I want to excersize race horses when I get old enough...questions?

Question

Ok I really really want to excersize race horses when I get old enough. Are the horses really freakish? I learned to ride on off the track thoroughbreds, so I know that they can be psyco, but are they alll really nutty when you try to excersize them? I watched videos of this one guy where the horse reared constantly for 10 minutes before he could even make him walk. i'm not scared of it, but I was just wondering. Also, is it more dangerous then doing eventing/jumping? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

you have to be a confident and strong rider, i have seen psycho horses and if your not afraid of them then you would do good. I think i would rather jump/event because if your horse can do it your not on a psycho speedy horse your on ur horse.

Answer 2

I'm in the same position as you. Except I didn't learn to ride on ottb!

I think a lot of racehorses are crazy, but not all. Hopefully when you start out you'll ride the saner ones.

I'm not sure if it's more dangerous than eventing, because you are just exercising them, not racing.

Good luck!

Answer 3

If your a beginner, you should start taking lessons now. Yes, the horses are crazy, their thoroughbred. And I would say it is more dangerous than eventing.

Answer 4

i don't think so....you might exercise with another horse, but they have a ambulance that stays right on the track....if that is your goal...go for it...you can't be scared of those 1,200 lb monster.....go check with a stable become a stable girl and then work your way up to exercise rider..good luck and good racing.

Answer 5

The thing that you have to remember about racehorses is that most of them will spend at least 22 hours a day in their stable/stall.  Add to this the fact that they are fed a high energy diet and you've got a recipe for one excited horse!

Not all thoroughbreds are psycho, some are very pleasant to ride, but you will find more often that not that the most talented racehorses are the most quirky.  There was one horse I know of in the Godolphin yard a few years ago (Grandera - he was champion older horse in Europe and is now at stud in Japan, he is also a half brother to George Washington!): if he took a dislike to his rider he would reah round, bite their leg and pull them down off his back.  There were only a few work riders that he would "allow" to ride him!  I hear that his little brother Georgw Washington has a few similar quirks: a few months ago a rumour went round that GW had run away on the Ballydoyle gallops and thrown himself and his rider into a nearby stream!  Not my idea of fun!

If you want to work racehorses you will need to make sure you have a lot of upper body strength.  The horses very rarely work at full speed and it is your job to make sure they go the right speed over the righht distance.  Just remember you have only two thin strips of leather to control a half ton animal!

Good luck to you, if you do manage to do it you are a braver person than I am!  I have nothing but respect for those that ride these crazy animals day in day out.

Answer 6

I wouldn't go so far to say they are nutty. that is just the way they are think about it.  they are pumped full of grain and hay and then are in the stall most of the day except to be exercised or put on the walker or shod or for some medical reason.  so when they are taken to the track of course they are going to want to run. (and they get very competitive too) but keep in mind that for some horses when they run they won't stop. I once watched one horse that took off with the rider and went around the track one full time and then was caught by the outrider after he practically had to race the horse to get it stopped. and even then he didn't stop until he reached the finish line. and it is definitly more dangerous than eventing because even though you aren't going full out, the horses are much more high strung. and they practically will pull your arms out of their sockets because they want to go so much so make sure to strengthen your whole body (legs too) so that you can ride for a long time.

    one more thing. when you first start only ride 1 or 2 horses a day for the first few days otherwise you will completely exhaust your muscles. (when I rode my first time it hurt so bad the next day that it took me 20 minutes to get my body out of bed!!) Riding thoroughbreds on the track is a whole lot different then just riding them in an arena or pasture.

        you will also need a helmet and a protective riding vest (if you fail to wear these you will get a fine.)

      have fun and be careful!!