OTTB and letting down time...

[Pink_Cadillac]

Hi there,
I recently purchased a OTTB 2 year old that was training on the track until they spotted a tendon lesion via ultra sound and decided to retire him as he be behind the 8 ball for the upcoming stake races next year. He was on stall rest from September until very recently when he was given the okay to start limited turn out. This work is being started were he is rehabbing, at ReRun, Inc… He is a big guy, at just under 16.2 hh. This is my first OTTB and am wondering if you all have any tips or advice of how to bring him back and letting him down. My plan is to give him turnout time through the winter, do ground work, and restart him in the spring. He is a Scat Daddy baby, so those of you that have had any of them go through your barns what is your take on their personality :). Thanks so much, Lisa at Rerun has been really helpful as well, giving advice and such!

Jen

[findeight]

Definitely, turn him out as soon and vet says he can. Handle him, groom, get to know him, let him get to know and trust you. But basically let him heal and reset his brain and body. He’s very much still a baby as a coming 3 year old too…he needs to do some growing before returning to work.

Have to be absolutely sure that thing is completely healed before embarking on the conditioning for retraining program so plan an exam with ultrasound around April then decide whether to start conditioning or wait.

What is his actual foaling date? If he doesn’t actually pass his 3rd birthday until later, like after mid April? I’d be inclined to leave him turned out a bit longer depending on his maturity level. Colts need actual excercise to build bone and turnout is a great way to get that while letting him let down and completely healed.

[Pink_Cadillac]

Thank you, he actually was re ultrasounded last week and got the clear to start turn out.They did not see the lesion at that point. He is being sedated at first so Lisa said she had a plan in place to get him started. He will be checked again prior to his arrival to me, the week of Thanksgiving. His foaling date is February 25th. I do not want to RUSH him at all, conformation-ally I think he is a gem!!! Thanks for the advice!!!

[dynamite0319]

Your boy is lovely!
I bought a 3yo OTTB this past January and have more or less given him the whole year off. He is on the taller side at almost 16.2 and has giant bone, but he just seemed like he needed the time off. I ride him about once a month and don’t really push him at all. The horse will tell you what he’s ready for. If you start working him and he seems agitated, I would slow down and give him more time. If you start work and he seems really into it and responds well then keep going. Of course his soundness is paramount so that should always be the priority. I don’t like to put a timeframe on any horse I start. Some horses can progress more quickly than others and the reasons can be mental and/or physical. I think the timeline you have planned right now sounds great. He will tell you if he’s ready when you start doing stuff next spring. Best of luck and have fun!

[tinah]

I’m not sweating only riding my 4 year old twice a week or so. Throw him out until late in his third year, then slowly bring him along until he’s 5-6 and starting a full work load. A little bit of slow now, and it’ll pay off when you’ve still got a sound, working horse in his late twenties. Or you can start him back in the spring and retire him at 14.

[Palm_Beach]

@Pink Cadillac

Hi there,
I recently purchased a OTTB 2 year old that was training on the track until they spotted a tendon lesion via ultra sound and decided to retire him as he be behind the 8 ball for the upcoming stake races next year. He was on stall rest from September until very recently when he was given the okay to start limited turn out. This work is being started were he is rehabbing, at ReRun, Inc… He is a big guy, at just under 16.2 hh. This is my first OTTB and am wondering if you all have any tips or advice of how to bring him back and letting him down. My plan is to give him turnout time through the winter, do ground work, and restart him in the spring. He is a Scat Daddy baby, so those of you that have had any of them go through your barns what is your take on their personality :). Thanks so much, Lisa at Rerun has been really helpful as well, giving advice and such!

Jen

He is beautiful!! I’m suspicious that they retired him due to something as minor as a tendon injury, especially if he was being pointed towards stake races. But I’m glad you have him and I hope you do really well with him!!

[Pink_Cadillac]

@Palm Beach

He is beautiful!! I’m suspicious that they retired him due to something as minor as a tendon injury, especially if he was being pointed towards stake races. But I’m glad you have him and I hope you do really well with him!!

I was as well, however what a lot of people do not understand that for the owners, donating a horse like this to an adoption and rehab center is a huge tax write off for them. So he sold as a yearling for $230,00. That is a big write off. Him having to rehab and be behind doesn’t set him up well for the spring as far as experience goes. Thank you for your kind words, I am so excited to get him home to start loving on him!