Cross Breeds - Race horses?

Race horses?

Ok, I bascially want any thing and everything you know about riding race horses. I know I'll get a lot of race horses are great I've ridden loads of retired race horses but these ones are different. These horses are not well trained lesson horses. This is a follow up to that question about "I've almost lost confidence in riding help!" I've quit that stable but the other one I found only has retired race horses. I'm in a devolping country abroad and am about a intermediate riding level. I know to keep a lighter pressure on the reins and it doesn't take big kicks to get a canter so what else? Advice? Is it ok for me to ride race horses like this? If you've ever ridden horses that just retired plz tell me every thing. I need advice pronto! Thanks soo much! PLZ Give me advice! I really think that I could ride at this stable wit some help... You don't really understand the term "devolping country" I'm living in Azerbaijan! They don't train horses well here. The problme is I'm here for 4 years and feel that since I'm already 12 skipping these 4 years would make it impossible to have a career with horses. Is it better to ride a race horse freash off the track or a green horse that hasn't had training? I'm about intermidiate but am not sure what's best... If anyone has an idea what I should do help? You don't really understand the term "devolping country" I'm living in Azerbaijan! They don't train horses well here. The problme is I'm here for 4 years and feel that since I'm already 12 skipping these 4 years would make it impossible to have a career with horses. Is it better to ride a race horse freash off the track or a green horse that hasn't had training? I'm about intermidiate but am not sure what's best... If anyone has an idea what I should do help? You don't really understand the term "devolping country" I'm living in Azerbaijan! They don't train horses well here. The problme is I'm here for 4 years and feel that since I'm already 12 skipping these 4 years would make it impossible to have a career with horses. Is it better to ride a race horse freash off the track or a green horse that hasn't had training? I'm about intermidiate but am not sure what's best... If anyone has an idea what I should do help?

