Just curious as I’ve seen many ads stating things like “off the track a week and already completed first intro event” or similar. What happened to letting them down, and starting slow, correct work before pushing them?
Call me old school, but I guess I feel like any horse should be able to go straight, steer, and have proper muscling before being asked to jump courses?
Why the rush?
A week??
Some horses with the right connections are exposed to everything on the track - including retraining for a different discipline once they lose their competitive edge. So some already know how to steer, go straight, and have decent muscling. We have a gelding that was used on hacks in between meets.
I think it’s advisable to give horses a nice period of time off when they come off the track, but it is not always necessary - there are many excellent track trainers out there who give their horses a solid and basic foundation for repurpose/riding careers WHILE using them as race horses.
Took one of mine to his 1st elementary today 27 days post last race…which he won…Horse gets turned out every day is not schooled 6 days a week and happy. He is bored just hanging out. he had the best expression and seemed to clearly enjoy his outing …
There us absolutely NO written in stone program …Each horse is an individual and if you listen they will tell you…
I agree. Schooling is becoming a lost art. No hurry is best! I
[QUOTE=notanotherone;7635964]
What happened to letting them down, and starting slow, correct work before pushing them?[/QUOTE]
For many TBs, turning them out to ‘let them down’ after racing is not ideal - they do much better if kept in a (albeit different) program of work. They are used to having a job and a routine and they generally thrive on it.
So much so that the best OTTB rehoming place around here specifically recommends that you get the horse home and get on with it - don’t turn them out.
Seconded. The place mentioned above also does the pre-trainers and they definitely school, hack and jump the racing TBs they get in.
If you know how to handle them well and are a sensitive, skilled rider … why not?
I think that some people take advantage of a OTTB’s generous and forward nature. With a horse so programmed to go forward no matter what you can cram them over pretty much anything even if you shouldn’t. I don’t mind a horse moving onto his next job, or even going to a show green, but those horses you see crammed around are usually pretty dang scary and eventually someone dumps them as being “hot and crazy.”
It is one thing to rush a horse and make it do something it is uncomfortable doing. It is another for JBRP’s rider who has been around Rolex multiple times to bop around elementary on a fresh off the track TB and make it look easy. One of these situations is not like the other.
I believe that if you don’t establish the basics early on, the it comes back to bite you later on. All horses need to be comfortable, muscled, straight, through, and correct before jumping anything substantial. I am sometimes amazed at how crooked and off the aids horses are at the events… and know that if they are that way at the lower levels, then they won’t make it at the upper levels without going back to working on the basics. It just seems odd to me that trainers don’t just do it all “in order” rather than rushing out to jump around a xc course all willy nilly. What’s the point?
eta: hopping around an intro or elementary test is not included in the above… I am referring more to 3’ and above… I think it’s just fine that people take ottb’s out for a spin around small stuff as part of getting them acclimated to their new job.
I’m always curious as to how people get a horse to go from the track to running BN in a few months. My horse came off the track in Sept. 2012, had a six-month let down with someone else (not a healthy one either…) after being adopted from an agency, has been in work for a little over a year with November-February off. We’re doing intro on Saturday.
A few months seems so…fast, even for riders who are much more experienced at retraining than I am?
At the venues I’ve been to, Intro is usually cross-rails or cavaletti for stadium and small logs for cross-country. The fences at Elementary are usually small as well. I could see that being a very good educational experience for a horse off the track, if they are in the hands of an experienced rider who can handle them if they get silly.
what I’m surprised though are the number of people I see who talk about how quickly they moved a horse from B/N up to prelim: “oh this horse went from B/N to prelim in a year!”
I’m sure there are plenty of people capable of doing that, but I always wonder what kind of foundation that horse has, particularly in dressage.
[QUOTE=skipollo;7636204]
I’m always curious as to how people get a horse to go from the track to running BN in a few months. My horse came off the track in Sept. 2012, had a six-month let down with someone else (not a healthy one either…) after being adopted from an agency, has been in work for a little over a year with November-February off. We’re doing intro on Saturday.
A few months seems so…fast, even for riders who are much more experienced at retraining than I am?[/QUOTE]
its not though. It all depends on the horse and who owns them. Most of mine have been let down a month or more but I’ve had several who once I started working were ready for BN with in months. My current boy I didn’t compete but just hacked out for 6 months. When we did start more serious training, he moved right along and finished his first season with two training level events (and got a ribbon in both). But he and I are a very good match, I have a decent amount of experience and he has a very good mind. I’ve had others that never even raced who needed a much longer and slower schedule.
My newest is hanging out trying to gain weight but had I wanted, he is so easy that he could go to his first show or event now. He was that well started and handled at the track that he is just that easy plus he has a good mind. Even with StormCat in his pedigree;). I got a bit lucky with him!
bottom line. It really depends on the horse. Some need more let down and a slower time table and others will move along quickly. Doesn’t mean one horse/rider is better than the other or will get farther.
