Strides for Success

Tag: ex-racehorse

  • Are You Ready for Training Your Horse?

    Are You Ready for Training Your Horse?

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    When it comes to being ready for training your horse, you probably fall into one of two categories.  The first one is filled with riders who genuinely believe they can do anything. And that they’ll probably be successful.  The second is the riders who really weigh up every pros and cons before making a decision.  And they often second guess themselves or lack confidence in their abilities.

    This is especially true when it comes to actually working with their horse. And the fear is that they will somehow ‘ruin’ or ‘untrain’ their horse. 

    You Are Already Training Your Horse!

    However, I think that it is important to remember that you are ALWAYS training your horse. Which really makes the question of it you’re ready for it, redundant! Each time you interact together, there is either the acceptance of the behaviour, or correction of the behaviour.  This is training. So, if we assume for a second that you are, right now, already training your horse, what can you begin doing today to help you get better results?

    This is the exact reason why, in riding schools or yards working with more inexperienced riders, the horses and ponies often need to be ‘re-tuned’.  Basically, more experienced and knowledgeable riders will regularly ride that horse and make sure that the basic fundamentals of the training are still in place and present.

    And this might be the very challenge, you’re experiencing now – you don’t have anyone to do the ‘re-tuning’ for you.  It’s just you and your horse – and you’re doing all of the training. 

    And that can seem very daunting.  But it is ‘doable’; if you are willing to follow a few simple guidelines that will help transform you from just a ‘rider’ (or a passenger), into your horse’s trainer. And I believe that your attitude to this is what really decides if you’re ready for training your horse – or not!

    Observation & Understanding

    Have you ever been working with your horse and thought something along the lines of “I wish he could just tell me what he doesn’t understand?” Believe it or not, your horse is really trying to.  It’s just up to you, as the person responsible for training your horse, to notice it. Developing a keen sense of observation and really understanding horse behavior (and more specifically, your horse’s behaviour, will help you get those answers.

    Observe your horse’s responses. Notice those tiny signs of change; in tension levels or relaxation, rhythm, or suppleness initially.  Then adapt your aids and approach.  It’s like learning a secret language between you and your horse. And, newsflash, you can begin working on improving this today :)

    Master Your Aids

    You have a secret power as a rider: your aids! Think of them as your superpowers—your legs, seat, hands, voice, weight, and even your thoughts.  Your aids can be blended in numerous different ways.  And it’s up to you to figure out what combination your horse responds to and understands.

    The great news is that you don’t have to be the world’s greatest rider to improve your aids.  You can start working on this today when on the ground beside your horse or on the lunge.

    Both will positively impact your aids in the saddle as well :) And help your horse to better understand your unique style and communication.  Being ready for training your horse requires you to find out more and go deeper. How can you develop your aids today?

    Timing & Feel

    Once you have developed a fair understanding and coordination of your aids, it’s time to work on both your timing and feel.  This will allow you to unlock a whole new level of communication with your horse.  However, it does require you to be pretty independent with your aids, your balance, position, and posture.

    It’s all about asking for responses at the perfect moment (without having to overanalyze the moment) and being able to tune into your horse’s movements and energy. 

    Problem-Solving Attitude

    Every rider needs problem-solving skills, and you’re no exception. And once you feel that you’re ready for training your horse, you will encounter behavioral puzzles or training roadblocks. Rather than getting flustered, understand that this is completely normal and just needs to be ‘figured out’.

    By paying attention to your horse and really getting to know both him and your abilities, you will soon be able to uncover the key issues holding you back. 

    And the more you understand basic training, the more you will develop the ability to apply some different, and maybe even creative solutions to keep your horse training moving forward.  This can also be a great opportunity to have a community of online or in-person equestrians, some of who will hopefully be more experienced than you, to turn to for help.

    Learn, Learn, Learn

    Keep growing your skills as a rider and a horse trainer.  Horse riding is never a ‘done’ thing.  In fact, as a rider and trainer, the learning never ends. Stay curious! Try out new training techniques, attend clinics or workshops, and be open to different approaches.

    The more tools you have in your riding toolbox, the more approaches you can take when working with your horse, and positively training your horse alone. 

    Ready for Training Your Horse

    So, after hearing all of this information, I’m pretty sure that you’ll agree that while training your horse alone might not be ‘easy’… It is definitely doable.  Especially if you are consistent, patient, and open to learning new things about yourself and your horse.

    And the great news is that once you get started, it actually becomes less daunting over time. And once you get a few successes under your belt, your confidence in your own training abilities will grow – and this will have a positive effect on everything else. Including your horse.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

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  • 4 Things You MUST Re-Train with Your Retired Racehorse OTTB

    4 Things You MUST Re-Train with Your Retired Racehorse OTTB

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    Ex-racehorse, a retired racehorse, OTTB; so many different names for a thoroughbred that has now begun their second (or third) career.  They are one of the most versatile breeds and, sadly, often one of the most misunderstood.