Public Comments

dont give up
If you are talking about riding race horses just off the track. Give them 60 days of walk/trot. Horses just off the track do not really know what leg means and slow down much better through half halts than hauling on the mouth. Basically when a horse comes off the track it should be treated like a horse that has just started under saddle. They need to learn leg and many race horses will want to race when cantering near other horses. Working at walk/trot with other horses running around in the ring helps get this idea out of the horse's mind. Other than that, a lot of how to ride a race horse depends on the horse. I got on one horse the day he came to the barn and he didn't go faster than a lope - he had no racing heart, he was all pleasure. Others have the heart but not the body and one mare came off the track with multiple chips in her knees. Years later we could only do Western Pleasure with her, but she was really to quick for the show ring and couldn't possibly be a beginner horse. Another horse off the track was ridden by the beginners at the barn and I won Western Pleasure and trail classes on him (yes, he was a thoroughbred). Other horses have gone on to become beautiful hunter horses as well. So, you have to look at the horse's personality. Just don't get it into your head that just because they came from the track they are crazy and need to be ridden a 'special' way - they need some readjustment time, but then they should be able to be ridden like any other horse.
I've been riding a 5 year old mare for almost a year now. She's not a Thoroughbred so she's still not really mature. But the thing I've learned by riding her is you just have to be ready for anything. Be completly aware and pay very close attention to your horse, to see if it's giving you any signs of what they might do next. Good Luck ;)
Riding all horses is the same. I used to ride them when I was younger. It's all about the supporting rein and the teaching rein and the release of pressure. If you need further clarification you cam e-mail me.
I would suggest to start out on the most gentle one you can find, and build from there. I have had 3 barrel horses that were ex-race horses, they all 3 were completely different and handled all situations different. Pick one who's personality you enjoy and trust. Also the size of the horse can sometimes be intimidating. I'm 5'2" and prefer a horse about 14'2". It all depends onthe type you are comfortable with. Good Luck.
It is good that you have changed stables. I read your last question and felt that the horses that you were riding were not suitable. These retired racehorses seam calmer. Please do not rush your riding, being a good rider can take many, many years. Be calm, listen to your trainer, feel the horse you are riding and let him teach you. Have fun and just enjoy.
hi, since the animals are all leason horses and they are retired race horses, i would say just follow the intructors lesson plan. i highly doubt they will be green tb's used in a stable for riding lessons. it sounds like they are ordinary lesson horses that would be safe for you ride and enjoy lessons on. doesnt seem like advice on riding a green tb is necessary here. hope you can get a slot at the stable and enjy your lessons!
If you are riding at a stable and these are retired race horses they must have been through some retraining. As no one would let someone with out experience ride one that had not had some retraining. As a race horse they do not know any leg cues. They have been taught to grab the bit and use it for balance. They have been taught that even pressure on both reains pulling back means go faster. They are not used to anyone sitting on their backs. Once they have had some retraining work they are able to be ridden like any other horse. I have one know that rides both English and Western. He can neck rein and will stop with a word. You do not need to kick them at all to get canter mine all canter or go up a gait when clucked to or asked to trot. If these horses have not had some retraining they are not suitable for general riding until they have had training. Race horses are trained and ridden totally differently than saddle horses are.
I think racing is the downfall of the thoroughbreds.
I work at a racing track and own a retired racehorse myself. Racehorses are trained to run and only run, believe me i exercise the thoroughbreds on the track and once they're on the track they want to go and once they're in the gate they're anxoius to be let loose and when the gate opens......they need no encouragement. If the new stable you are at has ex-racers which are fresh from the track then i'd probably steer clear or if you really want to ride them, then you will have to retrain them and basically teach them all of their aids and the biggest thing is to teach them to STOP:) retraining just off the track throughbreds is not easy, i won't lie to you as some have different personalities and had different trainning schedules.first of all, A thoroughbred in racing has a high energy diet. Everything is designed to provide the horse with the fuel they need to train and race. There are no horses outside of the racing industry that are expending the calories a thoroughbred does on a daily basis while in training. The horses food intake must be reduced gradually or the sugar level in the diet reduced, this will help reduce the energy levels of the horse to make them concerntrate. The horses are stalled when they are not training, or racing. They don't get to "blow off " energy with their pasturemates. Pent up energy is a good thing to have in a race horse. It's a bad thing in most every other discipline. It is manifest in undesirable traits like aggression, and "hot". So make sure the horse you ride or look after is mainly out to pasture and keep him/her out of the stable as much as possible. A horse in training has a very specific daily/weekly routine that they get accustomed to. In the repetition of the regularity of their day they are at ease, and more relaxed. Change this routine and they will become uncomfortable, and nervous. Change is not always good in a horses mind, and they require time to learn the new routine and become accustomed to the new enviorment. Our horse used to breeze himself every morning in the pasture. 45 minute sessions of continuous movement that included, breezing, pacing, sprint intervals, warm downs. he did this by himself, alone. Why? This, I believe, was his way of re-establishing a "norm" in his routine to help him cope with the stress of the change in enviorment. Mad i know, but the best you can do is re-establish a new routine, that is less rigorus, but still works the horse into a light sweat and do a warm down always! just walk round never just stop after hard work as it is bad for the heart, a tb heart must regulate by warming down otherwise its bad for the horses health..you probably knew that:) When riding make sure that you have someone holding the horse when you get on and make sure you have a firm grip on the reins before they let go. You're right in saying it doesn't take big kicks to get into canter, so try not to kick at all, try squeezing and using t pressure as aids to move the horse as well as voice commands. Before riding i would recommend that you work the horse out on a lunge line for 30 minutes before hand, as this will reduce energy levels. also when asking for different gaits, ask for them by voice commands, but you must train the horse to respond to these aids. and use the voice commands when riding. When you start riding make sure you ride in an enclosed area, no long stretches just yet. Just walk them to start with and do keep the contact light, but when you want the horse to halt don't be too firm on the contact use half halts to stop the horse, as some TB's are trainned to go against the bit and move faster, but if you are still struggling to halt the horse or if you come into problems either use the one rein stop or spin the horse in circles until it comes to a halt and praise them. If the horse shows any signs of distress then get off, because they tend to be a bit flighty at first, but once the horse has calmed down remount, so the horse doesn't think its found a way to get you off its back. Just take everything step by step and be patient, it took me nearly a whole year to establish all of the gaits and get some normality into the horse:) it takes time but it pays off in the end. good luck, if you need anymore help please feel free to email me!