Compared with other areas of horsemanship, there are surprisingly few reference books available on the retraining and rehabilitation of retire racehorses. ( Though I'm working on it !)
The two main ones are:
Buying and Reschooling Ex-racehorses by Christopher and Victoria Coldrey
The Coldreys are acknowledged experts on breaking and schooling horses, as well as running their own successful race training yard. In this book they pack their wealth of expertise into 112 pages, illustrated with both diagrams and photographs. They cover everything from 'Finding Your Horse' ( where to look, what to consider and discount), then the early stages of retraining, and through to pole-work and riding away. The Coldreys are strong advocates of loose schooling, and give a detailed account of how it works with ex-racers. The book is full of helpful detail and sound common sense, and is a source of encouragement when you and your ex-racer have just had another set-back. ( I know !)
Reschooling the Thoroughbred: How to Buy and Retrain a Racehorse by Peggy Jett Pittenger
I have to confess I haven't read this one myself - it's not in the bookshops, and with a pricetag of £88.25 ( around $120 ) my local library refused to buy it in ! Still, you can sometimes hit lucky and pick up a cheaper copy on Amazon. Reader reviews are mixed. Some say it's great, and packed full of helpful information. Others say it has little new to offer to those who already know thoroughbreds. But then, many people don't - but want to learn ! Next time I come across a bargain copy I shall buy it for myself, anyway - on the grounds that there's always more to be learnt and, with my memory, I need regular reminders in any case !
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Why have an Ex-racehorse ?
There are several reasons why non-racing people have ex-racehorses, including:
They didn’t know it was an ex-racer when they bought it – it was described as a hunter/jumper/happy hacker etc.
They wanted a Thoroughbred mare to breed a foal from (only recommended for long-term investors with a deep gambler’s streak.)
They saw a thin, nervous horse at a sale and felt sorry for it. ( Later may feel sorry for themselves.)
They saw it as a way of getting a decent horse on the cheap .(Big mistake. Huge.)
They have a crush on the vet and want a good excuse for numerous visits
They enjoy challenges, falling off, and recounting hair-raising tales in the bar.
Not all horse-lovers are suited to ex-racehorses, and vice versa. Ex-racers have got themselves a reputation for being ‘difficult’ – and they very often are. But, in the right hands, they can become the most wonderful, responsive and rewarding horses. And ‘the right hands’ could very easily be yours, if you are prepared to be patient, to learn, and to give these amazing creatures a chance.
They do have a lot going for them, from the outset. They have speed, stamina, high intelligence and sensitivity, courage and willingness, versatility in both aptitude and performance, good, strong, dense bone, and elegant conformation – all desirable qualities in a riding horse. And, ex-racers come in a variety of types and sizes, from 15-hand ladies’ hacks to hulking 18-hand steeplechasers that could ‘jump a house and race a train’. So, if you are seeking a high-hearted, do-anything riding horse, you could easily find an ex-racer to suit you.
In addition, horses that have been in race-training yards usually have excellent stable-manners, - good to groom, lead, bath and plait etc. They tend to stand quietly for the farrier whilst being shod, load and unload easily from transport, and to be good in traffic ( at least when ridden out in company.) Any racehorses that do not fit these traits will have real issues to be dealt with ! (Professional trainers and stable staff do not have time, or inclination, to go pussyfooting around naughty horses. A racer has to be a real star to get away with misbehaviour. Generally, obedience is required.)
Of course they have weaknesses. Thoroughbreds - especially racehorses – can be highly-strung to the point of neurosis. They are notorious for having weak, crumbly feet. They are not hardy, being thin-skinned and fine-coated. They have small mouths and need careful bitting.
The racehorse – especially for flat-racing - will have been broken and worked at a far younger age ( 2 or 3 years) than most other horses. So, he may well have problems related to both physical and mental immaturity. Also, he is likely to have been trained in quite large, business-focused establishments – so he may be institutionalised, very reliant on routine, and not used to being petted.
He will have been broken in quickly, and given none of the patient flatwork schooling that a private pleasure or sport horse could expect. Consequently, he is likely to have an ‘un-made’, unresponsive mouth, and will interpret any pressure on the reins as a signal to go faster, not slow down. He may be unused to riding out alone, and become anxious if asked to do so. And he may never have met other horses coming towards him. Riding out with his companions, though, he will either want to lead or follow the string - whatever you yourself may have in mind. If he had any bad experiences racing, he may become a nervous wreck when anything reminds him of the racecourse. And if he enjoyed his racing ( which many do) , such reminders will urge him to give it another go - which may not be in your plan ! Then you may experience the infamous ex-racer repertoire of bucks, spins, bounces and rears.
