Retraining a racehorse to carriage drive - Diamond (10yo Thoroughbred ex-racehorse)

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Diamond, a 10yo Thoroughbred ex-racehorse who has had treatment for kissing spines and ulcers, was sent to us to be retrained for driving. Retraining of racehorses for riding is common, but retraining an ex-racehorse for carriage driving is somewhat rarer! Here we show what Diamond achieved during his time with us and how he has taken to his new career in harness. We show him being driven as a single, pair and as a team leader. This shows that Thoroughbred horses can be driven and that even if they can no longer be ridden, they could still be broken to drive.
Horse Drawn Promotions - Breaking horses to harness.
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[@vermillionskye3298]

So lovely to see other people believe that a Thoroughbred can be driven. It took me about two months to get my 17 year old OTTB to fully transition into driving and he is wonderful. So many people here did not believe that an OTTB could be trained to drive, especially if they were eventing shortly before driving. We proved them wrong!

[@lynnhargreaves8762]

First time Ive ever seen a Thoroughbred driven but his face and attitude says it all, hes loving the life what a star he is! great Job!!!

[@barryhook2]

Thank you - he certainly enjoys his new career and is a good, honest horse. I hope this video helps people look at ex-racehorses in another light. More might be retrained and rehomed if people knew they would make driving horses as well as riding horses. They may not be a typical "harness horse" but as you say with the right training they could excel in this discipline. Maybe the RoR charity could sponsor a "Best Thoroughbred Harness Horse" class!

[@margerykirner8978]

Race horses are very smart, they have seen a lot of things, while at the track.

[@pipr5070]

You can see by his whole demeanour that he’s happy as a clam doing his new job.

[@barryhook2]

Yes - the idea is that the whistle becomes a cue to relieve himself, hence why Barry started whistling as Diamond begin urinating. This can help if you want to train your horse to go in a bucket to help keep bedding dry, or to encourage him to stale before he enters the show ring for example.

[@jeanpittenger4112]

the horse looks like he's enjoying himself and picks his feet up when he trots

[@barryhook2]

Hello, although every horse is different, Diamond was with us for approximately 6 weeks. In that time he was broken to drive as a single, pair and a team.

[@comesahorseman]

Whole new world for this fella; thanks to whoever owns him for giving him a chance and a new job. ;)

[@annemcgrath3659]

Lovely to see a thorpughbred happy to be driven hes happy and confident with his hsndlers and their patience and kindness

[@sandrasmith16]

I love seeing ott horses having a new and better life. He is calm relaxed on the bit . Love it. I love ott horses they are so smart given the right care and training

[@ancientsgate]

He's a beauty in harness. Tall and proud and gorgeous.

[@crookedcornerfarm1796]

Nice to see him enjoying his new job! This give me hope! I have 2 rescued ottbs one of which can never carry an adult rider again. But she said light carting would be great for him. This isnt common where I am, buy id love to try!

[@AlexandraFallenQ]

such a lovely fellow, i love seeing him move and i'm so glad to see there is one more off the track thoroughbred whose found another job. of course, i love thoroughbreds so i might be biased

[@steliannistor1878]

I have a descendant of secretariat and I’m training her right now to pull, carriage or light logs on the saddle like a QH will do…It’s not a common thing but those horses got the work ethic and the brains. In the right hands,in my hands my mare will do anything I ask of her

[@forensicgirl]

Lovely to see a horse happily enjoying his work. Diamond seems to think he is having a grand adventure!

[@annabriggs3238]

Lovely video showing how its never too late to teach an older horse new tricks and a pleasure to watch - I take it the lady driving is the owner.

[@doranifay]

Once more immensely impressed with your work...

[@Sallybunckle]

what wonderful people you are with your horses.

[@susanbrown2909]

So graceful..actually does the part real justice.

[@DeeinNZ]

Awesome to see that you don't have to stereotype a driving horse into any particular breed, that with the right nature and training, it's possible for any breed to be safely driven.

[@Sine-gl9ly]

The two wheelers had quite a workout to maintain pace with the two much larger leaders - they all did really well, though!

[@barryhook2]

Thanks for your comments - this horse has kissing spines and needs to put on more weight yet (prior to coming to us he suffered with stomach ulcers). Although I agree a collar is better in most cases, it wouldn't really be practical for either Diamond or his owner as he is still changing shape (so he'd need either a lot of collars or a lot of costly alterations!)

[@aileen694]

That answers my question about his prominent ribs! You do a wonderful job with horses Barry. Thanks!

[@ajlisknillat]

Lovely, video, thanks for sharing. He looks like he is enjoying himself and is very calm and great mind :D Love that an old racehorse gets to live another life with happiness :)

[@lindamclean8809]

He looks really elegant doesn’t he? 👍👍

[@dinatolding2826]

Lovely, Im hoping to do this with my ex racer - got a harness for him. This is such a treat to watch after all the negative comments Ive received like "thoroughbreds cant do that"

[@t.pohlmann8173]

He actually seems to enjoy the balloons. hes a sweetheart. Watching you drive all these horses really makes me jealous, do you guys take work and travel people? id come by to learn and land a hand nor problem. Currently im getting my Iceland horse mare used to the harness, she does a good job. But then again, she just is the most patient horse.... or the most stoic.

