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Post by BriscoMomma on Feb 19, 2003 17:04:15 GMT -5
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Post by Neeners on Feb 19, 2003 19:35:43 GMT -5
How about, are they ever ridden with long stirrups? (sorry a silly question, have a ton of those lol)
How do they teach the racer to take the bit and go?
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Post by ZenRider on Feb 19, 2003 21:16:11 GMT -5
How's about, how they ask and get leads, lead changes?
Oh, tried the pick up all the feet from one side and Zen was like, 'Took ya long enough to do that right.' Big question is, can the shoer shoe him like that. :hahaha:
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Post by Lisann on Feb 19, 2003 22:06:56 GMT -5
Ok, first the questions - why is my OTTB scared of small spaces and what can I do about it? On the picking feet topic - both my FP OTTB's are fine with picking both feet from the near side. But, my cute little Ay-rab mare let me pick all her feet from the OFF side tonight. She's such a doll  |
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Post by leeann on Feb 19, 2003 22:30:49 GMT -5
Mine would be "do you have any tips for this particular horse"? The general stuff is pretty standard for me at this point....(gotta love that trial and error over the ages stuff). :hahaha:
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Post by Kat on Feb 20, 2003 0:49:04 GMT -5
If I go ahead and try to answer some quistions already posted? Just remember I was only a lowly little Excersize rider - I got hurt right before what was gonna be my first race (thank god - a jockeys life is hard) but maybe I can help out with some of the questions here anyway.... Neeners - they are ridden with long stirrups a lot actually - long meaning hunter length - especially when they're first broke and just starting to gallop. When they start getting fit though, it gets hard to hold them with long stirrups, since you get way better leverage when you can stand up and lean back, using your body weight to brace against them. Ther was one studcolt I galloped who was SO tough to hold. that the only way I was able to keep him from running off was, I shortened my stirrups as short as I could - jockey length - and stood straight up - we called it surfing - and I prayed, really hard, LOL. Also, when you start working (breezing) them, you have to get them short to get off their backs and really fold down over them. Another advantage with short stirrups is you can get off them quicker - which is definatly a good thing when you have one about to flip over backwards. I must say though, I knew some guys who all has "stirrup envy" it was like a big contest to see who could ride with the shortest stirrups.  I always thought it was pretty stupid - I rode my horses how they wanted to be ridden - some went better with long stirrups, and some went better with shorter. oh and for your other question - It's not really something you CAN teach them, some have it and some don't. The TRUE racehorses just start pulling and grabbing the bit after their first few blowouts - you can just tell that they really love it. Then their are some that you have to "grab them up and spank them" the whole way around when working, and I used to hate riding those. It was like they were saying - PLEASE let me be someones hunter... They REALLY start getting the desire after breaking out of the gate, and "working with company" Horses are of course a herd animal, so when they breeze with another horse a bit in front of them they want to be up there with them. ZenRider - as you probably know, they are supposed to be on their outside lead in the straightaways, and inside leads in the turns. Mostly when you start blowing them out - Breezing - they will just do them naturally - especially on a smaller track where the turns are tighter - but you also want them to know the aids as well, so that when there in a race, and the jockey needs to switch the lead and make a move, the horse will know what he wants. As with pleasure horses, every horse is different - I galloped some that all I had to do was shift my weight in my stirrups, but some you had to d oa slight jerk on one rein, ro tap on the shoulder with the stick. A lot of riders "teach" the babies to switch by running them in the outside rail just before the turn, and then going back oin the inside track, but I HATE doing that, because it teaches the horse to run out. I usually did ring work with all my babies, so I tought tended to teachtheir leads more of a Dressagy, H/J way and - heavan forbid - I used ground polesand cavaletti. Lisann - he probably has flashbacks of being shoved ina starting gate, and then being galloped straight out. I'd suggest maybe trying some Linda Tellington Jones Tteaming and Ttouches. The Tteaming is great for relaxing thema dn gaining their trust. He needs to learn that he is safe in a tight quarter, and that it is ok to just stand there for a while. Also, am I correct in guess in guessing that he may get ansy in a small 2 horse? If so, remember that most racehorses are hauled in big head-to-heads and slant loads, 2 horse and small trailers, are something he will have to get used to. I'd say to keep up with your ground training, and he'll will be fine :-) I hope y'all don'tthink I'm a snob now.  |
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Post by Kat on Feb 20, 2003 0:52:03 GMT -5
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Post by ZenRider on Feb 20, 2003 7:57:32 GMT -5
Freebird, to delete posts, just look in the upper right hand corner of your post when you are logged in. You'll see quote, modify, delete.
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Post by adcooper on Feb 20, 2003 11:17:03 GMT -5
I'd just say, "Was my horse this cool already, or did you have to do something special?" LOL! Really, I'd like to know about teaching ground manners, because though she can be reluctant to come in from the field, Cypress is usually awfully easy to lead. Very respectful of my space. Kind of floats along at the other end of the lead. I've led some other horses that were really rude and clumsy. I don't like that.
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Post by Skye Pilot on Feb 20, 2003 13:28:22 GMT -5
Wow Kat, I didn't think they knew lead changes! I learned something new....
Ok..... my question(s)....
1. What is the best method to retire a horse off the track. Do you give the horse down time to unwind or do you keep to their schedule of working them early in the morning so they aren't depressed with the lack of work. Or does it depend on the horse. Other ideas?
2. If you start the horse from the beginning like he has never been ridden, does this help "deprogram" track life or will it always be there. I am worried about my first shows with Red. Our local shows have a track next to it.
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I always thought it was pretty stupid - I rode my horses how they wanted to be ridden - some went better with long stirrups, and some went better with shorter.
