Can an ex-racehorse make a good riding horse? Absolutely! If you are an experienced rider with time and patience, and ex-racehorse can be a wonderful addition to your stable.

If you are considering training an ex-racehorse, you should know that the training is going to be somewhat extensive, and the horse won’t be able to handle a lot of ridden work at first. Keep in mind, most racehorses are used to being ridden for very short periods of time, and they also carry their riders differently than normal riding horses. An ex-racehorse is going to know next to nothing about the type of riding you want to do, and the best way to train him to accept this new form of riding is patiently, slowly, and kindly.

It may be tempting to ask your horse for lots of ridden work. After all, most ex-racehorses are extremely fit. But keep in mind it’s a different kind of fitness—a kind of fitness that allows him to be quick and energetic. Most ex-racehorses don’t have the type of endurance that the typical riding horse has. You’ll have to help your ex-racehorse build up to that endurance level.

Another thing that’s extremely important to know is that racehorses are trained to understand that contact means Go! Let’s say your speedy guy starts to go a little speedier than you like. What’s your first reaction? To hold the reins a little tighter, of course. But while that may be a brilliant idea if you were riding a seasoned schoolhorse, your ex-racehorse is going to go even faster. Because that’s what he has been taught to do. It sounds counterintuitive, but if your racehorse starts to go a little too fast sit up straight and deep in the saddle and let up on the contact. He’ll slow down.  

Your ex-racehorse also won’t know how to respond to your leg and seat aids. For this type of training, it is best to enlist the help of someone who knows how to train green horses. Once your horse understands your seat and leg aids, he’ll better understand your rein aids as well.

When teaching an ex-racehorse, try to do things in a way that don’t remind him of the racetrack. In other words, use different tack, and don’t teach him to ride at the racetrack or anywhere that looks like one! An enclosed arena is a good choice. Racetracks tend to be noisy, energetic places, so work your horse somewhere quiet and calm. Start by teaching him at the walk, and then progress to the other gaits as he masters the previous one. Work in straight lines, large circles, and wide turns. As your horse masters each gait, be sure to include lots of transitions in your workouts.

Remember, your ex-racehorse probably gets easily excited. If you find him getting agitated because he doesn’t understand something, don’t push. Instead, go back to something he does understand, and build his confidence by working on that for a while. Take your time at each stage, and you’ll be rewarded with a wonderful riding horse.