Retraining a Horse

JoAnn1978 · 12-06-2005, 03:57 PM

Hi all-

I have recently entered into an arrangement with the stable I ride at to lease and then buy an 8 year old thoroughbred (retired off of the track). I'm new to riding and ownership (I think I've now said that a million times on here!) so I have a question about training him and showing him.

He's 15'1 hands, has good conformation, a beautiful trot and canter and is very pretty- but a little thin due to a nasty cribbing habit that I've recently gotten under control, and a little clumsy.

He's never been shown before, and I've been told that he has the capability to be a hunter prospect. So my question is- being that he is quite a good looking horse, but he's clumsy and not particularly skilled in any showing disciplines, is it ever too late to train a horse to show? And how can I/will I know what disciplines he's going to be good for?

And how do I know how far I can take him? Only locals, or above?[/img]

Skippy! · 12-06-2005, 04:02 PM

He can learn to pick up his feet and not be so clumsy! When you ride him, keep a firm (not tight) feel on his face. When you ask for a trot, see-saw your hands delicately to collect his head (if he even knows how) and use your seat to push him into the bridle. This should get him going better. When a horse is "collected" it doesnt mean their neck is bent, it means their body is moving at the best of its capacity.

Skippy! is TERRIBLY clumsy if he isnt collected. to the point that he will fall over if you canter him uncollected (he trips because he doesnt pick up his feet too high)

and for Thoroughbreds, no age is too old to start showing! I would recommend taking him to a show without the intention of entering him in any classes. For all you know, he will go to the show and think "RACE TRACK" and be a pig in all the classes. Take him to one just to hang out and mull around on him.. if he is good, show him later that day, if he isnt, keep taking him to shows until he is used to it. A little be-kalm never hurt either.

Good luck!

mellowdane · 12-07-2005, 12:48 AM

Haha.. well 8 is by no means too old to train for anything. There are so many exercises you can do to help with "clumsy". Working on patterns, over poles and like Skippy said, getting them collected. It certainly can be work.. but by no means out of range for you. Most OT TB's never have had to be collected before, so the slower gates may just not look quite as graceful as the dead run they work on so much..haha! Working with your trainer you should be able to get him to round out his back, work in to the bit and get his legs up under him and it will help a ton with the tripping etc. Good luck.. pictures please

Melisa

JoAnn1978 · 12-07-2005, 08:23 AM

I need to figure out how to put pictures on here!

I will have to talk to my instructor on Saturday about teaching him how to collect (and teaching me, too!).

Since being off the track he's gotten a little lazy and stubborn, but even in the past few months he and I have made some amazing progress, so I think that he has a lot of capability, and I look forward to learning with him.

If anyone can maybe suggest any specific exercises that he and I can do together (patterns, etc..) to help him clean up a little. I am thinking of at least taking him (like skippy said) to a show this spring to see how he does if he's even not entered. Maybe if he's good I'll enter him into hunter under saddle...

Any other suggestions?

EquineAlberta · 12-07-2005, 12:30 PM

If you want to show over fences eventually, check if your area has a "small horse" division, otherwise at 15.1 your horse will be smaller than the rest, and may have trouble making the lines. to show over fences, typically you will need a 12' stride, and it is best if your horse doesn't have to run to make them!

Other than that though, 8 is a great age for a horse to learn new things, and it sounds like you have a bond with him already which is the most important thing of all in my mind!

Karen2

A J · 12-07-2005, 12:50 PM

8 is definitly not too old - if there is such a thing! About the only thing I could see being a potential show problem, is that in rail classes, he may take to trying to race the other horses. My 14 year old TB still does that - he's fine at home in groups, fine by himself in the ring, but put him in a full ring class, and he goes nuts at the canter. Your horse may or may not have that problem, but just be prepared.

As far as retraining, my 14 year old TB is currently being retrained for dressage - I still do some jumping on him, but he's not to old to learn new things, and your horse isn't either!

JoAnn1978 · 12-07-2005, 12:57 PM

Wow! Retrained for Dressage! That's awesome! I have always wanted to try dressage, I wonder if I could train Jim for dressage...

Does a horse have to have a certain natural ability, or certain qualities to make a good dressage horse??