[@lornanichol3905]

fine job barry and co .i have trained lots and can still lern from you .thanks

[@cicibradley2809]

I'm new to your channel and saw the first video of this lovely fellow when he entered training with you. And it looks like the rolled toed shoes your farrier fashioned were just the right thing for him. He came to you with issues, but you gave him a new life and purpose.

[@debrakslate9541]

I have a 15 yr old Thoroughbred and we trail ride in Texas. I dream of helping him accept pulling a carriage so this is inspiring! He logs for us but is very skeptical of the metal training cart that we have. So, we have paused training.

[@1horseToomany]

Love your videos! Keep them coming. You are so patient with the horses, and they all seem so pleased with themselves whilst pulling :)

[@hackneysaregreat]

Must be a very clever horse, fun to watch.

[@tropicalhellesdongardenuk2991]

wish more folk would do this with them, love it

[@hayhay2electricboogaloo561]

at first I thought diamond was a mare because its a pretty girly name but he is a beautiful horse i can see that he is going smoothly with the carriage pull I wish you good luck with him he is a beautiful beast ps if i had a gray Arabian mare I would call her diamond

[@hannahambler1993]

any breed and any age horse can be broken to drive, as long as they are done properly. this tb looks very willing and probably enjoys being driven more than being ridden.

[@barryhook2]

Thanks Hannah Ambler - yes he was a very willing chap and he enjoyed his harness work very much, so we are pleased he's now got a new career in harness!

[@crowznest438]

This just makes me happy!

[@barryhook2]

Gracias, el collar alrededor de su cuello se utiliza en lugar de un collar de cabeza. Las partes metálicas de un collar principal puede frotar cuando se usa debajo de la brida, así que utilizar los collares rojos lugar por lo que todavía podemos atarlos si es necesario. No se sujeta firmemente, pero necesita ser ajustado de manera que no se puede extraer más de sus oídos. Disculpas por mi pobre español!

[@Beautiful_Dreamer]

Wow, and he really seems to enjoy it 🤗

[@PhyllisGlassup2TheBrim]

I bet he's enjoying life a lot more now.

[@michelelizio7414]

complimenti siete molto bravi e professionali.desideravo sapere a cosa serve il collare che il cavallo tiene stretto al collo. sicuro di una vostra risposta colgo l'occasione per salutarvi.

[@egparis18]

Diamond looks as happy as p** in s***!

[@nicolewright1655]

With his willing attitude and his indifference to outside stimuli (traffic, bicycles, yard ornaments, etc.) I would think this would make a lovely and safe riding horse? Was this horse sent to you because he was considered un-rideable? What will he do in his new profession? Do a lot of people like to drive carriages for pleasure over there?

[@nicolewright1655]

Answered my own question. Saw the "Why bitless and barefoot isn't always better - retraining a racehorse" video!

[@barryhook2]

Yes pleasure driving is quite popular here in the UK, as is competition driving and showing etc. This horse would have made a good riding horse temperament-wise but he had kissing spines; the owner's vet had advised that he take up driving as a good way to maintain muscle and condition to support his back, without any problems associated with having the weight of a rider and the fit of a saddle directly on his spine. I believe his owner still drives him around their local lanes (basically hacking but with a carriage!) to this day.

[@Haiisu]

Is there any particular reason why someone was whistling whilst the horse was relieving itself?

[@alexdenouden1]

How long does it take, to change, a TB racing horse , into a carriage horse ? ! ask you thus because somebody offered his, 2- TB racing horses to me. He showed the with a double chain, they were large (1.75 mtr) horses

[@elliepile7983]

Sorry I realise this is an older video but I find myself in a similar situation with an ex pointer with kissing spines and thinking this maybe the forward for my husband to carry on enjoying the horse and the horse enjoying his work. could I ask what make of carriage diamond is pulling as a single?

[@maryahern1618]

That kind of impact on their hooves and bones is devastating. Horses were never meant to move on pavement-- esp at a gait faster than a walk. There are now alternatives to metal shoes that address this problem.

[@barryhook2]

Hi Mary, the videos you've commented on recently are 5 years + old. With the arrival of Rhi at HDP last year, we have been experimenting with driving without shoes, with the hope of proving to many who believe it cannot be done, that it is perfectly possible. Just like using our rubber bits! Hopefully, we can encourage those who think a horse must be shod for any degree of driving (even if just a drive out on the weekend) to change their mindset. If you look at our more recent videos, you'll see our training pony (Georgie) is barefoot. Her hooves are so good and under the guidance of her barefoot trimmer, we don't currently boot up at all - though we have them and she has been trained to accept them and work normally with them should the need ever arise.

[@jeanviarengo231]

@@barryhook2 love that you are exploring barefoot for pavement use. My horse covers all grounds at all gaits barefoot - and our farrier admires how wonderfully tough his feet are.

[@tropicalhellesdongardenuk2991]

horse is lame on nearside rear

[@TheMusesOrg]

+Sonja Gaffer I believe he was dragging his back feet due to kissing spines. There is another video about this horse that explains a bit more about it.

[@wmukitty]

Is the pavement hard on the horses' joints? Do certain shoes help cushion?