It depends on the quality of the riding.
Better riding gets a lot …LOT… more done in a lot less time.
Really it is not that hard to teach a horse to go straight, quiet and confident over little jumps. That is horse kindergarten.
The same horse can learn the same job in 4 or 5 30 minute rides a week over 3 months as in 6 rides a week over 2 years.
The variable is usually the pilot, and how good they are at their flatwork.
And the competitive dressage scores do take more time. I personally move along at my horse’s jumping level not dressage. But the basics (straightness) need to be there.
For example, my horse who moved up quickly to training doesn’t score great yet in dressage—depending on how you define “Great”. This weekend in ankle deep muck in the dressage ring he scored a. 39.1. His test was fine and obedient but he doesn’t have much of a trot lengthening yet (and there are two in that test) and he didn’t stretch in the stretchy circle (because of the mud mostly). But it is coming along well and he rocked the jumping. In another year, we will be more competitive. But dressage is not my strong suit either.
Will he score in the 20s…probably not at training level and below but I bet we will at Prelim in a year or so.
It is NOT a race but a lot really depends on the rider and the horse. My guy is 6 and ready to move on. I’ve had others who were not…you have to listen to the horse. But I agree, it also depends on the match with the rider. My guy and I are well suited for each other. Not everyone would be able to ride him…but he is a blast for the right type of rider. Put me on a different horse…and I wouldn’t be the best match for them. So a lot is finding the right partnership as well.
When did it become a race? When sellers realized they make more money flipping a horse that’s showing as soon as possible vs. a horse that’s slowly been let down and restarted.
I’ve had some that went to a schooling show within a week, I’ve had some that had to be hacked for 6 months. I do not tend to ‘let them down’ as I’ve found track horses are not used to being turned out for very long, if at all, and they’re not happy campers suddenly cast adrift.
You have to remember these are not unbroke horses, they’re just changing jobs. If they’ve raced back a lot and are muscle sore I’ve found they actually benefit from quiet hacking. Injuries are another matter, but I very, very rarely buy an injured horse.
No it’s not a Race…I can sell a horse who is 3 days off the track,just as well as one who is 6 months off the track
Each horse is an individual with their own set of needs and pace.
The 2 BFNE mentioned came from me and they are exceptional mined individuals.
Going Elementary yesterday was just like a School Field trip. We got to see the sights go W/T in a Dressage arena, see a Judge, warm up over jumps with others, leave them and jump a baby course, and then hack over and jump XC baby jumps easier than the ones we schooled at FH. Alone not in a circus which XC was.
Getting in off trailer, getting boots on, seeing friends come and go…Are valuable lessons for his new life. A happy boy who stood munching hay drinking water on trailer that came home calm ate All of,his grain and turned out today!
If he were not right minded he would be going on hacks and small clinics until he was ready. Plus this particular horse never lived on track. He resided at his owners farm where he trained and hacked around only,shipped in to use gate, breeze or race.
They have to be evaluated as individuals not as a lump sum.
Oh and just as an aside…Tara told me to compete him if I wanted to ride 1…
I don’t usually do a lot of let down in a field because I agree that many TBs are happier with a job. Most of mine do their first BN in 3 to 6 months from my getting them, then do novice fairly soon after that. I do have excellent help, am in a program, have access to an indoor, hills, little xc jumps etc. where I board which makes it much easier. I also often am buying 6 and 7 year olds who are both physically and mentally mature enough to do the work.
And I was volunteering at the starter yesterday jbrp horses looked relaxed and happy. My older guy who did his first event 3 months off track and moved up to preliminary in just over a year moved on to be a total packer with no apparent holes.
I have no problem with any of the above. But I have to admit that I am such a slow poke when it comes to starting horses generally. The two ottb’s I’ve had this past year both had been let down and they still came to me and spent 3+ months just hacking, climbing the mountain, and building muscle. One I sold on and he is doing little stuff with a good riding amateur. The other is doing baby stuff and working on getting round and straight and all that… and is set for another amateur. Neither is ready to go compete… or at least, go out and compete and do well in all three phases.
I’m the same with non ottb’s usually. I’ve got a young Irish horse who is just now getting out at BN and that’s after a good four months of schooling in little local ct’s and xc outings. I doubt I will ask him to do more than Novice this year… and he is 5 this year.
I see nothing inherently wrong with moving along quickly but I do think that we all vary in our individual style of training and expectations…
It depends entirely on the ottb IMO. I’ve ridden/trained a number. Some are so mind-blown from the track that the let-down period is necessary and some horses are competitive machines that desire to work. My horse was an ottb, albeit had some time off as she had some foals, but she naturally returned to work and jumped like she had been doing it her whole life. It was a natural talent and desire to do something. Not all horses are like that, I agree though as riders we need to not take advantage of the willing horses and school them correctly.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
