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Post by audra on Mar 16, 2010 18:08:58 GMT
hi... does anybody have any experiences with ex race horses.. how to let down, feed, re schooling etc.. any help and advice would greatly appreciated ♥
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Post by hollycane on Mar 16, 2010 21:32:21 GMT
Find out exactly what it was fed, how much exercise it had and what it's routine was before you get it home if you can. And very importantly find out if it was ever turned out, some never are and can freak out when you turn them out for the first time. It will take a month to let it right down but less if you want to keep a level of riding fitness. You need to change the feed from high energy to high fibre over a long period of time, again about a month. Immediately cut down on oats or maize. Swap any high energy nuts for ordinary H+P over time and bulk out with wet sugar beet and chaff. Keep the feed wet to help prevent colic. Don't do too much schooling to start with. Just pootle about to help reduce fitness, if its stinking fit it won't be able to cope with going round in circles. If you can, ride it gently straight from the field rather than the box. Most racehorses have good mouths, try draw reins gently to encourage a shape. Go back to long reining if you can and lungeing to encourage straightness and also suppleness. TBs are the best horses in the world.
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lilly
Junior Member
Posts: 130
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Post by lilly on Mar 20, 2010 19:39:41 GMT
I agree - ex racers and tb's are lovely horses and often so misunderstood. In my experience i have found that the years spent hustled and bustled about on the racecourse has affected them.
i have found that gently does it and until they have switched off in their brain from racing nothing constructive can really happen.
they are a joy to own and my current ex racer looks so grateful to be in a quieter home.
i love him to pieces - i might not be so gushy after the show season he will probably freak out
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Post by masonsmummy on Apr 11, 2010 14:00:54 GMT
hello, i have an ex racer and i started really slowly. when he was relaxed and ready for schooling i did lots and lots of long and low work so that he could stretch his neck down and get his back and rear end moving in a different style to what he was used to. After a long time maybe 6 months i started taking a contact and went from there. he has a lovely soft mouth and is really willing to try anything.
good luck and bets wishes, you'll have loads of fun
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Post by kobey on Apr 13, 2010 18:15:00 GMT
;D ;DAgree with the about gently does it, they hate to much hussle n bussle n really enjoy a quiter life.
I got my lad 2 years ago and just turned him away and just bonded with him on the ground, then we gradually started hacking lots hacking infact, gradually added in schooling and everything else over the year, and now me and him such a bond, i can do anything and take him anywhere.x
Everyone is shocked when i tell them hes a exracer.x
Summer feed - handful top spec conditioning cubes hanful dengie high oil chaff and all summer turnout
Winter feed - 2 mugs top spec conditioning cubes 1/2 round scoop dengie high oil chaff 2 mugs soaked dengie sugar beet
I keep my boy in every night the first winter and i struggled to keep the weight on him, even with 4 feeds a day, but this winter i turned him out all winter with proper rugs on and only 2 feeds a day and add lib hay he looked great all winter.x
Good luck any other questions just ask.xxx
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Post by bonnieheather on Apr 13, 2010 21:21:58 GMT
I worked with race horses, and can't speak well enough about them. For all the bad press TB's get, for being mad, spooky, etc, etc, I can't say a bad word against them. These horses were fit, fit, fit, fed on oats and race horse cubes, and they were the most well mannered, calm, polite, pleasant horses I've ever worked with (after working with SJ's, eventers, studs, pacers). They see so, so much, all the travelling they do, the races they attend with screaming crowds, banners, flags and all else, whilst in the peak of fitness.....they are truly amazing creatures......good luck with yours, I'm sure you'll have lots of pleasure!
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Post by audra on Apr 17, 2010 20:33:52 GMT
thank you all for your lovely comments. you have given me hope with him kobey are you on face book?? x
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