Horse & Hound – 01 August 2019

20 Horse&Hound1 August 2019

Pictures by Peter Nixon and Getty Images

W

HETHER as a

happy hacker

or top-level

competitor, a

thoroughbred racehorse can have

a fantastic second career. But a

new lifestyle will be a big change,

as most have been raised with

carefully managed routines.

In both Flat and National

Hunt (NH) racing, horses are

trained with the aim of winning.

Body systems are conditioned

to optimise speed, strength and

endurance, in order to maximise

cardiovascular, respiratory and

musculoskeletal capacity.

Horses in training are likely

to have limited turnout, if any.

Reintroduction to grazing should

be gradual to prevent the risk of

colic, as well as the potential to

be unsettled by the comparatively

Howcanyougivea formerracehorsea flyingstartina new

discipline? In the firstofa two-partseries,DrSusanna

Ballinger MRCVSoutlinesthechallengesinvolved

Changing

places

VET CLINIC

wide-open spaces of the fi eld.

A training diet typically

comprises smaller amounts of

forage and increased quantities

of high-energy, cereal-based feed.

It is recommended to give most

newly homed former racehorses

ad-lib hay, but be aware that

thoroughbreds are often fussy

eaters and may need to be tried on

diff erent types of forage.

Instead of trying to improve

condition and topline in the fi rst

few weeks, off er small, frequent

amounts of easily digestible,

high-fi bre feeds with oil as the

source of energy. Other feeds may

be introduced, as appropriate,

once the horse has settled.

Despite every care and

attention, musculoskeletal injuries

do occur in training. These may

be acute, with sudden onset, or

as a result of low-grade repetitive

strain. If planning a high level

of athletic activity with your

ex-racehorse, do some research

by speaking to his connections

and checking racingpost.com for

any long gaps in his racing career.

There may be some wear and

tear if he has raced often, but this

means he is likely to be suffi ciently

resilient — both physically and

mentally — for his new purpose.

Race training generally

involves high-intensity exercise

in a straight line or on a sweeping

circle, so a switch to being ridden

with a contact on a surface can put

pressure on diff erent elements of

the musculoskeletal system and

may exacerbate lameness. The

horse must also adjust to changes

in tack and riding style.

With an understanding of how

these equine athletes have been

managed, however, most hurdles

can be overcome.

1

2

5

7

In his heyday, Saint

Are enjoyed a high-

profile racing career,

competing here in

the Grand National

under Davy Russell

RACEHORSE

REHAB

★

Part 1