A racehorse is not often left tied up - so do not try leaving your ex-racer tied to a ring or trailer until you've practiced this safely a lot ! And racehorses are not trained to stand still - even when being mounted ( jockeys are legged-up into the saddle). Your ex-racer is only used to going forward, and simply will not see the point of keeping still. The commands 'halt' and 'stand' are not in his vocabulary. Neither will he understand about going round in 20 metre circles - a ridiculous and frustrating notion, in his mind. On the other hand, he will be used to running round a large circular racetrack - usually left-handed - so he is likely to be one-sided in his mouth and body muscles, and these will need gradual remedial work. In addition, he will only have been ridden with stirrups at jockey-length ( even during training) so he may well feel uncertain and uncomfortable when he first feels a rider's legs stretching down his sides.
And yet …all of this negative stuff can be overcome with patience and careful management. A few weeks chilling out in a meadow, followed by sympathetic re-training, can work calming wonders. Poor feet can be strengthened by remedial diet, careful farriery and, if possible, a few months going barefoot. And even a delicate TB can, over a period of time for acclimatisation, become hardy – and hairy! – enough to winter out.
Once persuaded to stop being a racehorse ( though he will never entirely forget !) the ex-racer can shine in any discipline – showjumping, eventing, dressage, endurance riding, hunting, showing, even sidesaddle and western riding. Some ex-racehorses, due to their exceptional sensitivity and intelligence, can actually make wonderful therapy and assistance horses. They are increasingly being used in programmes of physical and mental therapy, training for confidence building and communication skills, and even in the rehabilitation of inmate offenders in prisons.
Many more, like mine, become pure pets, ‘happy hackers’ and occasional special-outing horses, loved and cherished by doting owners who recognise and value a very special, hard-won and mutually sustaining bond.
Why have an ex-racehorse ? Why on earth not ?!
They didn’t know it was an ex-racer when they bought it – it was described as a hunter/jumper/happy hacker etc.
They wanted a Thoroughbred mare to breed a foal from (only recommended for long-term investors with a deep gambler’s streak.)
They saw a thin, nervous horse at a sale and felt sorry for it. ( Later may feel sorry for themselves.)
They saw it as a way of getting a decent horse on the cheap .(Big mistake. Huge.)
They have a crush on the vet and want a good excuse for numerous visits
They enjoy challenges, falling off, and recounting hair-raising tales in the bar.
Not all horse-lovers are suited to ex-racehorses, and vice versa. Ex-racers have got themselves a reputation for being ‘difficult’ – and they very often are. But, in the right hands, they can become the most wonderful, responsive and rewarding horses. And ‘the right hands’ could very easily be yours, if you are prepared to be patient, to learn, and to give these amazing creatures a chance.
They do have a lot going for them, from the outset. They have speed, stamina, high intelligence and sensitivity, courage and willingness, versatility in both aptitude and performance, good, strong, dense bone, and elegant conformation – all desirable qualities in a riding horse. And, ex-racers come in a variety of types and sizes, from 15-hand ladies’ hacks to hulking 18-hand steeplechasers that could ‘jump a house and race a train’. So, if you are seeking a high-hearted, do-anything riding horse, you could easily find an ex-racer to suit you.
In addition, horses that have been in race-training yards usually have excellent stable-manners, - good to groom, lead, bath and plait etc. They tend to stand quietly for the farrier whilst being shod, load and unload easily from transport, and to be good in traffic ( at least when ridden out in company.) Any racehorses that do not fit these traits will have real issues to be dealt with ! (Professional trainers and stable staff do not have time, or inclination, to go pussyfooting around naughty horses. A racer has to be a real star to get away with misbehaviour. Generally, obedience is required.)
Of course they have weaknesses. Thoroughbreds - especially racehorses – can be highly-strung to the point of neurosis. They are notorious for having weak, crumbly feet. They are not hardy, being thin-skinned and fine-coated. They have small mouths and need careful bitting.
The racehorse – especially for flat-racing - will have been broken and worked at a far younger age ( 2 or 3 years) than most other horses. So, he may well have problems related to both physical and mental immaturity. Also, he is likely to have been trained in quite large, business-focused establishments – so he may be institutionalised, very reliant on routine, and not used to being petted.
