I have two gorgeous ex racehorses. The first one is Max, he is a 16.1 Chestnut who raced 32 times as a National Hunt Horse. During his career he became very traumatised by racing and refused to run on several occasions, he was then retired at 8 and retrained for hunting / hacking and was a really great horse for both, he was then sold a year ago and hunted very heavily by a hard handed man who was very hard and strong with him, and then he ended up at the Ascot Sales again, and thats' where I come in. He is now 10 years old and a real gentle giant, he is a little anxious still when being ridden but is settling down well with a good routine and gentle treatment. He is in a happy mounth jointed snaffle and seems to like that.
My second horse is Duke a 15.1 ex flat racehorse who was too slow, and was retrained as a polo pony but was not sharp enough and now at 8 he has come to live with me and Max. he is a little bit grumpy but he did come to me with rain scald and mud fever both of which are healing nicely. He won't hack alone as yet but is perfect in company.
The question I have is how do I get a strong bond with these horses without the use of a round pen or anything similar? I am on a busy eventing livery yard where the boys are on part livery as I have a young family and I am down there for 4 hours every other day. Am I kidding myself that they will see me as a leader when I am not there every day or can anyone offer me some good solid advice to help me establish a bond with them both. They are both great in the ground.
Thanks
Sarah
My second horse is Duke a 15.1 ex flat racehorse who was too slow, and was retrained as a polo pony but was not sharp enough and now at 8 he has come to live with me and Max. he is a little bit grumpy but he did come to me with rain scald and mud fever both of which are healing nicely. He won't hack alone as yet but is perfect in company.
The question I have is how do I get a strong bond with these horses without the use of a round pen or anything similar? I am on a busy eventing livery yard where the boys are on part livery as I have a young family and I am down there for 4 hours every other day. Am I kidding myself that they will see me as a leader when I am not there every day or can anyone offer me some good solid advice to help me establish a bond with them both. They are both great in the ground.
Thanks
Sarah