Yep, there is an intimidation factor. :yes:
Yep, the intimidation factor. We’re all susceptible at some point or another. This feeling of power is one of the things I miss about my excitable OTTB. There was nothing like him cruising through a field, wind whipping my face, and that easy gallop…
Bank on Frank is calmer, and he’s a sprinter rather than a longer distance horse. He’ll blow the doors off anything given a chance, but he doesn’t have that easy, mile-eating gallop.
But OTTB’s have a reputation, whether well earned or not, of being nuts.
Yes, that’s what I’m talking about. The reputation isn’t always deserved! They might be different from what people are used to dealing with, but it doesn’t make them nuts.
I spent much of my youth on Saddlebreds and one Arab, and both breeds were pretty damned quick. The OTTB I currently have is the quickest thing I personally have ever sat on. He’s like a striking snake. But I’ll defer to your greater experience with Arabs! And of course it varies from horse to horse. Another OTTB in our barn is a big fellow, and he seems to me to telegraph his spooks and execute them more slowly than my smaller horse does.
Oh, I just wrote a long reponse and it timed out. Gotta love that.
In short, stick with it. I had one that was a nightmare at first out on trails and turned into a downright billy goat out there. He was great and loved going out. It was not pretty in the beginning.
Going out with a large group one time really helped.
Stick with it. Given time, they adapt. Imagine what life at the track was for him – being kept in most of the time. Totally unnatural for a horse, right? He adapted, though, right?
Mine was 11 when I got him and had been off the track for years. It can be done.
Haven’t had a chance to read all the responses, so apologies if this has been said already, but worth thinking about how many new elements you are introducing, and if there is a way to break it down into smaller steps - like, if just for instance you (not specifically you OP) have been walking in the ring at home, then you want to ship to another place to ride out of a ring in tall grass past a herd of cows, well, maybe you could first “trail ride” around your pasture.
Then maybe you could ship to a cow free ring first, and ride away from home in a ring.
Then maybe you could you could find a team penning day, and trailer over to watch that from the ground.
If you can find some tall grass which will tickle his belly while you graze and lead him through it, and THEN you take him away from home fro the trail ride past the cows, well, at least you have met the pieces individually.
I knnow my chicken OTTB is MUCH braver at a trot than a walk - and like others have said, machines are no worry - he just left a crowd clapping at his focus during a dressage lesson when a fork lift was moving plywood up a barn side while we rode. Never batted an eye. If it had been a squirrel, mind you, I likely would have felt more concern from him...[QUOTE=2boys;4168975]
I DID NOT TAKE HIM OUT ALONE.[/QUOTE]
Learn how to ride better then. Geez.
[QUOTE=grayarabpony;4169262]
Learn how to ride better then. Geez.[/QUOTE]
Are you joking? That sentence was in regards to a few people recommending I take him out with a buddy. I think I made the impression at some point that I took him out alone. If you were not joking, thanks for the impressive insight–very deep.
In response to all of these wonderful and supportive posts, thanks again. My gut says that he can do it. What is in question, is whether I should have someone super brave give him mileage, or if I can do it. He has already brought me so far…
Of which I was one (suggested taking him out with another horse).
You will probably do fine riding this horse on the trail eventually. Can you take him out with some of his pasture buddies for a ride? Or even get someone to walk with you, lead him a little while if he gets upset.
Many of the horses I’ve ridden are OTTBs and they were very fun trail horses. Especially once they’re settled and you can find an open space to gallop. 
If he was my horse I’d work him in the ring, then take him for short walks away for cool-out too.
[QUOTE=grayarabpony;4169410]
Of which I was one (suggested taking him out with another horse).
You will probably do fine riding this horse on the trail eventually. Can you take him out with some of his pasture buddies for a ride? Or even get someone to walk with you, lead him a little while if he gets upset.
Many of the horses I’ve ridden are OTTBs and they were very fun trail horses. Especially once they’re settled and you can find an open space to gallop.
If he was my horse I’d work him in the ring, then take him for short walks away for cool-out too.[/QUOTE]
My summertime plans are to clear the acre and a half out back so that I can hack him out there after I ride. I am excited to do that. His pasturemates are both big, giant chickens, and would not be very helpful. In fact, I think that my qh is part of the problem…:sadsmile:
One error that I made last week, was to not do enough forward. I know that when he gets apprehensive about things, a nudge forward really helps. I was not brave enough to do that last week. I know that that would have helped, and many people have mentioned it, which is a terrific idea.
Thanks again for the advice everyone. If I seemed snippy, I apologize. I did not intend that. I just wanted to clarify, because I think that being alone vs. with a good buddy is a huge factor. I am one of the most humble, and “appreciative-for-any-help” horse people you could find.
I haven’t read this whole thread … but if he is quiet at home…he will get quiet out on trail rides. It takes a rider who is confident and quiet to make him confident and quiet. If you can’t do that…then get someone on him who can initially…that will then help you be able to give him a confident ride. I have taught many to trail ride alone…with no buddy horse…but it can be a lot easier with a quiet buddy…I’m also a pretty confident and relaxed rider though too.