He will have been broken in quickly, and given none of the patient flatwork schooling that a private pleasure or sport horse could expect. Consequently, he is likely to have an ‘un-made’, unresponsive mouth, and will interpret any pressure on the reins as a signal to go faster, not slow down. He may be unused to riding out alone, and become anxious if asked to do so. And he may never have met other horses coming towards him. Riding out with his companions, though, he will either want to lead or follow the string - whatever you yourself may have in mind. If he had any bad experiences racing, he may become a nervous wreck when anything reminds him of the racecourse. And if he enjoyed his racing ( which many do) , such reminders will urge him to give it another go - which may not be in your plan ! Then you may experience the infamous ex-racer repertoire of bucks, spins, bounces and rears.
A racehorse is not often left tied up - so do not try leaving your ex-racer tied to a ring or trailer until you've practiced this safely a lot ! And racehorses are not trained to stand still - even when being mounted ( jockeys are legged-up into the saddle). Your ex-racer is only used to going forward, and simply will not see the point of keeping still. The commands 'halt' and 'stand' are not in his vocabulary. Neither will he understand about going round in 20 metre circles - a ridiculous and frustrating notion, in his mind. On the other hand, he will be used to running round a large circular racetrack - usually left-handed - so he is likely to be one-sided in his mouth and body muscles, and these will need gradual remedial work. In addition, he will only have been ridden with stirrups at jockey-length ( even during training) so he may well feel uncertain and uncomfortable when he first feels a rider's legs stretching down his sides.
And yet …all of this negative stuff can be overcome with patience and careful management. A few weeks chilling out in a meadow, followed by sympathetic re-training, can work calming wonders. Poor feet can be strengthened by remedial diet, careful farriery and, if possible, a few months going barefoot. And even a delicate TB can, over a period of time for acclimatisation, become hardy – and hairy! – enough to winter out.
Once persuaded to stop being a racehorse ( though he will never entirely forget !) the ex-racer can shine in any discipline – showjumping, eventing, dressage, endurance riding, hunting, showing, even sidesaddle and western riding. Some ex-racehorses, due to their exceptional sensitivity and intelligence, can actually make wonderful therapy and assistance horses. They are increasingly being used in programmes of physical and mental therapy, training for confidence building and communication skills, and even in the rehabilitation of inmate offenders in prisons.
Many more, like mine, become pure pets, ‘happy hackers’ and occasional special-outing horses, loved and cherished by doting owners who recognise and value a very special, hard-won and mutually sustaining bond.
Why have an ex-racehorse ? Why on earth not ?!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
For Queen and Country - Royal Ex-racer Recruited !
Yet another great career opportunity has opened up for ex-racehorses, encouraged by The Queen. First Love - once one of the late Queen Mother's favourite racehorses and now owned by Queen Elizabeth II - is joining the army.
Twelve-year-old First Love - a huge but surprisingly nimble brown gelding - enjoyed a sparkling racing career. He won nine races, over both hurdles and steeplechase fences, and in 2002 became The Queen's first winner over jumps in more than forty years. ( Some comfort there for less exalted owners !) First Love retired from training at Nicky Henderson's Lambourn yard in March this year, and is now moving to London to take up his new post with the Household Cavalry.
According to the Royal Stud at Sandringham, the plan is for First Love to take part in ceremonial occasions like Trooping the Colour once his retraining is completed. So much for all ex-racehorses being nutters ! ( Though I have to say, having watched the Queen's Birthday Parade on TV the other day, and seeing how beautifully behaved the cavalry horses were, I will be interested to see how an ex-racehorse copes with having to stand still for one-and-a-half hours ! The most mine can manage is fifteen minutes - on a good day.)
Twelve-year-old First Love - a huge but surprisingly nimble brown gelding - enjoyed a sparkling racing career. He won nine races, over both hurdles and steeplechase fences, and in 2002 became The Queen's first winner over jumps in more than forty years. ( Some comfort there for less exalted owners !) First Love retired from training at Nicky Henderson's Lambourn yard in March this year, and is now moving to London to take up his new post with the Household Cavalry.
According to the Royal Stud at Sandringham, the plan is for First Love to take part in ceremonial occasions like Trooping the Colour once his retraining is completed. So much for all ex-racehorses being nutters ! ( Though I have to say, having watched the Queen's Birthday Parade on TV the other day, and seeing how beautifully behaved the cavalry horses were, I will be interested to see how an ex-racehorse copes with having to stand still for one-and-a-half hours ! The most mine can manage is fifteen minutes - on a good day.)
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Miraed finally gets it right !
Just to prove even the most tricky of ex-racers do make progress - eventually !
