how do you re-train a racehorse to be a normal riding horse if you are 12 years old?

Question

hey,
your probably thinking you can't retarin a racehorse if you are that young, but i have been riding all my life, and i have never re-trained a race horse but i have trained and broken 2,3,4 year old geldings and well as stallions. but please can you give me some tips about how to retrain a race horse, cuz my grandad has a racehorse and his career will be finsihed soon, and i want to be the one to retrain him, and not some one else. i know it is better to get a proffesional trainer would be better, but i would rather do it myself. so please if you have any idea, let me know!!!!

Answer 1

Well first off i suggest, if the horse is newly "off the track", i would suggest just putting it out to pasture for a few months, irritating i know, but this allows the horse to let down, and also give time to let any "foriegn" substances leave the horses system. As a racehorse trainer i know from first hand experience that alot of racehorses are given things like steroids, and these can take up to a month to leave the horses system. Also put him onto a low protien feed, this will help him to gain weight without heating him up.

While the horse is at pasture, spend alot of time just handling him. grooming him, leading him around, just sit a spend time with him in the paddock.

After a couple months you can start hacking (trail riding) him lightly, just use a regular snaffle, you'll soon figure out if he needs something a bit stronger. Also lunging him in a ring, this will teach him to use both leads equally, most racehorses tend to be one sided, so this will also teach him balance.

At the end of the day, re-training a racehorse is pretty much the same breaking in or starting any young horse. difference is the horse you're training already has the basics, just needs a little guidance.

Dont be afraid to talk to another experienced person, the more points of veiw you get the better!!!

Oh, id also speak to your vet about maybe putting the horse on a course of anti-ulcer medication, as racehorses are prone to ulcers in the stomach. they will do him alot of good, and even if he doesnt have any ulcers they wont do him any harm at all!!!

Answer 2

This is a real challenge even for a trained professional, I personally have retrained maybe a 100 head of ex- racehorses.
These are a few things I have learned.
1. Simplify his rations, processed grains tend to energize Thoroughbreds.
2.Ground school is not lungeing. Try finding exercises that cause him to move specific parts of his body.
3. Work laterally. Racehorses are trained to lean on the bit, the harder you pull the faster he will run.
4. Get good help. Twelve is an extremely young age to train. I give clinics, have worked nearly a thousand head of horses, and have devoted a large portion of my life to learning my trade from the best trainers in the world, I am 30 years older than you, and am
just to the point I feel I can learn.
Good luck and be careful.

Answer 3

I've been a "horseperson" most of my life, and I know people will question your age. But- If you have broken/trained others you should have little to no problem here. The key is- Patience. Slow and easy. Keep in mind just like us each horse is an individual, and also "learns" at its own pace. I would use the same techniques as you use with a green one. You didn't say if you were training him english or western. If english- no saddle difference but a few ounces, if western, now you need to gradually introduce new weight differences. See how the horse handles each situation you introduce to him. Keep in mind temperment of the horse also plays a part. How strung out is it? Is it relatively calm and well mannered or as I put it a "nut". Oh, If you want, I just located something interesting for you- check this source out- go to www.horsewhisperer.com/retraining. Don't give up and Good Luck! These horses need someone like you. It's a shame to have them just hang out in a pasture somewhere and used to reproduce(that is if they are of any quality). Most often they're sold to .. well lets just say their fate isn't always a good one. They get used until they no longer win, then tossed aside. Not ALL, but most.

Answer 4

Good luck! Race horses are not really trained, all they know is run run run. It will take lots of time, you have to build up their trust in you as a human. They need to know that when you get on thier back they are not to take off like previously trained to do. I would suggest TONS of groundwork first. Hopefully you have a round pen to work it in. I would not attempt to ride it for a while. Just lunge it in the round pen and teach it the basic commands. They are pretty jumpy so you would need to teach it to be calm by introducing it to a bunch of different situations that might scare it, eventually it will realize that huge log or tree limb blowing in the wind is not some monster out to get it and not even flinch. Be very carefull, as racehorses are high strung and bred to be that way, do not do too much at one time, or you could seriously injure yourself or the horse, and ruin it for life.

Answer 5

my 3 1/2 year old nephew has had a bike with training wheels for several months now. i could ride a bike without training wheels before i started kindergarten at 5. it all depends on the child. there's no exact age, some kids do things earlier than others, and some later. either way it's normal

Answer 6

hi
my 12 too and i have a thoughbred x racer. shes 10 now and i got her when she was 8. well i started riding her when she was 8. but ive had her since she was 9. but anyway. my old stable used to get 3 year olds off the track and they would give them a pasture break to let them calm down for about a month. still handling them and getting them used to not racing. just not riding them. after the month u rele start to retrain there mind into whatever riding u want them to be in. we always trained them to be hunters or jumpers. but that doesnt matter. just treating them like the horse there going to be in a few months. i would recomend leaving them in the pasture while ur training them so they can get out all there extra energy. they will be VERY highstrung at first but they will settle down pretty soon. they start to forget the track and there training from the track when there about 5. my 10 year old still loves to run around and has her days but they r rele kool. she has started a love for herding ( yes my thoughbred its weird ) for herding my other horse around the whole property with me on bareback. she gets rele into it. i dont even have to tell her what to do. they love to run and make sure u get all there energy out before u work with them. by lunging or letting them run around in the areana. they will really develope a bond with u after there track days. u can e mail me if u want.

Answer 7

If it helps, racehorses are encouraged to lean on the bit while running, so if you want him to slow down you have to relax on the reins. They are also taught to take a lead by tapping them on the inside shoulder. I used to trail ride my racehorses off season to keep them from going sour.
Introduce them to cross-ties slowly, they are only tied to a wall of their stall at the track, and when you pick up their feet, do it from one side, asking them to cross their far-side feet under them rather then walking around them.

Answer 8

This is going to be a little difficult- but you basically have to just work with the horse, breaking it with a normal saddle. try lunging and different exersizes- BUT always have an adult to help you...never attempt this alone. Also- try a google search on horse training, that might help too.
Hope I helped.

Answer 9

Well, Deedee, I say go for it!

The race horse already knows about being ridden. You'll just have to teach him to slow down, is my guess.

Good luck!

Answer 10

race horses aren't generally corrected on their bad habits, it's a major undertaking even for a seasoned trainer,