    I believe that there are 4 basic principles that you must work with your retired racehorse on, in order to set a foundation for everything else that follows.

    Being intentional about covering these 4 topics with your horse, regardless of how long they have left the track, will allow you to set your horse up for a wonderful 2nd or 3rd career.

    Expectations Have Changed

    It is easy to forget that, before coming to you, your OTTB has had many different expectations placed on him or her.  A lot of their current behavior is a result of this early and consistent conditioning they received while in training on the track.

    One of the greatest responsibilities we have when working with a retired racehorse is to help them understand that what’s now expected of them has changed. 

    It is also worth remembering that these changes are across the board.  Not just the whole ‘we no longer expect you to get from A to B as quickly as possible and before anyone else’ :)  You must find a way to explain what is acceptable behavior on the ground, in the stable, being led, and, of course, being ridden. And all of the other bits and pieces in between.

    Finding ways to explain the new ‘rules’ to your retired racehorse can be a challenge, especially when he does not understand your aids or ways of doing things. It requires time, consistency, and patience 

     1. Boundaries

    Boundaries are important in all successful and long-term relationships.  So it makes sense that they will also play a large part in your partnership with your retired racehorse. What is allowed, what is desired. And what is most certainly not!

    Before you begin explaining boundaries to your OTTB, I strongly suggest becoming clear with what you want (and, therefore, what you don’t want) first. 

    Is it acceptable for you if your horse walks around in circles while you are grooming and tacking up?  And what about mounting up? For many ex-racehorses, this would have been very common behavior while in training.  We pleasure riders, however, often don’t enjoy circling round and round!

    How about mounting up? Is it okay if your horse continues to walk while you mount up? Again, this is usually acceptable at the track – but not if you use a mounting block. 

     2. Aids

    The second big ‘re-training’ conversation you will definitely want to have with your retired racehorse is about aids.  His understanding of aids while at the racetrack will most likely be quite different to being a ‘riding horse’.

    I find it is key to pay particular attention to legs, seat, and weight aids when you are re-training your OTTB. The half-halt won’t work until he understands what you are saying and what you want him to do.

    So many riders complain that their retired racehorse ‘won’t listen’, or ‘runs away’ from their aids.  Is it possible that he simply does not understand what is being said?

    I find lunging to be invaluable when it comes to re-defining aids and understanding with OTTBs.  Couple this with very intentional use of the voice aids initially, and soon your horse will being to understand what it is that you want.

     3. Contact

    While contact is related to the above topic of your aids, it is important to realize that contact is also a principal in training. And to understand that your OTTB will probably have had a very different understand of contact when compared with yours.

    If the concept of contact has not been retrained or re-schooled with a retired racehorse, there tends to be a tendency towards heaviness and pulling.  Usually every time the rider picks up the contact. 

    Obviously, this is not what we want.  Who wants to be hauled on each time you try to start the conversation with your horse?! And yet, so many riders fail to devote the necessary focus and time on this with their OTTB.

    If you want to develop your retired racehorse correctly, the topic of contact will have to be redefined.  This is where correct retraining is essential.

    4. Leaving the Herd

    This is the one that many riders forget about when working with their thoroughbred in their new career.  And it is the one that can have pretty startling consequences if not visited early in his retraining! So many riders have a negative perception of retired racehorses due to this not being dealt with correctly.

    For most of his life, up to this point, your thoroughbred will have had ‘stay with the herd’ reinforced, both intentionally and not. Both at the stables and on the track… Stay with the herd.

    So it makes sense that if he finds himself either being ‘left behind’ while on the trail with his new pleasure rider, he will do all in his power to catch up!  The same applies if he is asked to leave the herd to go into a different arena (maybe for a round of jumping, or a dressage test!).

    In order to retrain your horse to leave the herd, he must become happy to be with you.  This is where trust becomes so important. Are you safe to stay with?

    When Pressure is Applied

    The final thing I want to mention is that all of the above 4 topics can ‘seem’ to have been dealt with.  It can look like your horse has been retrained when the circumstances are ideal.  However, this may not be the case.

    True retraining has occurred if your horse can maintain the ‘new’ way of doing things when the situation is not going to plan.  When either one of you, or both of you, feels under pressure.

    If your horse can maintain the ‘new’ ways of doing things, then, yes, you have successfully retrained him.  However, if you are grooming your horse in the stable, only for him to see the other horses leave the stables already – and then proceed to walk anxious circles around you.  Well, there’s still work to do :)

    Re-training your retired racehorse takes time, consistency, patience, compassion, and focus.

    And, it is one of the most rewarding relationships you can be gifted with as a rider.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

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