What do trainers do with horses the days following a race (and other questions)

[secretlink]

I just picked up a horse at Sufolk on Saturday. He is a 6 y/o gelding and raced an hour before he got on the trailer to start his new life. He is sound (was before the race) but gets stiff after per his trainer. What is the routine in general for a horse after running. How many days of rest, walking, jogging... what do trainer normally do to let the horses recoup and not let their muscles get to stiff. Also this guy is fit, I know he needs to be let down, but he does not want to just do nothing...

One more thing... If anyone has access to his race and auction record I would love to see it if you would post it. His name is Woody's Apache. And if anyone has run across him in his career I would love to know that also... and if anyone has any input on his pedigree for sport....

Thanks all! He is a super sweet guy and a looker to boot
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x240/secretlink/DSCF3162.jpg
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x240/secretlink/DSCF3166.jpg

[Blinkers On]

After a race, they are cooled out and done up according to their needs and the trainer's preferences.
Feet are packed to help draw out any heat that the pounding of a race can create.
The following morning, legs are washed off and checked. A groom will jog the horse to see if they are sore or stiff for the trainer.
Then they get hand walked. We walk 30 minutes. UNLESS there is a reason not to walk the horse. ie, a significant injury or a high temp.
How many days a horse is rested really depends on the trainer and the horse.
We walk 4 days. And how many jog days also depends on the horse. If the horse came out of the race great, we will jog a mile the first day and gallop a mile the following day an then it's business as usual.
Some people will jog for days after the walk day.
It all really depends on the horse an the human involved.
I am sure that you could just turn this horse out and let it recover from the race in a paddock. Maybe a little ace to take the edge off so that he doesn't injure himself playing around. Turning him out and allowing him to walk around and feel the sun on his body might really help with any post race stiffness. You could get silly and give bute and muscle relaxants, but really just allowing the horse freedom to move around is a great thing!

[Blinkers On]

He is a very handsome fellow! Enjoy!

[Laurierace]

I turn mine out for a few days after they run assuming they came out of the race uninjured. Then its back to work as usual.

[DickHertz]

Turnout in small paddock for 4 days, 6-7 hours, then back to work as usual.

[spaghetti legs]

Oh my... HE is STUNNING!

Give him a good long active swinging walk, 30 minutes to an hour. I suppose I'd begin the re-training immediately.. there's no reason to put him out to pasture as such if he's not sour and he's healthy and fit.

[lrkrame2]

We usually give 3 days of either walking or going out in the arena for 30 or so minutes.. then the 4th day is a jog day and then back to work as usual.. but it really depends on the horse!

He's cute!!

[secretlink]

Thanks everyone, just wanted to make sure I was doing right by him. He has an in and out stall now to a dirt paddock. He jumped around a little bit the first day, but now mostly lazes about:) I can tell he is stiff/sore, but did not want to bute him as I dont know what meds he was getting before and did not want to upset his stomach. The trainer said he would come back and be sore behind for a few days...

[spooky01]

Good luck with Woody! Brenda is a close friend of mine and was so glad he found someone to love him. You could always call her as ask what he had for meds, although she uses meds very sparingly. I wouldn't hesitate to bute him, you can add some milk of magnesia to his feed to help buffer it. She usually gives them a few days of hand walking then sends them back to the track. I will pm you later with his past performance record

[secretlink]

Thanks Spooky
He is such a sweet guy, and Brenda was great to deal with. I know how busy she must be with leaving sufolk. You can tell she does right by her horses and wanted the best for him!

[secretlink]

we took him out for a walk today (and a tiny bit of trot), he did not do a thing wrong though he was stiff
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x240/secretlink/DSCF3187.jpg
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x240/secretlink/DSCF3179.jpg
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x240/secretlink/DSCF3182.jpg
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x240/secretlink/DSCF3178.jpg

[Calhoun]

Lovely horse. The third photo, the one from behind w/ the Fall foliage is beautiful. Good luck w/ your new horse.

[Blinkers On]

How lucky is that horse! And how lucky are you!
He looks like a fantastic horse, can't even see the crazy thoroughbred in him at all;)!
I hope the two of you fall deeply in love and do wonderful things together!
Thank you for giving him a wonderful home! I wish every horse off the track would find a home like yours!

[Carol Ames]

Start with some very gentle body work;:yes: concentrating the back and hhind end ; just rub/ stroke or;), if you can do some basic, non invasive TTOUCh:yes: bodywork; or, if have one, try a"soft/:yes: cold " laser

[jengersnap]

He's a cutie! If those are racing plates with toe grabs, you may want to pull them off and either go barefoot or go flat. It might be contributing to him being stiff, and toe grabs aren't exactly the best thing for turnout or tendons depending on how hard your ground is.

[Blinkers On]

Or your farrier could grind them off if he is equipped and the horse was recently shod... just say'n