could i do it

Question
It has always been my dream to own a horse but i am not that finacially well off. Then i stumbled on a sight for adopting retired race horses, which are mostly the kind of horse i ride out at my stable. I have been considering purchasing one, but i wonder and doubt my ability to train a horse. i may recieve some help from my traniner  but was wondering what kind of work and training techinques goes into turning a race horse into a jumper?

Answer
Hi Samantha, I totally understand lacking adequate financing.  In some ways, it is possible to own horses on a (small) budget, if for instance  you keep them on a cheaper pasture, do not spend on truck/trailers, shows, fancy clothes/tack etc.  But keep in mind that purchasing a horse is the smallest expense you'll encounter.  There are horses available for almost-free... so while I don't want to discourage horseownership, my advice would be to work your way up to a 1/2 lease.  Learn all you can at your present barn, and maybe your skills will become sufficient so that you may help exercise other's horses, for free...

Do keep in mind that owning horses means that one has to have the means to pay for veterinary care, and savings in case of an emergency.

All in alll, I'd say spend your money on lessons.  Save and find a sponsor (you can ride someone else's horse) and go ride in a Buck Brannaman clinic, you'll learn tons about handling ex-racers. http://brannaman.com for more info/tapes etc.

As to the training techniques themselves, there are a few different ways on going about it.  What I consider important is:
1) managing the whole horse's lifestyle properly (pasture turnout with buddies helps calm hot horses and provides adequate exercise)
2) groundwork, groundwork, groundwork.. and more groundwork after you start riding them...
3) Hurry S-L-O-W-L-Y... be happy with teensy progress at first, and avoid confrontations with a horse.  
4) learn about the horse, from the point of view of the horse.  Understand his/her fears.  Understand his/her body language. Try to know when it's a physical issue, or a mental/emotional one.
5) learn when to REWARD .. and how avoid punishment if at all possible.
6) lastly, work on your riding seat on calmer schoolhorses.  Can you walk/trot/canter/small jumps, on a bareback pad, no stirrups, no holding on?  (ask your instructor for lungeline exercises for your seat)

Rena