Tying has never been my mares strong suit (OTTB’s aren’t really taught to be tied). I tie her to baling twine and she is good 99% of the time.
Like yesterday I had here tied for a good half hour at least while I was busy doing other things. She stood there like an Angel.
He is not good with it at all. He is super nervous 24/7, the slightest things set him off. Even when I try to groom him he goes off if I touch anything past his withers. He starts biting, and cow kicking.
Honestly he is horrible. He has no respect towards people what so ever. That’s what we’ve been working on for months is his ground manners, but we aren’t making much progress.He has actually gotten even more aggressive since he has been in constant work. Going into the pasture with him is a BIG no no at this point. If you go into the pasture, he charges you and kicks at you and bites at you. I use to could feed him and groom him while he was eating, but even walking into his stall while hes eating is out of the question now, and if he is in the pasture when its feed time it is really dangerous to walk into the pasture to feed because he will attack you. The vet and farrier came a couple weeks ago and we weren’t able to work with him because he was so aggressive with us. He has a really aggressive attitude. I am just at a complete loss with this horse now. The more I try with him, the worse he gets. I have had three local trainersout now to see if they would work with him and they all turned me down because they said he was too dangerous to bring back to their home around their families and other animals. I’m just at a loss.
This makes me think that somehow, he just doesn’t feel good. I’ll be first to ask; What about ulcers?
Couple of ideas:
OTTBs do not cross tie - they are usually tacked/untacked/groomed in the stalls and then walked out. Start in the stall and then go to cross ties with only one side hooked and the lead rope draped on the other side. work you way up to both ties. are the cross ties in the isle? most get wiggy tied in the isle.
the aggressiveness - check for ulcers, TBs can work themselves into full blown ulcers because a bird landed in a pasture 2 counties away. What are you feeding? Cut out all sugars and starches - you cannot feed an OTTB like a quarter horse, especially a young horse. Have a vet check him out - he may be turning into a jerk because he is fit and getting good food.
Is he turned out with other horses or by himself? if hes in a large group move him to either a solo turnout or just a turnout with a buddy. limiting the “pecking order” fights may help with the aggressiveness.
are you using a stud chain? if not then put one on him - hes used to it and it may be the signal that you are the boss and he needs to stop it.
do you have a hot walker at the facility? before you do any work put him on the hot walker for 15/20 mins or so. I may trigger his brain that it is time to work. its ok if he acts like a dork on the walker - some put on some really athletic shows.
Track down a trainer that is used to OTTBs - Check with one of the TB rescue groups in your area for ideas. I’d also look at Eventing or Dressage trainers. Your standard western or “all around” barn will not have the knowledge to work with the horse.
with the biting/not liking grooming - that is a big red flag for ulcers. Also Tbs tend to be sensitive and thin skinned, use soft brushes, use a firm but not hard contact when grooming (some like to be dusted off prior to working and then a real grooming after the ride).
Honestly, I don’t mean to sound harsh here, but it sounds like this has progressed too far already. If he isn’t able to be handled safely for vet and farrier appointments, you aren’t going to make progress on this on your own. I would take him off grain (lots of high quality hay), solo turnout only, quiet stall time, and treat for ulcers. Only handle him with a chain. Don’t try to work him. Start calling around and find someone who is used to taking them straight off the track and won’t be intimidated by him. Call CANTER and the other organizations and see who they recommend. Send him away to someone reputable with lots of experience, even if it is farther than you’d like. It is your and his best hope.
Wow, you have a big problem and need professional help with this horse. He needs to learn a lot of respect, at which point he needs to be desensitized and to learn to give to pressure before starting on tying up. Tying up is the least of your problems.
OP, some horses simply aren’t mentally suited for the life of a riding horse.
Is it possible, that with intensive/expensive veterinary workup and a special trainer with the ability to work with a difficult horse that this horse could be turned around? Sure. Is it worth the risk/cost? Not so sure. Is it possible he will never be suitable, no matter how much time and effort you expend? Yes.
I work with a lot of OTTBs and have for years. Since I also have one foot (or a few toes) in the racing industry, I have a fair number of TBs, both horses that are currently racing and horses that are retiring from racing coming through my barn. Some are just unsuitable to be riding horses. It’s not their upbringing. No one has ever abused them. They have had professional care, training, and handling their entire lives. And yet, some of them are just very difficult horses. I feel that the current model in the racing industry is to breed with total disregard for temperament.
I used to regularly retrain TBs but I have stopped, because when I compare them to the other horses that we bring along, I find that they have a lower overall success rate, and that they tend to suck up a disproportionate amount of resources (time, energy, money, feed, vet bills) when compared to other horses. Maybe I sound like a jerk here, but I don’t want to get hurt or be miserable dealing with difficult or dangerous horses–so when I run into one like what you have I don’t try to fix it. The best options are to return it to the seller (if you can) or try to return it to another rescue. Personally, I would not hesitate to euthanize a horse that was dangerous/aggressive to walk out in the field with (beyond the obvious normal dangers of loose horses) or dangerous for the vet/farrier.
I wish you the best of luck figuring this situation out.
If you’ve been working with him for MONTHS and haven’t gotten anywhere, it’s time to enlist help.
First, take him to a good vet and have him checked over for any health issues that may be causing him pain such as ulcers or back pain, or any type of lameness. Although… it might be tricky for said vet to examine him if he really is THAT dangerous. Could he possibly have something like a broken back (that either previous owners didn’t know about or covered up)? Something random like that could explain his very aggressive behavior to your touch.
Secondly, find someone who is experienced with dealing with dangerous horses, and send this horse off for 90 days. If you can’t find anyone to take him … then put him down. Seriously, if 3 trainers already said they won’t take him because he’s too dangerous, then he is VERY dangerous.
This is the risk you take whenever you guy a horse sight unseen.
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