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Meet Miraed
Thought it was time for Miraed to be properly introduced to you. You may remember her from earlier posts ( May 23rd, March 31st ) - my 9-year old brown mare by Project Manager. Miraed has lots of funky moves ( half -rear, sideways leap, camel-race plunge, full spin ) but I'm afraid formal curtsey is not among them. You may, however, be lucky and catch her with her ears pricked ( when she looks really rather pretty.) Unless she spots you pointing a camera, in which case you will receive only her most disdainful scowl. All our best prizewinning moments are recorded in pictures of Miraed a-flutter with rosettes and looking murderously bored.
She is actually quite well bred, in racing terms. Through her dam, Cherry Country, her line goes back to the great Arkle. Like him she was bred in Ireland to race over fences. Sadly, though, Miraed did not quite have Arkle's talent for it, and as a five-year-old she was sold cheaply at Doncaster Bloodstock Sales. To me. I bought her as a schooling companion for Dara, with the intention of selling her on when she'd been re-trained as a pleasure horse. She's not very big - about 15.3hh - and I knew she would make an ideal Riding Club horse for someone. But, well .....
She's taken a very long time to re-school. She's ornery and stubborn and wilful, with a mind of her own and an eternal Why? in her head. As in - 'Why should I ?' The old saying, 'tell a gelding, ask a mare' should be re-worded for her to 'negotiate patiently with Miraed.' She's not stupid - she's too darn clever !
Our first attempts at in-hand showing were comedy-on-legs, with Miraed bouncing all over, jumping on the judge, and knocking me over and running loose more than once. Later on when we tried ridden classes, it was frankly hilarious. I got used to hearing ripples of laughter and cries of 'Well sat!' as we careered round the arena in our distinctive runaway-camel mode. As I've said, sense of humour is vital equipment for anyone involved with ex-racehorses, along with a well-stocked First Aid kit.
And yet ....last year Miraed won riding club championships for Ex-Racer In-hand, Ex-Racer Ridden, Working Ex-Racer , and Handsome Horse classes (despite the scowling. ) Ok, so we are talking local riding club stuff here, not County Show or anything. But, heck! - it's great progress to me ! (Even if it has taken four years.) We have a table full of trophies, a wall full of red and blue rosettes - and some lovely recollections of fun times together. We've done unaffiliated dressage ( and came first once !), charity fun rides, hunting, and ex-racehorse parades. Now we've started jumping, which Miraed loves. As a rider, my showjumping days are long-gone , so I've brought in my friend Becky to partner Miraed in what I hope will be a long and enjoyable career as a working hunter and showjumper.
Miraed is still ornery and wilful - but we've kind of got used to each other, and I love her dearly. So, it looks like she's staying. ( Oh well, I never was much good as a horse-dealer.)
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Greatwood Lecture-Demonstration
If you're thinking about perhaps taking on an ex-racehorse - or have recently succumbed to this lunacy and already have one - and if you're within travelling distance of Marlborough, in Wiltshire, you'll be interested in the lecture-demo being held by Greatwood racehorse rehabilitation centre on Thursday 10th June at 6.30pm.
There will be a riding demonstration by Jamaican event rider Sam Albert ( who has already secured a place for the Hong Kong Olympics). Sam has had great success at bringing on former racehorses into eventing. He has a wealth of experience, advice and handy tips to help ex-racer owners get the best from their horses, whatever riding discipline they want to follow.
Also speaking will be Helen Yeadon, Greatwood's founder, and Dr Sven Kold, of the Willesley Equine Clinic, who is one of the UK's leading equine vets. A nutritionist from Dodson& Horrell will also be on hand to answer questions.
Tickets cost £5, plus 50pence for postage. Places are limited, so best to book beforehand by phoning Greatwood on 01672 514535.
I just wish I lived near enough to go ! Perhaps someone lucky enough to be there can send in a report on how it went ?
There will be a riding demonstration by Jamaican event rider Sam Albert ( who has already secured a place for the Hong Kong Olympics). Sam has had great success at bringing on former racehorses into eventing. He has a wealth of experience, advice and handy tips to help ex-racer owners get the best from their horses, whatever riding discipline they want to follow.
Also speaking will be Helen Yeadon, Greatwood's founder, and Dr Sven Kold, of the Willesley Equine Clinic, who is one of the UK's leading equine vets. A nutritionist from Dodson& Horrell will also be on hand to answer questions.
Tickets cost £5, plus 50pence for postage. Places are limited, so best to book beforehand by phoning Greatwood on 01672 514535.
I just wish I lived near enough to go ! Perhaps someone lucky enough to be there can send in a report on how it went ?
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