So…you’re thinking about getting an off-the-track-Thoroughbred (OTTB), but you’ve heard some things that concern you…

“They’re all lame”

“They’re all crazy”

“It will take you years to retrain one”

“OTTBs aren’t good on trails”

“OTTBs are hard keepers”

In the interest of setting the record straight, we’re embarking on a little “myth busting”.Over the next few weeks we’ll talk about the myths–and the realities–of acquiring and retraining horses off the track. By the way: CANTER strongly urges anyone who is considering a horse off the track to have a pre-purchase exam done to ensure that the horse they are considering is suitable for the job that it will be asked to do. It can save you heart ache, and it’s only fair to the horse to understand any potential limitations. We also suggest that you consider professional training assistance if you are not experienced with OTTBs.These are (generally) green horses that have been trained to do a job that’s likely quite different than what you’ll be asking of it… All this said: there are thousands of talented, sane, gorgeous OTTBs out there just waiting for a chance to shine once their racing days are over.

Myth Busting 101:
“They’re All Crazy!”

No, they’re not.

But it is important to note that OTTBs are bred and trained to react quickly and operate at full speed much of the time…A racing-fit horse is tightly tuned to enable explosive physical effort during a race. To support the training regimen they are often fed large amounts of high-protein feed. Runners are typically stalled 22-23 hours per day; they are not allowed to partake of the horse behaviors typically enjoyed during the hours of daily turnout that are the norm for horses “on the farm”. And they have different “basics” — learning how to be saddled in a stall, not on the cross-ties–for example.

So, the prospective OTTB owner:

• Must have a transition plan;
• Should understand their own level of ability and level of interest in/commitment to retraining, and set goals accordingly;
• Needs to accommodate the physical & physiologic transition of the horse as it transforms from a racing machine on high-octane fuel to its new job. Ensure that you know what your horse was eating at the track and slowly transition to a lower-protein feed (and likely smaller quantities of that feed!) in order to help “let down” your horse. Do be cautious: you do not want your new horse to drop weight, and you may need to experiment to find the optimum nutritional regimen for your horse.

Understanding of the OTTB’s past training should help a new owner to avoid potential problems.  There are good resources available on retraining ex-racers; we’ve listed a widely-read book at the end of this article.

Is My New Horse Crazy, or Is He Simply Adjusting?

First: let’s cover some things that folks might mean by “crazy” when referring to OTTBs …Does “crazy” mean:

“He freaked out on the cross-ties and almost killed himself!”

At the track horses are tied in their stalls when being groomed and saddled. Unless they’ve had experience on a farm and been trained to cross-tie–which is the exception, not the rule–you will need to teach them the basics:

• Introduce your horse to cross-ties slowly; consider attaching only one side at first–holding the lead line in your other hand. Groom the horse on the cross-ties until he relaxes. Once he is consistently comfortable you can experiment with letting the horse feel a bit of pressure–so that they understand the “limits” of the cross-ties. Eventually you can attach both sides, being sure that the cross-ties have safety break-away features.
• Remember not to leave them alone on the cross-ties until you are sure that they are comfortable and won’t spook when cross-tied. When you are first working with the horse attached on both sides remember not to walk away. Gather your brushes and tack and have them ready to go so that you prepare and tack up the horse, then move them off the cross-ties, without incident.
• Ensure that there are no hazards in the immediate area where you cross-tie your horse, including pitch forks, trash bins, hoses on the floor, etc.

“He panicked when I went to mount him and put my foot in the stirrup!”

Horses at the track are generally not used to mounting blocks, nor to having a rider get on from the ground.

Often the exercise rider is given a leg while the horse is walking forward, so the horse doesn’t feel a rider’s weight tugging on a stirrup. He’s probably not accustomed to standing still while being mounted and the rider is up *fast*.

Horses at the track are also exercised (and race in) treeless, lightweight saddles.

When tackling mounting once home, a traditional english saddle with a spring tree may be a new sensation, as will be the job of standing while mounted.

Patience is required to train the horse to stand quietly. You may want to consider mounting from a block to minimize torque on the horse’s back from the saddle if you first work to master standing still.

“My horse is totally fixated on his turnout buddy and panics if they are separated”

OTTBs often haven’t been turned out with other horses from the time that they are 18-24 months old…So their social skills can be a bit stunted.  Often folks new to OTTBs expect that they will be dominant and somewhat aggressive with new turnout buddies…

They are surprised to find that is quite often not the case. OTTBs often end up as low man on the totem pole, in fact. So pick turnout buddies carefully and “go slowly” when introducing your new OTTB to potential turnout mates.

(It’s also good practice to quarantine any new horse to ensure that you aren’t introducing any illness into the barn…so “go slowly” for all the right reasons…not just turnout safety!)

OTTB owners sometimes report to us that their new horse gets fixated on a stable mate, or turnout buddy. During the adjustment period–when  a horse is first acclimating to the new regimen away from the track–separation from a buddy may cause the OTTB to get agitated and call repeatedly,  run the fence line,  or to kick in the stall…

While most horses settle into farm life without incident, “civilian life” is very, very different from what the horse typically experiences at the track. There are generally horses in the shedrow 24 hours per day, there is a great deal of activity at many points throughout the day and the routine is the same, day after day.

By contrast, at many stables there is only a burst of activity during morning and evening feeding…with little activity at other times. Your new OTTB may not have a line of sight to barnmates, or their pasture pal may disappear for a long trail ride, or schooling session.  Make sure that your new OTTB can see and hear his equine companions at all times to minimize stress, especially if their pasture mate is off being ridden.

If you have an in/out setup that often works wonders for a horse first arriving from the track, as they can dissipate nervous energy and adjust to outside life at their own pace.

Try to spend some extra time at the barn with your horse during the first few days home so that you have the opportunity to observe them in their new setting and reassure them if they get anxious. Remember: at the track horses are generally handled by the same groom day-in-and-day out, so they learn to form strong attachments to “their person”. This ability to bond tightly is one of the aspects that many OTTB owners especially appreciate about their horses.

OTTBs are generally quite intelligent and adaptable, so any drama will likely be short-lived!

___________________________________________________________

These are just a few of the “crazy” labels that we see applied…you’ve probably heard others. Your new OTTB probably isn’t nuts…but he does need retraining.

So be patient, and be aware that during the learning process your horse may have moments of panic.

Try to establish a workable routine to help your horse gain confidence in their new environment and talk with other, experienced OTTB owners to gain their insights.

You may find this book useful:

Beyond the Track: Retraining the Thoroughbred from Racecourse to Riding Horse (Paperback) ~ Anna Ford (Author), Amber Heintzberger (Author)

Good luck with your OTTB!