OTTB

[Rider2020]

Hi. I am not new to owning horses or training but I have never worked with a OTTB fresh off the track. I found a 4 year old Gelding who came off track last year and was set out to pasture. I am trying to get advice from anyone who has experience. Is this a challenge I want to take on?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Yes absolutely if you are brave and have guts! I did this, its awesome , its not been an easy journey but i wouldnt change him for the world. Pm if you want 😊

 

[Rider2020]

Yes absolutely if you are brave and have guts! I did this, its awesome , its not been an easy journey but i wouldnt change him for the world. Pm if you want 😊

Thank you Barton Bounty. I definitely feel like I can do it. It's just the unknown of it. I will most definitely message you. Thank you!

 

[Goldenstar]

I love them and would have another in a heartbeat if I was 20 years younger .
But you need to know how to retrain a horse or have good help .

 

[Rider2020]

I love them and would have another in a heartbeat if I was 20 years younger .
But you need to know how to retrain a horse or have good help .

I have retrained other breeds. Just never a TB. I have also trained a Blind Quarter horse to barrel race and do other events. Than worked on breaking and training at a horse farm. The trainer I was working with in the past just told me that TB's are a handful and get become overwhelming. I feel like I have the skills to do it with lots of patience and time, and consistent working with ground work.
Do you have any tips? I am going to see him Saturday and would love some pointers on what good signs would be.
From what I have been reading and researching is to make sure he has a good temperament with people.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

From your term OTTB I am guessing you are in the States?

Horses over there are very differently trained to your British racehorses. They are very institutionalised and have strict, set routines that they follow day in day out. They are very rarely turned out when in work and are always worked on the track.

But given that this horse has been turned away for a year you should be able to get on and treat him like a youngster that was broken to ride then turned away to mature. The horse will never have jumped so that will need taught from scratch. Racehorses know short stirrups, up out of your saddle and taking a hold of the bit means go faster. Long stirrups, riding in the saddle and loose reins mean chill for a jog or lob.

They really aren't daft and pick things up easily and quickly - the good and the bad!

 

[Goldenstar]

There are some problems you almost bound to have in tb’s coming out of training .
Poor feet , they have high grain diets from a young age they are shod young and you will unless you very lucky have to deal with the fall out from this .

They have often done nothing alone so you need to remember that in their re training and address it .

Some are money pits with the vet they are cheap to buy because they pay for numerous vets to have nice winter holidays and the like .

They will choose the job they do as a second job that might not be the job you chose my last one should have been a show horse I did not want a show horse that was my error I ought to have embraced what he was telling us he’s happy now on loan as a hack .

Don’t assume they will want to stabled and pampered some love the outside life mine lives out all year in his new home and he’s a happy boy out with his mates .