Skippy! · 12-07-2005, 01:02 PM

Skippy! is a 4th level dressage horse *puffs chest out all big*

Skippy! (as I said before) is very clumsy and bumbly but allot of the lower level dressage is simply bending, leg yielding, half passes, counter cantering.. etc. I love Dressage because I actually find it useful. Dressage isnâ€™t just something fancy, it teaches your horse to react to your legs, your hands, and your seat. No more raking the face, or pulling the head to turnâ€¦ its AWESOME!

You horse could definitely do dressage if you wanted to start training in it! I personally believe ANY horse has the capacity to get to 4th level dressage.. just look at Skippy! =)

Good luck! =)

WYJumper · 12-07-2005, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoAnn1978

Does a horse have to have a certain natural ability, or certain qualities to make a good dressage horse??

Well, dressage is very good for every horse as Skippy said.

The horse's that compete well in dressage usually are good, "round" movers, have a calm brain, and of course some athletic ability. But training for dressage will help your horse develop these qualities.

I love jumpers, but to have a quick and fast round your horse has to be balanced and able to flex, bend, leg yield etc. So I do a lot of dressage, which is basically just flat work.

Skippy! · 12-09-2005, 08:47 AM

JoAnn,

How's this goin? Got anything going in the works? Hows your boy doin'?

Good luck again! Let us know whats goin on! =)

JoAnn1978 · 12-12-2005, 09:41 AM

Hi Skippy!

I was talking to my instructor this weekend, and she said that one of the girls who used to take lessons had trained him for jumping events, and that he has the capabilities to do it and excel at it. So we're going to start working on training both Jim and I for hunter /jumper events.

I let someone canter him through a course this weekend do that I could see what we needed to work on- and he looked spectacular- so I'm looking forward to working towards doing some small shows this spring or summer. That will all depend on my abilities, though, too!

someone had earlier mentioned that at 15'1 I should check into smaller horse categories. On other threads people had talked about horses measurements being miscalculated- and that got me thinking... I think he's closer to 16 hands from just looking at him (and climbing up on him!) so I'm going to get someone to measure him again to see if he's bigger than 15'1. If not some of the local shows have smaller horse categories, so we'll focus on those.

12-06-2005, 03:57 PM
JoAnn1978 Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 395	Retraining a Horse Hi all- I have recently entered into an arrangement with the stable I ride at to lease and then buy an 8 year old thoroughbred (retired off of the track). I'm new to riding and ownership (I think I've now said that a million times on here!) so I have a question about training him and showing him. He's 15'1 hands, has good conformation, a beautiful trot and canter and is very pretty- but a little thin due to a nasty cribbing habit that I've recently gotten under control, and a little clumsy. He's never been shown before, and I've been told that he has the capability to be a hunter prospect. So my question is- being that he is quite a good looking horse, but he's clumsy and not particularly skilled in any showing disciplines, is it ever too late to train a horse to show? And how can I/will I know what disciplines he's going to be good for? And how do I know how far I can take him? Only locals, or above?[/img]

12-06-2005, 04:02 PM
Skippy! Halter broke Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Auburn, AL Posts: 190	He can learn to pick up his feet and not be so clumsy! When you ride him, keep a firm (not tight) feel on his face. When you ask for a trot, see-saw your hands delicately to collect his head (if he even knows how) and use your seat to push him into the bridle. This should get him going better. When a horse is "collected" it doesnt mean their neck is bent, it means their body is moving at the best of its capacity. Skippy! is TERRIBLY clumsy if he isnt collected. to the point that he will fall over if you canter him uncollected (he trips because he doesnt pick up his feet too high) and for Thoroughbreds, no age is too old to start showing! I would recommend taking him to a show without the intention of entering him in any classes. For all you know, he will go to the show and think "RACE TRACK" and be a pig in all the classes. Take him to one just to hang out and mull around on him.. if he is good, show him later that day, if he isnt, keep taking him to shows until he is used to it. A little be-kalm never hurt either. Good luck!

