Of Course I ended up with 4 YO OTTB

[LawsofMurph]

This March I was “causally” searching for a new horse after losing my guy last summer. Saw a couple that didn’t really pique my interest, but I wasn’t concerned because my budget was low at the time and my plans were really to shop seriously in the fall with a bigger budget. Plus I was still coming back from breaking my arm and had all of 5 rides since then on my friends horse under my belt. Saw a horse that immediately grabbed my attention on a facebook ad and decided to go see him. “Just to look.”

Now, my ideal next horse was going to be:

• Large Pony/Hony size
• Ideally around 10 years old
• Already well started and any Dressage experience was a plus
• Safe for a broken arm rider lol

So obviously I bought a 4 yo OTTB and who is, oh yeah, 16hh.

I’ve known OTTBS, my trainer has flipped them and her personal horse is one, and I’m not that terrible of a rider. I knew the challenges and researched even more so I could be prepared for baby brain off track shenanigans.

And he did nothing. Surely, this was just a case of OTTB gets a break from race life and then fires back up, right?

We’re nearly four months in and he is the sweetest horse I have ever met. Loves to cuddle and get face rubs, isn’t pushy, isn’t spooky. People keep checking his teeth to see if he’s really 4.
Under saddle he is so willing and smart. Not to mention, he has a very nice canter and doesn’t care about horses running up behind him. He was also the first horse I cantered after breaking my arm.

Other than being ticklish, I’m still waiting for the big baby/OTTB something to happen.
But overall I think my horse has failed as a baby OTTB

Pics of the cutest baby horse

[islgrl]

congratulations!

[DiamondJubilee]

He sounds perfect <3 Congratulations!

[nighthorse6]

I got my first OTTB in Dec and he was also 4 at the time. I’m having the same experience as you, he’s just the most perfect horse for all the reasons you described with your horse! They really are a joy aren’t they??

[chestnutmarebeware]

Congratulations, he’s beautiful!

I will toss out the caveat, though, that with horses, the equine equivalent of the human Terrible Twos generally occur around years five and six. By then the horse is confident (and on its way to becoming overconfident) about its job under saddle and has developed the musculature and strength to start making it easy to express its own opinions and push the boundaries more. Sometimes waaaay more.

With some you get them testing you with every ride.

“What happens if I just decide I’m going to canter sideways like a crab all morning?” Or “What will she do if I try backing up all the way around the ring?”

You correct each of these bids for independence (finally) and on your next ride they try something new.

Or, every time they learn something new they forget something else they’ve known for years.

“OK, I know how to pick up a balanced canter from the walk. But what is this halt that you speak of?” Or “I’m becoming the king of the cross rails, but I can’t possible canter on the right lead. Ever. In fact, I don’t even possess a right lead.”

(BTW, not a single one of these shenanigans are hypothetical—they are just a few of the delightful experiences I’ve had on my OTTBs as they started becoming confident in their new jobs. And trust me, it’s not just TBs that pull this, lol!)

Enjoy the three- and four-y-o youngsters because they still believe humans are geniuses who rule the world. Then they become teenagers…

[LawsofMurph]

@chestnutmarebeware

I will toss out the caveat, though, that with horses, the equine equivalent of the human Terrible Twos generally occur around years five and six. By then the horse is confident (and on its way to becoming overconfident) about its job under saddle and has developed the musculature and strength to start making it easy to express its own opinions and push the boundaries more. Sometimes waaaay more.

Yes, I’ve heard this before!

At least by then I will hopefully also have better developed musculature

[beowulf]

Congratulations on your beautiful new boy - I see he is the very best color, too. I wish you many years of great partnership. This is why I love OTTBs - it’s within normal for the breed for the 4 y/os to be sensible, kind souls.

[2DogsFarm]

@LawsofMurph

doesn’t care about horses running up behind him.

DingDingDing!
This why he’s an OTTB.
What a sweet face
Enjoy your new guy!

My own TB failed his 2yo Speed Test, then ponied for the trainers until I bought him as a 6yo.
Sadly, he was never a cuddler, but made up for it with talent O/F
Bombing out as a Contender:

Doing what he did best:

[Fiesta01]

Congrats!! He’s a looker.

@chestnutmarebeware

I will toss out the caveat, though, that with horses, the equine equivalent of the human Terrible Twos generally occur around years five and six.

Ha! I was just going to say to watch out for when he hits 6.

[BrownDerby]

What’s fun is the recreational bucking. I feel so good!!! but wait, there’s a squirrel!! They learn to buck to the right, say, and then not liking being off balance, buck a hard one to the left so you stay in the middle.

I love your new guy OP. And he looks so HAPPY to have his own person.

.

[Paint_Party]

He’s very cute and his photos with you are adorable. It’s obviously a love connection, so congratulations!

@Fiesta01

Ha! I was just going to say to watch out for when he hits 6.

Yup, that’s about when they go through their Smarty McFarty Pants era.

[NancyM]

Sometimes… you just see a horse, and get “that feeling”… that you need this horse. You may not have been looking for a horse, or for a horse like that. But when you get “that feeling”… the “that’s the horse I need” feeling, it’s usually best to go along with it. And those of us who have a LOT of experience with TBs, and racing, and OTTBs, know that often, THAT is the horse you need, and that horse will do the job for you. Because they are awesome… intelligent, quick, athletic, with a huge work ethic. When you are a TB person, you know how awesome they are. And they have that early race training which results in strong bones and tendons, and resilient, well developed joint surfaces for long term soundness which other breeds just don’t have, and can’t acquire. Because they aren’t thoroughbreds. I’ve never found any particular issues with 5 or 6 year old OTTBs.

[MunchingonHay]

@LawsofMurph

But overall I think my horse has failed as a baby OTTB

I am going to rephrase this for you.

He failed at being an On The Track TB. He is winning at being an OTTB.