Re-schooling horses that are not OTTB's ? Pls tell me about yours ?

A

ArcticIce

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 March 2011
Messages
93
Visit site
Hi :) Lurker coming out of the woodwork here!

I have been lucky enough to have had several OTTB's over the years to reschool, which I loved but I was interested to hear about other types of horses that have needed re-schooling if anyone has any experiences of this ?

Not so much horses that have issues but horses that are very established in one area/discipline but for whatever reason have changed.

My current horse has spent his life doing pretty much one thing (he's not a TB) and now, at 10, I am having to re-educate him as I don't just want to do that (in fact, after I bought him I realised I didn't really want to do what I bought him for at all! He's very good at what he does but I am too fond of him to sell him).

It's fun and he seems to be willing and happy doing other stuff now but I have never been in this position before!

Would love to hear your stories (if there are any!) Thanks :)
 
Last edited:
What's an OTTB??? All that comes to mind is over the top thoroughbred??? lol but i guess it's not that!

I've reschooled several for other disciplines (e.g. ex racehorse, dressage horse, happy hacker etc) - i've found it really rewarding. Actually my main horse is meant to be a dressage horse but he's ending up an endurance horse - much more fun in his opinion, and I have a feeling that as soon as I take him drag hunting (next autumn) that's going to turn out to be his 'thing'!!! It's really cool finding what they enjoy.
 
OTTB = off track thoroughbred. :)

I reschooled an ex-endurance horse that hadn't been ridden for four years. She actually had never seen a jump-pole, so getting her to walk over a single trotting pole was the hardest part of her training. She ended up enjoying jumping and after alot of work (and lessons) was quite nicely schooled.

DSCN3807.jpg


This was actually her second ever jump, jabbing her in the mouth was obviously not an option! ;)
 
:o - yes - OTTB's = Off The Track TB's ..sorry!

Great that your ex-endurance horse has taken to her new career Faracat :)

The first coloured poles I jumped on my chap were a bit interesting and I was also flinging my hands at him to avoid catching him in the mouth.

He's only ever jumped natural obstacles and hacked so schooling and SJ's are very 'interesting' for him!
 
Before i got Major (an ex racehorse) i had a warmblood that had hunted all his life (as in hunt all winter, summer off that's all he did) i was told that he would not show jump however hard i tried and hadn't been schooled. Here he is after a bit of time and patience...

5736_123374554238_588139238_2223030_1850915_n.jpg


59416_431047934238_588139238_4803528_7647349_n-1.jpg


229474_19477309238_588139238_582718_5112_n.jpg
 
We think my boy was raced driven by travellers. In process of re schooling and it's hard. He's 14 and too strong and pain conditioned but I am seeing baby steps of success.
 
Girlracer - Nice pics :) He did ok changing career then :)

Spotsrock - That must make things difficult, it's a whole reconditioning game when they have ingrained responses to pain as well as learning a new trade. Glad it's coming along :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top