12-07-2005, 12:48 AM
mellowdane Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bainbridge Island, WA Posts: 1,090	Haha.. well 8 is by no means too old to train for anything. There are so many exercises you can do to help with "clumsy". Working on patterns, over poles and like Skippy said, getting them collected. It certainly can be work.. but by no means out of range for you. Most OT TB's never have had to be collected before, so the slower gates may just not look quite as graceful as the dead run they work on so much..haha! Working with your trainer you should be able to get him to round out his back, work in to the bit and get his legs up under him and it will help a ton with the tripping etc. Good luck.. pictures please Melisa __________________ Has is occurred to you that there's a certain inefficiency in questioning me on things you've already made up your mind about? - Spock

12-07-2005, 08:23 AM
JoAnn1978 Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 395	I need to figure out how to put pictures on here! I will have to talk to my instructor on Saturday about teaching him how to collect (and teaching me, too!). Since being off the track he's gotten a little lazy and stubborn, but even in the past few months he and I have made some amazing progress, so I think that he has a lot of capability, and I look forward to learning with him. If anyone can maybe suggest any specific exercises that he and I can do together (patterns, etc..) to help him clean up a little. I am thinking of at least taking him (like skippy said) to a show this spring to see how he does if he's even not entered. Maybe if he's good I'll enter him into hunter under saddle... Any other suggestions?

12-07-2005, 12:30 PM
EquineAlberta Seasoned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,693	If you want to show over fences eventually, check if your area has a "small horse" division, otherwise at 15.1 your horse will be smaller than the rest, and may have trouble making the lines. to show over fences, typically you will need a 12' stride, and it is best if your horse doesn't have to run to make them! Other than that though, 8 is a great age for a horse to learn new things, and it sounds like you have a bond with him already which is the most important thing of all in my mind! Karen2 __________________ Hillside Stable, Ardrossan, AB CHT Horse Stories!

12-07-2005, 12:50 PM
A J Greenbroke Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 3,477	8 is definitly not too old - if there is such a thing! About the only thing I could see being a potential show problem, is that in rail classes, he may take to trying to race the other horses. My 14 year old TB still does that - he's fine at home in groups, fine by himself in the ring, but put him in a full ring class, and he goes nuts at the canter. Your horse may or may not have that problem, but just be prepared. As far as retraining, my 14 year old TB is currently being retrained for dressage - I still do some jumping on him, but he's not to old to learn new things, and your horse isn't either! __________________ Try not, do. Do or do not. There is no try.

12-07-2005, 12:57 PM
JoAnn1978 Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 395	Wow! Retrained for Dressage! That's awesome! I have always wanted to try dressage, I wonder if I could train Jim for dressage... Does a horse have to have a certain natural ability, or certain qualities to make a good dressage horse??

12-07-2005, 01:02 PM
Skippy! Halter broke Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Auburn, AL Posts: 190	Skippy! is a 4th level dressage horse puffs chest out all big Skippy! (as I said before) is very clumsy and bumbly but allot of the lower level dressage is simply bending, leg yielding, half passes, counter cantering.. etc. I love Dressage because I actually find it useful. Dressage isnâ€™t just something fancy, it teaches your horse to react to your legs, your hands, and your seat. No more raking the face, or pulling the head to turnâ€¦ its AWESOME! You horse could definitely do dressage if you wanted to start training in it! I personally believe ANY horse has the capacity to get to 4th level dressage.. just look at Skippy! =) Good luck! =)

12-09-2005, 08:47 AM
Skippy! Halter broke Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Auburn, AL Posts: 190	JoAnn, How's this goin? Got anything going in the works? Hows your boy doin'? Good luck again! Let us know whats goin on! =)

12-12-2005, 09:41 AM
JoAnn1978 Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 395	Hi Skippy! I was talking to my instructor this weekend, and she said that one of the girls who used to take lessons had trained him for jumping events, and that he has the capabilities to do it and excel at it. So we're going to start working on training both Jim and I for hunter /jumper events. I let someone canter him through a course this weekend do that I could see what we needed to work on- and he looked spectacular- so I'm looking forward to working towards doing some small shows this spring or summer. That will all depend on my abilities, though, too! someone had earlier mentioned that at 15'1 I should check into smaller horse categories. On other threads people had talked about horses measurements being miscalculated- and that got me thinking... I think he's closer to 16 hands from just looking at him (and climbing up on him!) so I'm going to get someone to measure him again to see if he's bigger than 15'1. If not some of the local shows have smaller horse categories, so we'll focus on those.