It will. It just takes time for them to create new muscle and learn to carry their head in a new way. I had a huge llama when I first got my mare. Just took some time, patience and work.
Lots of good advice. Long and low work, cavaletti, hills- stuff to encourage him to go forward with energy from behind.
Bitting down is something else to consider, if you haven’t yet. We generally throw a Herm Sprenger Duo or a nathe on every OTTB or mouth-sensitive horse who comes into the barn, too. Some of them don’t stay in that but all of the higher level event horses in our barn even run XC in Duos. It is super-soft and can help the horse want to go into the bridle.
[QUOTE=foursocks;8675798]
Lots of good advice. Long and low work, cavaletti, hills- stuff to encourage him to go forward with energy from behind.
Bitting down is something else to consider, if you haven’t yet. We generally throw a Herm Sprenger Duo or a nathe on every OTTB or mouth-sensitive horse who comes into the barn, too. Some of them don’t stay in that but all of the higher level event horses in our barn even run XC in Duos. It is super-soft and can help the horse want to go into the bridle.[/QUOTE]
That’s my go to bit. He hated it. I was rather disappointed. I have him in a D ring roller bit with copper, he goes a lot better in it. Other bits that I really like are rubber mullen mouth snaffles, waterfords. If anyone has any other suggestions bit wise.
Mine is happier in a French link than in something with a single joint - might be worth considering. Keep in mind you’re asking him to build new muscles to carry his head lower so it is a slow process where you’re hoping for maybe 1% improvement on a daily basis. Give a ridiculous amount of praise when he reaches forward or out with his head at all while you’re riding.
[QUOTE=BostonHJ;8676156]
Mine is happier in a French link than in something with a single joint - might be worth considering. Keep in mind you’re asking him to build new muscles to carry his head lower so it is a slow process where you’re hoping for maybe 1% improvement on a daily basis. Give a ridiculous amount of praise when he reaches forward or out with his head at all while you’re riding.[/QUOTE]
He was originally in a herm sprenger French link/dog bone. He much prefers the single joined D roller (much to my surprise)
[QUOTE=anicolle;8675638]
Tried side reins!! Really didn’t make any sort of difference. I do have a chambon. That’s actually what I used on my old OTTB (when he wasn’t old) to get him to properly use himself. It did wonders.[/QUOTE]
Of course it didn’t make a difference right away. You have to teach him how to use the sidereins. You can’t just throw them on a fresh off the track TB and expect him to know what to do.
He isn’t ewe-necked; he’s muscled. Change his muscling and that bulge will disappear. Is this your first OTTB? I’d be involving a trainer ASAP to show you how to teach a horse to use side-reins and how to work with OTTBs.
[QUOTE=beowulf;8676182]
Of course it didn’t make a difference right away. You have to teach him how to use the sidereins. You can’t just throw them on a fresh off the track TB and expect him to know what to do.
He isn’t ewe-necked; he’s muscled. Change his muscling and that bulge will disappear. Is this your first OTTB? I’d be involving a trainer ASAP to show you how to teach a horse to use side-reins and how to work with OTTBs.[/QUOTE]
Excuse me but you must not of read anything I’ve said.
Yes this is my first OTTB that I personally went and picked right up off the track, brought home, rode him 3 days after, he walks, trots, canters, both directions, circles, transitions, hacks around the ranch with me. Chills in turn out for several hours a day…
Not my first thoroughbred, my 18 OTTB acts way more off the track than this horse has ever.
Actually lounged him in a chambon today, it was a better fit for him than side reins.
If I was ambitious and really wanted to I could spend 9 months out of 12 on the road showing all over the country and assistaning with trainers and clients. ??
I choose to stay at home, do some grooming/management stuff with young horses than are left behind and ride my really old thoroughbred and the ewe muscled llama horse. I should obviously change my title to the under neck muscled horse.
Thanks everyone, love seeing all the before and afters of your horses!
I wasn’t able to watch the video last night…he’s fine. No worries.
Yes, I am already seeing great results in my OTTB’s neck and topline. I have had him since late January and he was very green and recovering from neglect also. I was away from the barn for a week (he is ridden by my trainer 3x per week), and when I returned yesterday his nexk was even more muscular and when I rode he was going on to the bit and much more balanced.
I recommend going on the OTTB Connect group on FaceBook for inspiration and before/after pics! Your boy will improve with correct work and training.
[QUOTE=anicolle;8676478]
Excuse me but you must not of read anything I’ve said.
Yes this is my first OTTB that I personally went and picked right up off the track, brought home, rode him 3 days after, he walks, trots, canters, both directions, circles, transitions, hacks around the ranch with me. Chills in turn out for several hours a day…
Not my first thoroughbred, my 18 OTTB acts way more off the track than this horse has ever.
Actually lounged him in a chambon today, it was a better fit for him than side reins.
If I was ambitious and really wanted to I could spend 9 months out of 12 on the road showing all over the country and assistaning with trainers and clients. ??
I choose to stay at home, do some grooming/management stuff with young horses than are left behind and ride my really old thoroughbred and the ewe muscled llama horse. I should obviously change my title to the under neck muscled horse.
Thanks everyone, love seeing all the before and afters of your horses![/QUOTE]
On the contrary, I did read your posts. You aren’t going to magically see a difference with side-reins by throwing them on a fresh OTTB. Side-reins are a tool that need to be introduced gradually - the first few sessions they should be loose but there so they get used to the movement and the mechanics; it also gives them time to explore the action of side-reins and develop a feel of contact with their mouth, which is not something they usually learn on the track. After a few sessions you should be able to gently tighten them until they are active against a bracing horse - but you will not see a sudden difference unless you take the time to use the equipment appropriately and properly.
Judicially applied, the side-reins can be some of the best tools to develop an understanding of contact; they are unbiased, they release with the right behavior, and they offer a far more consistent ‘hand’ than any human ever could. My preference is to start OTTBs (once I’ve established they understand lunging basics) in loose side-reins clipped from the belly of the girth through a martingale/breastcollar/stirruphold (to quiet the ‘jangling’ that loose side reins can sometimes do) and clip to the bit to encourage them to reach down.
I also, if you have it, would highly suggest doing pole-work. I’d limit the lunging to two sessions a week max, as I don’t think it’s all that great for them especially immediately post track - but you can change a lot about a horse’s way of going simply by doing lots of walk poles every ride. You should see a difference in a few weeks.
Just because you’ve had a TB before doesn’t mean you’re a maven at OTTBs; which is why I asked if a trainer was involved. OTTBs can be fun and very rewarding but they are challenging and it is always imperative to have a pair of older, sager eyes on the ground to help you through the retraining process.
