Out of the thousands of thoroughbreds bred to race on the flat and jump courses each year, only a small percentage are successful enough to go on to breed from after they have finished racing. However, it is possible to train a racehorse for a variety of other disciplines and the usefulness of these horses does not have to end with their racing careers. With the correct training and understanding of these horses, a racehorse can excel at dressage or be put to work as a successful hack, jumper, or eventer. They are extremely intelligent, highly athletic, and can become fantastic partners.
What is important to remember when attempting to train a racehorse for a new job is the past training it has received. The horse has only ever been involved in racing up until this point. Patience and experience with horses is required when working with an ex-racer. Inexperienced handlers or riders should not attempt to retrain a racehorse. The combination of a novice rider or trainer with a high-strung animal taught only to run can produce dangerous situations for both people and horses.
Often, these horses will benefit from several months to a year of down time and relaxation before being placed into a new training program. The horse must also adapt physically to these changes. No longer is the horse required to run as fast as it can for as long as it can. Jumping, hacks, and even pleasure riding require different muscles than racing over the flat. Horses should be given time to adjust physically before they are pushed to perform in their new career so that they remain sound.
Racehorses will also need time to adjust mentally. Most new homes will not have the sort of structure or routine the horse experienced while racing. A big difference will be the length of time they are expected to carry riders, this will be considerably longer when the horse retrains.
There are numerous charities and organizations devoted to taking in, looking after, and retraining ex-racers. Such groups also work to promote racehorses and their suitability for a number of other disciplines in the horse world. The objective is to find the right horse for the right job, and eventually the right owner. Such charitable groups endeavor to train a racehorse in order that it may continue to have a happy, rewarding life regardless of if life on the racecourse has ended.
What is important to remember when attempting to train a racehorse for a new job is the past training it has received. The horse has only ever been involved in racing up until this point. Patience and experience with horses is required when working with an ex-racer. Inexperienced handlers or riders should not attempt to retrain a racehorse. The combination of a novice rider or trainer with a high-strung animal taught only to run can produce dangerous situations for both people and horses.
Often, these horses will benefit from several months to a year of down time and relaxation before being placed into a new training program. The horse must also adapt physically to these changes. No longer is the horse required to run as fast as it can for as long as it can. Jumping, hacks, and even pleasure riding require different muscles than racing over the flat. Horses should be given time to adjust physically before they are pushed to perform in their new career so that they remain sound.
Racehorses will also need time to adjust mentally. Most new homes will not have the sort of structure or routine the horse experienced while racing. A big difference will be the length of time they are expected to carry riders, this will be considerably longer when the horse retrains.
There are numerous charities and organizations devoted to taking in, looking after, and retraining ex-racers. Such groups also work to promote racehorses and their suitability for a number of other disciplines in the horse world. The objective is to find the right horse for the right job, and eventually the right owner. Such charitable groups endeavor to train a racehorse in order that it may continue to have a happy, rewarding life regardless of if life on the racecourse has ended.
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If you are thinking of buying a racehorse, look for a racehorse trainer who has schooled a good number of winners.
