The Thoroughbred Brain

[HeartsDesireEventing]

My recently retired TB is known as the super pony (no, he’s not actually a pony, but it sounds better than superhorse) - I trust him with pretty much anything. Except miniature horses, especially when they are pulling carts (they all have to have something, right? one of the neighbors trotted a mini across the field while we were riding and let’s just say we could have taught passage that evening). I’ve ridden him with fireworks going off without him blinking though (not intentionally, but random winter evening ride in the dark and the neighbors started setting them off, so…) and we used to take off for 2 hour rides into Hitchcock Woods by ourselves with zero concerns. He’s also very used to being ridden entirely in the dark, by headlamp, etc. as we tried to keep him upper level fit around my work schedule in the winter.

The new baby TB has a brain, but he is more easily overwhelmed at this point in his life. He’s been ridden with construction going on around him though (roofers were initially terrifying), as well as been off property for a bit fitting with 30mph wind gusts and been chill, so I think there’s hope for him with more exposure to life. He’s definitely a social butterfly and wants to know what everyone is doing.

[LilRanger]

For my first horse, an ott appendix, it was concrete blocks. Nothing else bothered him as much as those silent, large, not-quite-dirt-colored concrete blocks of doom.

[Christa_P]

My first OTTB was mostly bombproof, the only thing she regularly spooked at was plastic on the ground. Anything else she might look at, but really didn’t care. She also DID NOT counter canter - she was trained for auto changes either at the track (raced for 3 years) or in the H/J barn before I got her and she would just change leads. But, she did everything I asked - eventing, H/J, she schooled Dressage up to canter half-pass and 1/4 pirouette though we never competed, ADS level pleasure and combined driving and trail riding everywhere. She was also a good broodmare.

Her son got the same great brain.

My current OTTB is not quite as sensible, she has a spook and buck, especially in the spring. I won’t get on her after winter until I have ground driven her for a few days. She is a good trail horse in a group, but doesn’t like going by herself. She would probably be better if I had been able to keep her in more consistent work, but I don’t have the time or facilities to put in the hours.

[risuenaVT]

My guy is 1/4 TB, 1/4 draft, 1/2 QH, so I kinda think of him as an American warmblood…

He is a very steady eddie who usually judges other horses when they spook. A big spook for him is a muscle twitch. That said, all of that goes out the window when the green tractor is nearby and moving. Then he’s got a solid spin and run move. And he’s tried to run me over twice when I was leading him and the green tractor showed up.

The red tractor though? He could not care. It could drive within 6 inches of him and he would not budge an inch.

It made no sense until I realized that the red tractor is the one that delivers round bales in the winter…

Food tractor is cool. Non food tractor is terrifying.

[Larbear]

Eddie (ottb) cantering over a course of poles. They took down a large tree just outside of the ring (branches were initially poking into the ring over the fence). Big backhoe crashing and smashing to break things down (bucket end going up and down), dual chain saws going, loud voices, no problem!

[gradytb]

My OTTB has had a major personality mellowing out with magnesium too. Had him tested and his score was in the basement. Now on it, he hasn’t had the thumps symptoms anymore and he’s almost…sweet. He’s not an affectionate, sweet horse naturally. Now my other OTTB is in my pocket at all times! Loves affection. Super smart, so if something startles him, once he has a chance to figure it out, it’s one and done.

[Hidden_Oak]

My sister’s pony did not like the red blanket. (other colors fine) Guess what her colors were.

[beowulf]

I love Eddie!! He is such a dude.

Everyone should know I had the special privilege of seeing Eddie do one of his first cross country schools with Larbear and he acted like he’s been doing it his whole life.

[spurofthemoment]

My young OTTB is so chill, I worry that people think I drug him at horse shows. I trust him with my life on windy hacks out and I tend to be more spooked by the wind than him.

His track connections told me he was a beast and a handful to break and train. I don’t see it! He can have a buck if he doesn’t get worked and/or turned out regularly, but I feel like that’s pretty normal for any horse.

He’s just the best little guy, and I think everyone who is wary of OTTBs needs to experience one like him.

[ParadoxFarm]

@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.

Reminds me of a time when my DH and I were trail riding horses who never had been on trails before. My young mare did REALLY well. We were coming down a hill to cross a creek and from the opposite end four mountain bikers came racing down their side of the hill to the creek and splashed through it. My mare just looked at them and continued down to the creek. It freaked ME out, but not her. Then later in the day she saw a big leafed plant at ground level and spooked big time. Silly ponies.