Re: re training race horse - hates pressure from bit, any advice pleaes

I got Lara into condition with Soft & Soak a soya based feed as she was BC2 in a very bad condition, it worked well but many things were working against me unfortunately as she had a very hard life but I made her last 12 months lovely with the TLC she had never had she died with a twisted gut RIP. she was a lovely loving horse.

TB from Newmarket

Zoboomabo - thank you for your help and advice.

We tried to use a grooming box tonight, as he tends to put his head up when putting the bridle on, he wasnt impressed and was scared, pulling backwards so, lots of work with that I think.! He was better tonight when Grace mounted from the side block but, you have to let go as soon as she gets on his back, otherwise he gets rather scared and excited at the same time and I worry he shall go upwards! - We have switched his bit to a hanging cheek french link which I think he prefers. We have been lunging for the past 3 days with side reins and he didnt object at all, so its not the pressure on the mouth that I was worried about, as the side reins were quite taut, its more psycological I think when you are on his back and put pressure on the rein/bit. We have been concentrating under saddle doing circles and bending as he is soooo stiff and reluctant to bend at all, almost scared of doing it. I do have a Dr Cook bitless bridle funny enough, but of course, you cant use them for dressage or showing classes which she wanted to do with him, as her previous horse was very good at dressage. We took him out yesterday for a hack for the first time, and I walked next to my daughter as I was worried he would explode etc, and not sure what he has seen in the past, i.e. is he used to bikes, pheasants or cars? He was actually pretty good, power walked with head up high and when we turned at the end of the road to return to the yard, he didnt jig jog or pull at all, so, very pleased. I know we have a lot of work to do and I have the teeth man booked in, he should be coming to see me within the next fortnight, just to check out if his teeth are ok.  Do, these type of horses ever get used to going into an outline, being comfortable with pressure from the bit? - Its difficult to tell at this stage as he is unfit and has no topline or stomach muscles at all. I cant fault his personality, he has been a total poppet on the ground, not strong at all, very vocal though, neighs all he time at other horses! - He is still getting used to lots of turnout as well, as previuosly he went from the horse walker to the stable, from what I understand. His previous owner is lovely and I have kept her up to date, she was honest from the start and said he was green and needed more work, but I think I didnt realise how much work until we got him home, I was bowled over by his kind gentle nature more than anything. I have looked at the persoa on line but, it scares me how to even begin to start with it, there are so many straps LOL ! -

Retraining racehorse

I also have an Ex racehorse which resisted the contact , wouldn't bend or stand to be mounted . I had his teeth , saddle and back checked . I changed his bit from a single jointed snaffle to a snaffle with a rounded lozenge which he muched preferred .I use a half sheepskin nummnah as saddle pannels were too firm for his sensitive skin even though saddle fits correctly .

Told by Equine Sports massage therapist to keep him rugged up unless particularly warm day as thoroughbreds are very thinned skinned and sensitive souls which get cold easily. Cold muscles get easily tense and tight . Also told to do carrot stretches with him everyday down between front legs and round either side of him so he stretches around you to help stretch his back muscles .

I have been doing Parelli ground work with him before i ride to help with relaxation in the school . It has also helped with the mounting and he now stands still and doesn't move off before i ask . I think it probably works two fold by warming him up before riding and asserting your leadership . It has also helped with lateral flexion and he can now bend his head round and put his nose on my toe staying relaxed whilst riding where as before he would set his neck against you and brace .

As i understand it racehorses are taught to run in straight lines so not use to bending or being flexible and that picking up the contact means lean against it and go faster ! The rehabilitation of racehorses have a website that you might want to have a look at .

I would advise against trying to stap him down or forcing him into an outline as this may make him freak out depending on his nature. I have long reined mine which helped to teach him to come down into the contact without the weight of the rider and has the advantage of using similar rein aids as to when riding that lungeing doesn't .

With your horse having no top line he will be very weak and find it hard so i would only do any outline work for short periods with lots of rest and stretching down , as tired muscles will get sore .

Most of all have lots of patience they are lovely affectionate horses who deserve a bit of TLC and relaxation now they are out of that high pressure enviroment .

Re: re training race horse - hates pressure from bit, any advice pleaes

firstly - yes, get everything checked and also a back person/chiro out to give him any 'tweaking'.

remember a racehorse isnt trained to bend, he is trained to do straight - thats all he knows so the muscles on either side will need to be completely started from scratch.

when you lunge him, only do 5mins each side at first encourage head long and low for stretching and build up the time in walk etc.  when riding, do nice big circles each side to get suppleness and work the side. again, use pessoa, side reins etc.

my ex-racer is 4 1/2, only raced on the flat, but because they have done work its easy to forget that they only have very basic riding skills and everything else is racing skills. you need to think of him as a fresh youngster being backed for the first time and really get the lunge and long reins on him for a while and then start riding the very basic schooling.

i hack my baby out to get him used to the big wide world, but so far we are still only doing flat schooling in walk and transitions walk-halt-walk, 20m circles, serpentines, some poles to get him to look and think where his feet are going, getting him used to the correct aids, pressure on poll and bit, tension on reins dont mean go faster, etc etc.  lateral work riden and especially in-hand is valuable too.

only last weekend we went to a XC fun ride, his first time out and at any type of event meeting other horses/people since the race yard (we had loads of lameness and tendon issues most  of the year so not much riding), just popped over a few small jumps and logs, some small canters etc, and this wknd went to a TREC to see the different types of obstacles. so you dont have to be strict with not riding him when going through the process, just think start from scratch but still do hacking and fun with him too. prepare for bumps and cuts, mine is very accident prone learning where to put his legs and feets plus hedges etc lol. we ride in a drop cheek french link when out at an event, when hacking or schooling he has a fulmer lozenge. id stay away from single joint snaffles as they usually have nice soft mouths and dont want to spoil that and they are usually raced in loose ring rubber mullen mouth type,

wont change him for the world, its defo not been as easy as having them from a youngster untouched and a fresh canvas but it is still very rewarding :)