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Post by willow10 on Aug 25, 2010 15:33:02 GMT
wonder if anybody could help with tips or suggestions??? i have a 5year old tb ex racer mare,up until 6 weeks ago she was severly head shy as shes had an injury or abuse to her head in the past,the problems she has are many lol!!!.....she is petrified of any traffic,slight noise or clicking sounds etc,eg if my lead rope clip catches the gate she will spin an run off petrified,shes a handfull to lead will often try and spin or rear ,so i bought a monty roberts headcollar and bridle and she now leads easier.....she lunges fantastic ya can put saddle and bridle on fine but soon as ya come tpo mount her she bucks bronks rears spins u name it she does it!!! any ideas?? shes had her back teeth and saddle checked and all is fine,i have put her on cool calm and collected but no real improvement in 8 weeks x can any1 recommend a calmer so she isnt as nervous,any suggestions with any of the above much appreciated x
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Milliesmum
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Post by Milliesmum on Aug 25, 2010 15:38:25 GMT
I don't know if anyone else agrees, but I would chuck her out for a couple of months!!! Sounds like she just needs to be a horse and chill for a bit, then when she comes back in I'd start again from scratch. Groundwork first and then literally re-back her one step at a time. I know it sounds a bit drastic, but given the time it will be so rewarding when she eventually bonds with you and comes round to your way of thinking.
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peds
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Post by peds on Aug 25, 2010 15:52:55 GMT
I agree with MM, she certainly sounds like she needs to lose her race head. My old ex racer was just like your mare. I turned him away for 3 months, he still had a routine but no work. I bought him back into work on the ground first, lunging and walks in hand etc.
It took a long time for him to be 'normal' but he got there. I sold him on and he's now eventing.
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Post by willow10 on Aug 25, 2010 18:54:17 GMT
hi thanks for replys she has been out of racing 16 months due to a cut behind her heel that required stitches,so was turned away for 13 months and brought back just in hand and lungeing,she was then sent to be rebacked and even they found her a handfull an unco operative:( so shes out again at the moment on dr green and just a handfull of calmer chaff to put her calmer in xx
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Post by mountainsandhorses on Sept 8, 2010 20:57:32 GMT
Hi there, I have an ex racer and I understand how heartbreaking it can be when it appears they have lost their mind. I spent ages ( 4-6 months) handling my mare first. I wasnt focussed on getting on board I just wanted her happy. The main things I realised were that she had big gastro issues and the racing world can "girth" very tightly so even rugging worried her. I also learned that she needed to learn to eat roughage all the time and not have a big high calorie feed several times a day followed by prolonged periods of an empty stomach so the above advice about turning them out works. My real break through was through a "monty" style approach of her treating me as a horse leader. I think TBs are even more sensitive to horse talk as they are taught to run as a pack. When I got to the stage where she followed me round like a big silly dog I one day got on in a headcollar and took her out to the field as I would every day. PLEASE NOTE I am not suggesting anyone do this but for me it felt right and she was happy about it. Over the next couple of weeks I exchanged the headcollar for a bridle and here it became more complicated bt the ore I relaxed she did. The culmination was me taking her into the school and observers asking where I had got my new dressage horse from!!! She was totally responsive and willing...I ran out and bought a double bridle and started researching local BD centres. When I came to get her saddle fitted we went back 50 paces- just the fastening of the girth invoked a different animal where before I could get collected 10m circles in a numnah. A saddler got me the best option saddle i could find but I have never really relived those girth free steps. I did put her on several calmers in addition to acid- ease (at great cost) changed bits etc and |I found in the end the following formulation was best; an elasticated girth which only really are made by wintec, feeding some before riding to line stomach, slowly girthing up and warmin up/having little chats about schooling for as long as it took in the school (we could be there for two hours doing baby steps of walk trot transitions but to rush this wastes days rather than hours) The top spec calmer helped her lots when stabled. Continuation of ground work which we both seem to enjoy. Sorry for going on but everyone laughed at me with Gunna and it was only people like TRC who really seeemd to understand. Guns is now in foal as that was the intention when I bought her- she has no genetic mind problem she's just finding it hard to switch careers. The mare went around a course of 2ft showjmps indoors last year at trot- i think everyone thought I was mad as the grin on my face was as if we were at HOYS. Good Luck!
