Yesterday, I went with the rescue that I work at to the race track to pick up some retired horses. While there they were having some races and so we thought we would hang around and watch (never seen a horse race before)When the horses were walking out on the track there was a big beautiful bay TB gelding. His head was high and he was prancing. Just before loading into the gate his head dropped and it was as if he gave up. The bell rang and gate opened. He toke off and just before the first turn he stopped. Dead stop. The jockey just started whipping him. The horse hung his head again and just started walking. they came with another horse and lead him away. A 2 hours past and another race was starting. Again the bay was racing. and same as the first one. He was prancing to the gate. Gates open, he does a few strides then stops. They lead him away again. Behind the track is a "training ring" That was where I seen them whipping the gelding and trying to make him run but he would not brake into a trot. I could not stand it any more and I yelled at them to stop and leave the poor boy along. The owner was standing next to the ring. After a few choice words. The owner signed him over to the rescue. When I went into the pen to get him he was trembling, his head was very low to the ground. I toke him back to the trailer and we loaded the other horses and headed home.
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Today, The gelding was heads up and ok. Like nothing happened to him. So I toke him out of his stall and lead him to the round pen to try join-up. He is VERY pushy while being lead. He has NO ground manners. Anyways in the round pen, for get it. He will not trot. He rather walk 1 lap then stop and look at me. Kind of like to say "Im done running. No more running for me. End of story."
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So how can I do join up with him. And help him out. I will be keeping him for my self and am thinking general pleasure horse maybe do some jumping with him. He stand 17.2 or .3 HH. I will post videos of him soon.
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Horse Behavior and Training
Rescued a Race Horse
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I'm glad you were brave enough to say something and stop the abuse. If the horse is not willing to run for you just yet, I would start with just the dually to get him leading more respectfully. I would also just try and spend some quality time with him not pushing to much, maybe he just needs a break.
Good luck,
Kleinne
Thanks Kleinne. That is what i was thinking, do ground work then go up from there. I was also wondering if putting him in the colt pasture for 30 to just let him be a horse if that might help. I personally dont care much if he runs I do more trail riding then jumping.
Hi Christena - good for you and well done for saving this poor boy. His heart is clearly not in racing. I agree that he needs a bit of time just to chill out and relax. Then I think you need to take it slowly - from his point of view humans are nasty creatures who are mean and horrible and it may take time to gain his trust. Many ex racehorses go on to have useful and happy lives doing other things like jumping, trail riding, dressage or just nice all round riding horses, he may turn out to have a talent in one of those areas. Either way he is clearly better off with you than at the racetrack - seriously, the racing industry needs to take a good hard look at itself, the behaviour of the owner and handlers in this case is just shameful but unfortunately all too common.
Some time to chill out in a pasture sounds like a good idea, I would also in that time just go out and spend a few minutes a day with him just so he gets to know you and realize you're not his enemy. For us it would be like a 30 day vacation in Hawaii, who couldn't use a little of that. Everyone needs a break from the stress in life to recoup. Let us know how it goes.
Kleinne
Poor guy. Obviously doesnt want to be a race horse, and why should he, with treatment like that? I agree with Kleinne, just be his friend for awhile, without any demands other than leading properly. Sounds like he needs a friend as well as time to just be a horse. Do you know how old he is?
Well done Christena for saving this big fellow. I do hope he turns out to be the perfect horse for you. Yes - I agree with all the others - just let him be a horse for awhile. I would just spend time too getting to know him each day and gaining his trust. Just go into the pasture where he is. If he is friendly enough then give him a good rub down eahc day then walk away or just sit in the pasture with him. Over time start putting the halter on him and do a short session of ground work with the dually -leading, bcking up, stopping. Being in the racing industry it is unlikely that he has ever been given much ground work - it is usually just break them in then race them. Remeber also that he has probably not been mounted from a mounting block so you will need to train him to do this prior to getting on him. All the best - it sounds like a very exciting project you have taken on so I do hope this horse starts to respond to you and thank you in his own way.
Thank you all for the good advise. I just got his papers today His dam is Charm Power and sire is Swiss Yodeler. He was foaled April 6 2004. He is doing good today. I can walk up to him and rub him all over. I think he will be a great horse too.
