Chelsea Whalen beforehand had some expertise coaching and retraining horses however had by no means labored with an off-the-track Thoroughbred. She embraced the problem of transitioning a former racehorse right into a Hunter Jumper. Chelsea discovered her excellent match at New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program. Most of the horses that go to New Vocations are put right into a retraining program for a brand new self-discipline once they arrive.
Chelsea had a listing of particular standards for her potential horse. She sought a horse below 5 years outdated with clear x-rays, “a horse who was extra uphill,” and one with a swish gait. She was capable of verify all the things off her checklist when she was launched to Cambi Lion, a 2018 son of Medaglia d’Oro. He had raced only some instances, with 5 begins however some substantial earnings in his brief profession, having raced at Saratoga, Belmont Park, and Gulfstream Park. He was beautiful – a tall, darkish bay gelding who regarded like the right candidate to change into Chelsea’s new associate.
After unloading Cambi Lion from a quiet trailer experience, Chelsea settled him into his new stall to acquaint him along with his environment. This allowed him to go searching the barn and see different horses whereas being safely confined to a stall. Following his preliminary settling-in interval, Chelsea took him for a stroll across the property, permitting him to familiarize himself with the whole barn and its surrounding space. Over the primary week or in order that Cambi Lion was on the farm, he progressed to being turned out with different horses and settled into his new night time turnout routine.
Sadly, Cambi Lion had a damaged splint bone and wanted to be on stall relaxation for about two months earlier than Chelsea might begin working with him. As soon as the 2 months had been up and he was absolutely healed, Chelsea started the retraining course of, each within the saddle and on the bottom.
Below-saddle work represents half of the problem in coaching a horse; the opposite half lies in groundwork. Regardless of Cambi Lion’s familiarity with varied dealing with duties, it remained essential to constantly work on floor manners to make sure continued good conduct. Due to Chelsea’s steady effort, Cambi Lion now has wonderful floor manners and tolerates many conditions.
Chelsea began with Cambi Lion on the lunge line to judge his vitality ranges, willingness to work, and responsiveness to her voice. After observing Cambi Lion’s competence, willingness, and attentiveness on the lunge line, Chelsea decided it was time to start using him. “The beginning of the retraining course of begins with using on the flat,” wrote Chelsea. Through the preliminary weeks, she centered closely on stress and launch strategies, primarily centered round prompting Cambi Lion to answer her leg aids. Retired racehorses additionally require instruction on how to answer rein cues for steering inside a brand new self-discipline, a ability that always wants perfecting after a horse comes off the observe. Chelsea started instructing Cambi Lion that the reins served as a way to information him within the desired route, hoping he would catch on rapidly.
Whereas Chelsea could not pinpoint a particular second when she felt Cambi Lion was prepared to start out leaping, she vividly recollects the methodical strategy she took in making ready him. “Arguably, I began coaching for leaping disciplines as quickly as I started using,” wrote Chelsea. Their journey started with working towards over floor poles after which constructing from there. Floor poles are an effective way to get a horse used to going over one thing and to study to not get nervous or anxious about it. As his “confidence grew and his power improved,” Chelsea then labored with small jumps and continued to boost the peak. When Cambi Lion was prepared, he was capable of cruise round small programs with out a downside. Leaping rapidly turned satisfying for Cambi Lion, showcasing each his enthusiasm and pure expertise for his new sport.
SEE RELATED RE-TRAINING TIP FEATURE: “The right way to Train Your Retired Racehorse to Bounce” HERE.
Retraining an off-the-track Thoroughbred calls for vital effort and endurance, even for essentially the most seasoned coach. Chelsea had the glory of working with an in depth coaching good friend of hers, Freda Jessen. Freda, having labored with quite a few ex-racers all through her profession, was an skilled coach in seamlessly transitioning OTTBs to new careers. Along with Freda’s steerage, Chelsea had help from one other coach good friend, whose experience additional facilitated Cambi Lion’s development into the hunter/jumper world. Given the damaging nature of coaching a horse alone, it’s safer and simpler to work with somebody who has a background in it.
Cambi Lion was doing so properly that Chelsea determined to take him to his first horse present simply three months into his retraining. She hadn’t initially meant to point out him; slightly, she introduced him alongside to acclimate him to the ambiance of a horse present. Impressed by Cambi Lion’s distinctive calmness, Chelsea determined to enter him in his very first flat class. Cambi Lion remained remarkably composed whereas on the present and within the present ring. After roughly 5 months of devoted coaching, Cambi Lion entered his first actual leaping competitors. Chelsea was assured in his skill to each behave and carry out properly. After observing Cambi Lion’s rising confidence at dwelling over jumps and his growing consolation with off-site adventures, Chelsea acknowledged that he was prepared to start his present horse profession.
The Jockey Membership helps many aftercare initiatives together with the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the one accrediting physique in aftercare, and Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), which inspires the retraining of Thoroughbreds into different disciplines upon completion of careers. View the entire initiatives supported by The Jockey Membership.
