Breeding

  Racehorses are bred for speed and stamina.  Breeding, training and racing cost a lot of money so in order to recoup or reduce the costs they are raced relatively young.  Often any successful horses are retired early to stud, their racing careers often ending before they are 4 years old, which is just when the domestic sports horse is starting.

Thoroughbred racehorses are bred with the desire to run and their training sharpens this behaviour.  Being kept in their stable for long periods, running and racing in a "herd" situation.  As a prey animal all horses have a tendancy to run first when startled and ask questions later, thats how they stay off a predator's menu!  The thoroughbred has an exagerated reation which can often unnerve riders or handlers who are not used to such sharp reaction.

A Thoroughbred's confirmation characteristically consists of fairly flat feet, long pasterns, a deep chest barrel which provides room for the heart and lungs which are much larger than the average non-thoroughbred.  The big sloping shoulders make them comfortable to ride and  the big open stride covers the ground with minimal effort, so at gallop they can reach speeds of 35mph.   Unlike the modern european sports horses, they have a low set neck and no natural elevated paces, but this does not mean that with proper training they cannot "float".   They are fast growing to try and take advantage of the young start, which often leads to injuries like splints.   Many a top horse has performed poorly in its first year to go on to win top class races the next season. 

Before you write off the Thoroughbred note that it has been used as an improver for many breeds all over the world.  Leading to the emergence of the warmblood all over europe, which is a mixture of a cold blood and one of the hotbloods, the Thoroughbred or Arabian.

The history of racing is well documented and there are several resources available on line.  The main point is that the stud book has been closed for over 100years which means the gene pool is limited and advances in speed are slower and less likely.  The Thoroughbred is a global breed with a huge population and within that some variation.  Please be wary of using the terms "Irish Thoroughbred" or "typical American Thoroughbred", there is no such thing and these terms are misleading. 

Why not have a look on the del mar pedigree query and see how many countries are included in your horse's pedigree?

 

Training

Race horses are trained at walk and canter.  Rarely galloping unless on the racecourse and never trot if it can be avoided, because it does not improve fittness.  They are trained to run into the bridle so any contact usually causes them to speed up.   Training occurs in groups called strings so they are unlikely, unless a leader of a string, used to hacking out or being ridden alone. 

Basically the jockeys job is to interfere as little as possible with the natural balance of the horse so the racehorse will run from the front rather than powering from the hind quarters.  Lighter aluminum shoes called racing plates are used for racing, sometimes the horse is shod on the course itself.  Their tack is often a very simple bridle consisting of a large ring snaffle with a bib martingale during training and an Irish Martingale for racing, at one time typically with no noseband, although the grackle is becoming more popular and boots are seen more often.

Re-Training

 

Re-training could be considered harder than starting a youngster.  Your job is to try and persuade your, now ex-racehorse to forget all the things it has learned up to that point, which could be 1 or 10years in racing and start again.  The length of time in racing is not a definate guide to the level of re-training required .  Often the horse does not even have to have made the race course to require retraining.  The only defining factor is the character of the horse, some horses are keen and happy to learn others less interested, most thoroughbreds are alert, intelligent and eager to please.  

There is a myth that a horse that has actually started under rules will be more difficult than one which has only been in training.  I have to disagree.  It is the cantering everyday that makes the ex-racehorse more of a challange to retrain not the actual racing experience.  Thoroughbreds are not alone in this response to continual fast work day in, day out.  How many children's ponies have been spoiled by unsupervised kiddies galloping about the counryside barely under control?  I have seen and ridden several, not one has been on a race course!

The horses featured on this website have leaned to accept the contact, rebalance to accomadate a rider and hack out on their own, which is often a major issue as mentioned earlier.  Some have also mastered more unusual techniques such as side saddle and driving.   Unless you are a professional rider the retaining takes time and patience but can be incredibly rewarding.   Many ex-race horses go on to be successful riding horses, competing in showing, dressage, showjumping and eventing.   Most notable ex-race horses are Java Tiger, Stunning and Andrew Hoy's Moonfleet.

Some basic tips to help you make a start;

What helps a Thoroughbred the most is your confidence, they gain confidence from you. Retraining is really confusing! 

Don't overfeed.  They really are not meant to be "show fat" and often have issues with certain foods, like barley or sugar. 

Get a really good farrier and watch what he does, show an interest because even racehorse or vet recommended farriers don't always get it right! 

Possibily most importantly of all, get help.  A really good instructor is by far the most important investment you can make.  Don't be afraid to change if you feel that things are not improving, sometimes a concept being explained in a differant way can help and is no reflection on either person.