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archiepoo
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Post by archiepoo on Sept 9, 2010 15:58:56 GMT
hi i had the same problems with an ex racer an i agree its best to turn away and start again. i also am a fan of valerian cordial made by lincoln as a calmer as it really works with highly strung horses, takes the panic out of them and was the only one that made the slightest difference, also i feed alfa A with sugarbeet and no hard feed at all .its the same calories as cool mix or you can use alfa A with oil instead which is the same as conditioning mix for weight gain. most important be careful ! good luck.x
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Post by hollycane on Sept 9, 2010 20:32:18 GMT
agree with MM and Archiepoo in that even though this mare has apparently been turned out she has still had a change of routine and needs more rehab in her new home. I've used the Valerian cordial with great success and also had issues with girthing and gettting on but found changing the routine to just tacking up and then taking it all off again with a big pat and reward for a while helped. So removing the association that tack always equals work. If she has ulcers or gut problems the release of adrenaline acidifies the stomach and she will hurt so associates this with anything that makes her tense. Best of luck as this sounds like a massive challenge.
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Post by lillicob on Sept 15, 2010 8:49:25 GMT
Is this the same mare you have advertised for sale?
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Post by willow10 on Sept 15, 2010 17:23:05 GMT
yes but have found out yesterday.....this mare was sold to my niece under false pretencies....she has never actually raced infact she has never even been broken properly hence why she is probably a handfull!!!! my niece is so upset,all she wanted was a horse of which saved for to bring on and ride and these have just taken the mickey with her xx
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Post by boots & saddles on Sept 16, 2010 11:02:11 GMT
trying to sell her on is just passing the buck, i feel sorry for the horse, and someone is going to get hurt in a minute, now you know she has not been broke ect give her some chill out time then start again, why dont you see if you can get someone to help you possibly natural horsemanship stuff its been very good for a few horses i know that have had issues, dont give up on her thats what every one else has done by the sounds of it ,ask for help there must be someone in your area that can help you, i have just been give a tb very skinning full of worms and lice poor excuse of an animal that was not wanted, i dont know what i will do with him when hes well but would not try and pass him on until i know that hes going to be safe for someone to deal with, i could not sleep at night knowing id stitch someone up, there are some ruthless people out there ,its a shame that all your saving went on a unsuitable horse geting them vetted is the answer and looking at them being worked etc helps. i hope you can sort out this mess you are in but remember its not the horses fault, wish i was nearer to you id help you out for the sake of the poor horse. xx
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Post by sageandonion on Sept 16, 2010 11:46:14 GMT
Having read your post and your ad, this is a difficult and stressful situation.
Anyone taking on an ex-racer or tb with issues must realise they are taking on a big commitment and must want to do so. If they then find they are not able to fullfill their commitment for whatever reason it is important to do the right thing.
Have you spoken to HEROS or a similar rehabilitation place, that would be best for your horse.
I notice from your ad that you will not take less than £500. I am not being disrespectful, but your nieces horse really isn't worth anything, she is a time and financial drain at the moment, she needs buckets of both.
You should forget money, try to rehome her to people with the correct experience, both for her sake and your own. A misunderstood tb can cause a serious accident.
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Post by willow10 on Sept 16, 2010 12:01:06 GMT
thanks for your replys.....if ya read they ad it says my niece is at college and doesnt have the time or knowledge to start from scratch with her knowing thats what she needs.she isnt dangerous in any way,she leads loads lunges,yes she is a typical flighty mare and needs someone with experience of thouroughbreds or breaking in.i wouldnt un truthfully sell her to anyone ....hence why i have put she needs the work or to be used as a broodmare.....and i wouldnt stich anyone up thank you!!!! they will be told the truth about her and see her as she is,so no im not passing the book to anyone there told what shes like are shown it,shown all her background history etc that we have.....its not passing the book its giving the horse a chance to have a better life knowing shes going to some one who knows how to train/deal/bond etc with her......of which she isnt getting with my niece as she isnt confident enough nor can she give the time she deserves x
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Post by willow10 on Sept 16, 2010 20:24:03 GMT
goes to her new home after viewing and vetting today!!!!
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Post by anotherdeal1 on Sept 16, 2010 20:55:05 GMT
I'm so pleased for you x
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Post by willow10 on Sept 16, 2010 22:24:14 GMT
;Dthank you x
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Post by boots & saddles on Sept 17, 2010 10:33:36 GMT
glad shes found a new home and the word is passing the buck not book, i did read, and my comments and opinions were not ment to be nasty, i was worried for the horses future.
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