Retraining racehorses a saga

eml

eml

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Apr 29, 2002
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To those that wanted diaries, these two horses may be interesting.

Fiddy (Lord Fidelio) was turned away with youngstock for a couple of months before we got him. First sit on he appeared a bit cold backed but has never given us any real problems since. First canter in a school was exciting as he couldn't turn corners...first week's work was punctuated by exclamations of 'turn'!!.

After a months ownership he went to a ROR/Yogi Brysner clinic where he showed the issues people meet with just out of racing TBs but amazed us with his calmness.

For a start we had right canter , then we worked on left so hard we lost right got both with rough transitions and then just two days ago we really cracked it and got consistently good canter transitions!!

Today the ride judge apologised for getting wrong legs on both reins and said the horse corrected him. We noticed he used a lot of outside leg...we use more inside but pleased horse said...not right.. rather than plowing on.

Kirkum although a year older is not yet even ready to start as he still has to understand basic horse...once he can be turned out and enjoy being in the field we will give him some down time and then pick him up like Fiddy.
 
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Well a fairly typical day in TB land!

Bandit (our 'experienced' show horse) has recovered from his mystery ailment and started putting weight on again...he has so many that our vets call them Bandit disease!

Kirkum has scraped his leg on the middle rail of a post and rail fence, not hurt himself just removed fur but convinced he was dying.

Fiddley having a few days off after his last show decided he didn't really want his supper tonight.

They really are a bit special!!

On the other hand we are now fairly convinced the K will be happier of we start work sooner rather than later...he is incredibly laid back and probably will benefit from having things to think about. He is now managing 7 hours in the field mainly eating!!
 
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Photos as promised!

First this is Lord Fidelio; who as mentionned had had a couple of months turned away in a field before coming to us.

(On the left, winning at Kempton)
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On arrival in March:
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Came 4th in an affiliated RoR class last week:
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And now the new boy, Kirkum;

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Normally recommend a long period of turnout (at least 8 - 10 weeks) and total downtime
before starting work but you have to learn to respond to what is in front of you.

So today we tried on some tack - realising that new saddle is very different feel to racing saddle.
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Walking around to get feel of it on back:
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Daughter sat on for picture!
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K as you can see totally relaxed and unphased - so she plodded off for a short hack:

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Won't do much more until farrier addresses feet - but see no reason why he could not crack on from here. That said, we do still have one that is being tentaively tacked up and walked around a year into his retraining..... not many as easy as these two!
 
I shall me following this diary with great interest. Your boys look fab, they are so lucky to have a lovely home with you and your daughter.

Great pics :biggrin:
 
This week Kirkum has had on his new shoes to try to even his front feet out. Don't think he had been hot shod before but settled quickly. Now riding out around our land for about 15 minutes a day. Walked up to the indoor school and a couple of laps, he didn't even quible about going into the school..he is a lovely laid back person!!

Fiddy had another jumping lesson and ended up with a 70cms course, although he insisted in jumping 1.3m over his first filler!! He also had a tremendous buck to celebrate his cleverness, hopefully just a one off as he has been on fresh grass and was a bit full of himself!!
 
Kirkum is beautiful, what a kind eye he has. He looks as if he is very interested in his new life.

How lucky they are to have found you.
 
Another week gone by!!

Fiddy is now jumping really fluently and more important enjoying it! His flat work is coming on at a fast pace and he now can produce a really elevated eyecatching trot to go along with his naturally super walk. Been working on walk to canter transitions and simple changes. Next week we will try to get him out to a XC course

Kirkum has just started trot work in the school and we noticed he is not quite straight in his hips (this is very common in racehorses) and not accepting the hand so dentist and osteo booked for an MOT!!

The more difficult ones have taken a bit of a backseat at the moment while we assess and work with the new ones. There is no rush or timetable for any of them particularly those we know are very long term projects...we have taken a year to get a saddle on one, may take another year before he can accept a rider safely.
 
Dear god woman, slow down, I haven't got that far with Henry in two years! :D You're right thought they are all so different, once you have an ex-racer you realise you can never lump them all in as one!
 
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So far this week is not going to plan.

Found Fiddy on Monday with blood pouring down his shoulder and an open puncture wound. Suspect he found a loose nail in the post and rail fencing. Vet came out and cleaned out wound and did some lovely stitch and staple work so he won't scar. Box rest and gentle walking only for two weeks. Amused at his 'sick note' as he has had to be withdrawn from his first XC...refers to Lord Fidelio 'xxx' (our surname!!)

Not doing any more with Kirkum until Osteo has seen him so he is enjoying box rest companionship with Fiddy just to be sure!!

Took one of the older ones to Lincolnshire today. He is 'quirky' but stunning! 25 turned up, nose to tail in the ring with crackly speakers playing William Tell Overture. He went superbly to start with and the judge kept looking at him then all hell broke out, horse in front span round and headed for him, two others span sideways past him and one stood in the middle and bucked. I could see from outside the ring he was losing the plot and said to daughter, 'think you may have to bring him out'. She persevered for another circuit until he demonstrated tempi changes all down one side (definately not required in showing although he may still make a dressage star!!) followed by a buck that made the whole crowd gasp (and unfortunately the judge look!) so we withdrew!!

If it was easy we wouldn't enjoy it!!
 
eml said:
until he demonstrated tempi changes all down one side (definately not required in showing although he may still make a dressage star!!) followed by a buck that made the whole crowd gasp (and unfortunately the judge look!) so we withdrew!!
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:D tempi changes :D clearly wasted in showing and should be doing grand prix stressage!

Also, the bucks, Hens has one of those, it gives me whip lash everytime (thankfully he's not done one for 9 months), if he could put half the effort into his jumps that he puts into bucks he'd be flying
 
eml said:
Clever horse.

We said if he didn't buck for six months ( has a very special line in 'airs above the ground!) we would try him sidesaddle...he had a couple of weeks to go!!
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Clearly he didn't want to try side saddle!

Hens has been nine months now, last time he did it my friend was riding him and she fell off, I'm hoping the shock of someone hitting the deck actually spooked him out of it. 'Hoping' being the operative word!
 
They do get better.

We had this one as he lost previous riders. Generally he is fine but when he loses the plot he gets explosive. He normally leaps in the air and does a capriole! Today he was seriously worried and did a full head down twisting you are coming off buck..credit to daughter for staying on..she didn't even shift although both she and saddle were soaked from the rain!!!
 
eml said:
They do get better.

We had this one as he lost previous riders. Generally he is fine but when he loses the plot he gets explosive. He normally leaps in the air and does a capriole! Today he was seriously worried and did a full head down twisting you are coming off buck..credit to daughter for staying on..she didn't even shift although both she and saddle were soaked from the rain!!!
Click to expand...

I can vouch for his ' Special ' Bucks. Emma does so well for staying on. He really is a lovely horse though.
 
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