Good for you Christena! Can't wait to hear your progress updates :)
Here is the video of Charm and Me riding. Sorry none of the tack fits him property. And I know my stirrups are wrong, its not my saddle. But he is just a doll to ride. To stop him I am having to pull on his mouth. we also have a little trouble turning. He will need lots of bridle work but I just love him. He is a big baby.... Right now charms schooling 30 min, 5 day a week. The trainer I work under says we could just ride him once a week for about 20 to 30 min to go along with ground schooling.
Hi Christena - I think it is important that you do get some tack that does fit properly. Badly fitting tack can cause all sorts of problems - discomfort, pain and even damage to the horses back. It can also affect their behaviour. If you are having to pull on his mouth then he most probably needs some work on listening to the riders cues as constant pulling can bruise the soft tissues. Working with a Dually halter and plenty of groundwork will most definitely help with that. I am glad that he is turning out to be a nice boy and so happy that you rescued him, sounds like he will make a good riding horse without too many problems.
Where's the video?
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F%3Fclient%3Dms-android-toshiba%26tab%3Dw1&client=ms-android-toshiba&tab=w1&gl=US#/watch?v=dQSZDqeKfxg
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Sry about that.
We are getting all his measurements tonight and ordering him all now tack. The saddle that I used fit him fine. It was just set up for a shorter rider then me. For my norm saddle I need to get a bigger cinch. The bridle we used today was for a quarter horse and it was on its last hole. The bit was just a standered d ring. We hopt to have all the new tack next week. Thanks so much.
Hi Christena - good to see you are getting him some new tack. I watched the first half of the video then something happened and I lost it. From what I saw though he seems a very quiet, gentle soul, I do not think he has the necessary fire in his belly to make a racehorse so perhaps it was his destiny to come to you. And I also want to say that you have great body language moving around him, very calm and relaxed. I think the two of you have a great future together as riding partners.
I am so happy its working out for both of you. I think you are going to have a lot of fun with your guy.
When ordering a dully halter would I need the medium or large for him?? he does have a big head,
What size of dully would I order for charm? the medium or large? My rope halter that is use on all horses (quarter horses mostly) is to small and tight for him but not for the other horses if that helps trying to pick a size.
At 17.2 hands he is a big boy so unless his head is small for his body I believe you will need the blue dually which is the biggest - this is confirmed by your description of the rope halter too. Each dually has quite a bit of flexibility in it as it has numerous holes to use. Given he is a thoroughbred his head will not be that large so you will probably need to do your blue halter up on the lower holes. Just make sure it fits him snuggly as in the video that comes with it. Have fun!
Thanks SO much. I was thinking the blue but was starting to 2ed guess my self.
Charm has been doing so well. However yesterday he was found lame in the turn-out run. He acts like he has a stone in his hoof but its clean. He can hardly walk on the gravel. When I got to the stables and check him out, I found that he has a hole next to his frog going into what looks like the digital cushion. We have the farrier coming tomorrow to look at him and see if we need a vet. He is not very happy being in the stall but we had to put him on dry-dock. This is suck a sad thing, he was doing very well.
What a bummer! If he has a hole in his hoof it would be as well to flush it out with antiseptic just in case there is any dirt in there, sounds like he has trodden on something sharp.
We are washing his hooves. He is getting better not as lame today as he was yesterday. I did take him to the round pen just so I can see him move better. We also tested him to see about his reaction to a whip after his abuse and He was 100% fantastic. He would let me pet him all over with it no reaction. It was only when I stood about 10 feet from him and whipped the air did he toss his head. but never tried to run. So I let him of the long line and taped his rump with it to see if He would go and once the whip taped him he would stop plant is feet and not move. He is so funny. I have video of today I will upload it for every one to see.
Hi Christena - sounds as if he may have an abcyss forming where you can see the hole. Try resting his hoof in a plastic container ( I use an ice cream container) of warm salty water as this may draw the infection out. The farrier maybe able to cut a bit of the hoof away to let the puss out too. Abcysses are very painful for them and they can get them from treading on sharp and hard things such as broken glass and rocks. Worse when their hooves are soft after a lot of rain. If he is getting better that is a good sign. I suspected my mare of having an abcyss yesterday but she is much better to-day after a good soaking in warm salty water a couple of times - I have even cancelled the vet visit at this stage. If he does deteriorate get the vet as he will need to have the abcyss drained and he may also need a course of antibiotics. Keep him confined as much as possible. Generally they recover well from an abcyss but they do need some special care - cutting the hoof to allow the abcyss to drain by a professional, confinement, bathing the hoof in salt water a couple of times a day and sometimes antibiotics. If the abcyss isn't drained at the point of inpact they can burst through just above the pastern so you may watch for this - just like a big boyle.