Start out small and slow. Work him at home so the edge is off…and then go somewhere new where it is also quiet…don’t make your outings at a really busy busy location. With OTTBs…walking isn’t always right there…so if he feels antsy when starting out…put him right to work forward. Not galloping or even cantering…but trotting. Ride to a point with purpose…even if it is just across the field. You have to pick a spot and ride to it…so he understands there is a purpose. Then see if he will walk a bit. Keep it short. And repeat often until he comfortable doing it.
I try to walk the most if they will tolerate it (speed–canter±-can rattle them more)…but sometimes you do have to go right into the trot work. Just remember…with a TB and especially an OTTB…you do not just run them off their feet and get to the bottom of them. So this is a mental exercise. Don’t try and take him out on a trail after he hasn’t been ridden in several days…and don’t try and take him out on a really active trail ride…or on a windy (or worse, cool and windy) day
Most figure it out quickly and really enjoy it. I had a 100,000 stakes winning TB that after a few months of work, I put my dead dead beginner mom on for a walk (and a bit of trot) trail ride out on a 3,000 acre preserve…and he happily packed her around like a saint.
Oh, why can’t just one of you wise ottb lovers live close to me, looking for a fun project!?!?!?!:sadsmile:
I haven’t had a LOT to do with OTTbs, but one of my friends has them regularly and the first thing she does is turn them out with a steady paddock mate. Tbs mostly have no experience of living outside - some haven’t a clue about fences and they need time to get used to the wide open spaces. Given that they can see for miles, it’s no wonder that the world is strange and spooky to them when removed from the safety of their stalls and yards. If he could live out 24/7 he would get that exposure to nature that he needs and a steady mate would help him do it.
I hope all goes well for you. Cheers. W.
[QUOTE=wendybird;4170277]
If he could live out 24/7 he would get that exposure to nature that he needs and a steady mate would help him do it.
I hope all goes well for you. Cheers. W.[/QUOTE]
He does live outside 24/7, but it is in a very wooded area. I strongly agree that the vast space was overwhelming for him. He didn’t quite know where to look! Unfortunately, to turn him out in such a space is not really an option.
I live west of Boston.
You are welcome to come and trail ride with me (and my OTTB) any time. I’m in a barn right on the trail system here . . . I find that my OTTbs do well if you start riding them on trails that are in the woods before you take them out to big open fields.
[QUOTE=Bogie;4170346]
I live west of Boston.
You are welcome to come and trail ride with me (and my OTTB) any time. I’m in a barn right on the trail system here . . . I find that my OTTbs do well if you start riding them on trails that are in the woods before you take them out to big open fields.[/QUOTE]
Where are you? You can PM me if you’d like. 
My OTTB was the exact opposite. He liked the open space because you can see the boogie man coming. When I moved him from a 500 acre farm to a small private farm with woods right up against everything, he was more worried because he mostly could not see the deer stalking us until they bounded out of the woods and across the bottom of the ring. Like all horses, in time, he got it and understood the deer had no interest in eating him and he settled. He was just amazing about the deer after awhile. Had several literally bound up from naps right next to him and he’d barely flinch.
Ah, woods. Let me tell you a tale- probably doesn’t apply in your case, but ya never know.
One fine day while hunting in the piney forests of Arizona, my horse was just A. Basket. Case. Couldn’t figure out why. Next day, hunting in the open sagebrush, he was fine. My lightbulb finally went on days later after much pondering. He’d been born and raised in desert/open spaces and had never been in tall trees before. Logically he assumed there was a predator in every tree. The next summer I made a point of taking him into the mountains and on the trails, he was fine in meadows, tense and holding his breath in the woods. After enough trail rides/mileage he got over his fear of the woods, even where cattle or sheep lurked behind the trees- but it wasn’t an issue that it had ever previously occurred to me to think about!
I ride my excellent OTTB on the same trail several times a week. I didn’t get out for a week and the flowers had bloomed. Evidently they were the horse eating kind.
oh well.
[QUOTE=lizathenag;4171680]
I ride my excellent OTTB on the same trail several times a week. I didn’t get out for a week and the flowers had bloomed. Evidently they were the horse eating kind.
oh well.[/QUOTE]
:lol:
Mine loves trails, trees, obsticles, things to make her think. She’s not as great in open spaces but a trot will usually be enough to get the wiggles out. Otherwise, if there’s lots going on she’s comfortable just looking and watching and observing it all. I second the idea of either riding with a confident horse/rider pair (or more then one!) or let someone more confident then you are feeling ride him out and you take a companion instead. He needs someone who telegraphs nothing but calm acceptance of the world around him in the saddle for the first few rides until he gets that “I’m the MAN” swaggeringly confident stride so many of our TBs are known for. It’s the rider that reaffirms all is well.
