The Thoroughbred Brain

[beowulf]

Just a lighthearted thread! I haven’t ridden my TB in two weeks - and before that, he had the winter off. We’re doing some large-scale spring clean up of the property, as well as a handful of construction projects. Bonfires, heavy machinery, power tools, and a new chicken coop in his tack up area are no problem. Meanwhile… my WB got snorty over a pile of 2x4s in the grooming bay.

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holdenfire

Any good stories to share about how good natured your TB – or any horse – is? A good brain is a good brain irrespective of breed.

[Pepsy]

[Mouse_amp_Bay]

Well, my warmblood would have been right in there trying to figure out how to run that saw! It’s a good thing they don’t have thumbs!

But seriously, what a good boy and hunk of a beast. Lovely fellow

[beowulf]

@Mouse_amp_Bay

Well, my warmblood would have been right in there trying to figure out how to run that saw! It’s a good thing they don’t have thumbs!

Lol! Could you imagine a chicken coop made by WBs? It can’t be worse than anything I make…

[urban_teacher]

You have given me hope! 15 year old OTTB has been mine for a year and has gotten so much calmer with magnesium. I want to trail ride with him and I worry.

[anonevent]

They’re the best

[FjordBCRF]

Charlie is like forcefield drawn to any type of machinery. The heavier the better. Doesn’t matter if it’s being operated or not. He LOVES the days when they are mowing or brush hogging. To be fair though, he is pretty sensible and not much phases his fjord brain.

[clanter]

the one TB we had was a filly that had been injured in a pasture accident as a foal that fused her left front knee, nevertheless she was very well bred having been destine for the track. We took her in as the owners were going euthanize her.

Even with only three good legs she was exceptionally FAST. She had two speeds, Walk or RUN

She was never rideable but became the best friend companion horse for daughter’s eventing horse. This filly basically worshipped the ground he walked upon. Even though he was highly opinionated believing he was the best horse ever (which seems to be what all buckskins think) He did like her. They remained together until his death. Upon his death we expected her to come unglued, we let her she him, smell him and then she turned and walked away.

She just became another in the herd.

Once her left front lower leg exceeded a 45 degree angle she was humanly euthanized and is buried next to her freind in our family burial plot. (everyone was concerned she would break that leg in the pasture) When the company came to pick her up they knew she was to be buried next to Mulligan, they had in their records that the spot next to Milligan was for Halley.

We had her for twelve years, she was a good horse, very kind but to her end she had two speeds, Walk or Run.

[Aussie_2020]

My thoroughbreds all had good brains. Only one gave me sleepless nights for the first two years, but then I learned that the harder he worked the better he got.

@urban_teacher Hard work, mental simulation (daily!), and as much pasture time as possible. Lots of riding on the buckle, gives you confidence and let’s them learn to make good decisions. Go trail riding! And don’t poke along, think “forward march!”.

[OverandOnward]

I’m amazed that he let you take his picture from the side, even posed a bit. Instead of insisting on presenting only the end of his nose to the camera / phone.

My biggest arguments with my TB are “why do you stand so beautifully and well where I put you, except when I bring the photo device up to my face, and then all I can get is a view up the inside of your left nostril?”

Maybe your horse thinks that grooming space is his, and he didn’t sign off on the 2x4’s?

[OverandOnward]

And then there are the less unflappable specimens … the “1,000 lb Panic Button” …

18K views · 7.7K reactions | What's a trail ride without some seasoning,...

[sherian]

I had a ottb turned show horse than I bought him to event and started hacking him out. Trucks, gun fire, flags, combines were no problem, however when the neighbour stooked grain sheafs he almost dumped me - he was definitely a city boy.

[ClassyJumper]

Meanwhile over here we jumped 3ft over a puddle (all 5 times we crossed it), wide eyed stared at a runner who dared to stretch, & teleported left for an unknown reason. But at 11 years old we are staying positive and still hoping middle aged horses can continue to mature

[OverandOnward]

My last OTTB was rideable almost anywhere – unless there were signs. We weren’t often in a place with signs. Except of course at the bigger shows. DOH.

The horse was transfixed by any sign larger than maybe 3x3. Sponsor ad signs at shows are often much bigger of course! He had to stop and stare at each and every one for a good minute or so. I speculate that he was reading every word.

One horse trials started putting sponsor’s ad signs on the fronts of some of the most photographed cross-country jumps. I didn’t think we would get around! With a lot of forward encouragement he agreed to merely take an extra hard glance at each sign and then go ahead over the obstacle. Not stopping to read each one.

[jk, I know horses don’t read … well who knows for sure, really ]

[MorganMaresVT]

As a kid, the lesson horses I learned on were OTTBs and Morgans - and I was not a particularly brave or daring kid. These were just awesome lesson horses!

I’m still a Morgan person today, despite the stereotype that some people have of them being “hot, hot, hot…snorty and high stepping…” Not the Morgans I’ve had! Case in point, my young mare who just turned 6 last week. I have no arena, round pen, or otherwise fenced area to ride in, so all the riding I’ve done in the year I’ve had her has been in open fields, on the road, or trails. Last week, we had one ride which was basically a comedy show from start to finish with the ridiculous distractions that followed us.

First, as I was getting ready to get on, the landscaping company arrived unexpectedly for the first mow of the season, and as I was at the mounting rock, three stand-up mowers fired up and came off the trailer towards us. I still got on.

We headed down the road, soon to be passed by a fleet of town dumptrucks and an excavator. She just watched them go by from the side of the road where we stood.

And finally, we got caught in a torrential downpour, even though it was sunny out when we left! You just couldn’t make up this much activity in the first mile of a ride, yet the thing that made her most upset on our ride was turning around to go home- she loves going out and doing things and doesn’t like our rides to end.

I really hate the annoying breed stereotypes!

[Aussie_2020]

Oh that reminds me of a trail ride where we came upon several backpackers. In unison all our horses spun and bolted. I swear the lead horse screamed “bear” and that was that.

[findeight]

One of my TBs was a rock about saws, hammers, welders, people on the roof or in the loft, the deadly sunbeams in the indoor and even ice falls. On the trail she was alert and knew where every squirrel, deer, rabbit or kid in the bushes was so never got spooked. BUT…

There were chairs around the arena and if anybody moved one of those chairs? Lions, tigers and bears time. She would radar in on it, get right up to it then teleport to the end of the ring. Sometimes she would pass it several times before realizing the terrible risk they presented. Go figure.

[FjordBCRF]

@OverandOnward

My biggest arguments with my TB are “why do you stand so beautifully and well where I put you, except when I bring the photo device up to my face, and then all I can get is a view up the inside of your left nostril?”

I’ve created a monster. This is what I get when I reach for my phone pocket. When I’m having a real crap day, it always helps brighten it up

[beowulf]

@OverandOnward

My biggest arguments with my TB are “why do you stand so beautifully and well where I put you, except when I bring the photo device up to my face, and then all I can get is a view up the inside of your left nostril?”

I have this issue with my WB mare… Most beautiful horse I’ve ever owned, but you’d never know by the photos in my photo reel.

[urban_teacher]

Thank you. He became tender after his last shoeing so I got xrays for farrier to make corrective shoes so we’ve been doing lunge line lessons with my trainer at the walk as a way to work on balance. He took off 2 months ago from walk to 60mph and I fell so my confidence is a little shook up. Lunge lines lessons are great. but I can’t wait to ride him more.

We are also doing a lot of hand walks and I’m getting him more out on the trail but it takes time.