I've had an asbcess burst out just above the hoof - revolting and smelly, but as soon as it had burst the lameness disappeared. In addition to Maggie's suggestion of salt water bath you can also use a baby's nappy (diaper) soaked in hot water and taped onto the bottom of the hoof with duct tape to make a kind of poutice which also draws out any dirt or infection. A cheap remedy but an effective one, and it needs to be changed every 12-24 hours. Hope he is getting better. Sounds like his groundwork is going well - he is obviously not scared of the whip, just doesn't like it!
Dear Christena - let´s hope he is well without injurys - there is always a time BEFORE Join-Up(r) - you need to give the horse the opportunity to find the slightest trust in humans before Join-Up(r) - the horses like him has given up on human kind - start a 0 because if all training is 1-10, 0-1 is the most important. let him be a horse first and foremost - a couple of week - give HIM the time HE needs and you will do beautiful together! Time is not important - Good horses are!
Warmest Ann and I wish you the best of luck
Hello everyone. Charmer is better, he is walking without limping. He looks much better. So yesterday I put him in the round pen again and just to watch him move freely without a lead. However, he will not move forward. I have tried to toss the long line at him and he would not move. Our vet was out also and watched this he said that there is no pain he should be walking. On the lead rope I can get him to walk with no problem BUT not off the line. What could I do to get him to move forward.
If you are absolutely sure there is no physical reason, then you could try the giddy up rope that Monty uses. Also see the lessons 'Walter won't go forward' - some useful tips in them.
I am thinking about the giddy up rope. and I have it also noted to watch Walter. Thanks.
Also, longlining from the Dually halter might help give him some impulsion, and it would help you see from the ground how he moves too.
BIG PROBLEM just came up. I have been working with Charmer and he is doing wonderful. He stands for a bath, farrier and grooming. He is such a sweet boy. His hooves are getting much better. Farrier said his frogs are rotten but are starting to mend. He said if I wanted to start riding him I could.
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Well since Thursday (8/30) I have been out of town. So the ranch hands have been taking care of him for me. This morning I got a call saying Charmer was lashing out at anyone that tries to enter his stall. Over the past few days he had one ranch hand pined in the corner, (Thank GOD he didn’t hurt the guy). He had reared up on another that was going to put a lead on him to let him in the field. Hearing this, I rushed over there to find out what is going on. This was not like my sweet boy. I got there and he let me walk right into his stall with no issue.. He was very calm. Talking with the ranch manager we decided, I will walk away and hide around the corner and lets see if he does it again. Once I was out of site, ranch hand tried to enter his stall and he goes mad. We are lost as to what could have happened.
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Yes when we brought him home from the tack. I was the only one that cared for him and tended to him. Could it be that I am the only one he trust and if so what could I do to stop this aggressive behavior around the other workers?
Are the people who tried to handle him all male? If so, could be that he is afraid of men - you mention that he was being whipped when you first saw him, was that by a man?
I never thought of that. Yes all ranch hands are guys and Yes he was whipped by a guy.
Looks like that could be your problem. This is not the first time I have heard of this - I was once bitten very badly by a horse that hated women. This is an interesting topic - might be worth directing a question to Monty himself as to how best deal with it, or contact one of his Join Up trainers. You may have to enlist the assistance of a very calm, experienced and sympathetic male just to spend some time around the horse without actually handling him - perhaps in the next stall out of reach for safety reasons.
Hi Christena - yes, I believe that this is your problem. My Pie was totally brutalised by a male when she was only three and she has been terrified of males ever since - and yes she would also go into full attack mode as Charmer does unless I was by her side. The only way I could get a male vet near her was to stand at her head and feed her the biggest carrot I could find while the vet tranqualised her. Charmer has obviously been totally brutalised by men in the past and now he is fighting back. Spend time with him to re-assure him (be mindful) and only allow men near him once you have the dually on him and always be there with him yourself.
I'm glad you rescued that poor horse! Keep working with him the best you can!
Christena, maybe you should look into trying the Giddy-up rope, since that has been used for horses who have been whipped alot.