur]

Thank God I'm too fat to ride my two flat racers then! Ha ha!

Good luck Spike. Lots of patience and lessons and I'm sure you'll be fine.

[liberationsquare]

Hi Spike, where in Ayrshire are you? Im also in Ayrshire jsut out side of Ayr infact. I do alot of teaching but if you need any advice - or in most ex racer owners some reassurance then jsut drop me a PM. I also know of some very good local instructors.


When I fisrt got piggy we did some hacking and got him used to being in a school, jsut take every day as it comes, there is no right way of retraining our babies.

Have sent you a PM


H xxx