Over the last 3 days, we ran the second module of the FEI Solidarity Retraining of Racehorses course at Selangor Turf Club Equestrian Centre.

All candidates are required to attend all ten days of this course (over 3 modules) and had to keep a log book on the horse that they are retraining. Each candidate told us about their experiences with the horse that they are currently retraining.

We did theory sessions on How Horses Learn, Dressage, Jumping and Eventing and followed it up with practical sessions of lunging, groundwork, mounting and dismounting, flatwork and jumping. There were also sessions with a farrier to talk about shoeing, and an acupuncurist to talk about alternative treatment. We also did a practical session on loading a horse onto a float.

The group looked at exercises to improve a horse’s basic flatwork – bend, responsiveness to aids, rhythm and suppleness, turning shoulders and hindquarters. We also had ex-racehorses that did their first jumping session ever. There were a few progression exercises from the first jump to a grid to jumping a full course at the end.

Mounting / dismounting

The group now has a few months before the last module in October at Perak Turf Club where we will do more training that culminates in a competition.