[tbtrainer]

A stall is a good idea, TB's fresh off the track will feel comfortable, this is what they are used to, having a small paddock to turn them out in the beginning is also a great idea... I usually wrap legs or use boots and bell boots to protect them in the beginning, they will do a lot of fooling around when first turned out... after being let down, there is no reason they cant be turned out like a "normal" horse...

Just keep in mind that they might not have good socialization skills, and may become the low man on the totem pole... or the other extreme and be aggresive towards other horses.. just keep your eyes open...

Here is a good article (small book actually), that a friend of mine wrote on OTTBs...

http://www.leightonfarm.com/retrainingIntro.htm

[CP_Dude]

Is eletric fencing fine? How are they with Lounging on a line? i have two donketys that would be separated for a while, and depending on how the horse adjusts, they will hopefully be together.

[tbtrainer]

It's hard to for me to say anything about electric fence... I dont use it...but I do know that most horses respect it...

As far as lunging, it's just going to depend, there are alot of TB's that are started that way when being broke... I've found that most horses can be taught to lunge quite quickly... a round pen would be a great investement.

[txgray]

as long as it's hot and easily viewable (ie the white tape or something similar, rather than just wire) it should be fine.

they usually only get zapped once.

[NorthernDust]

Lunging is usally in their head already...note, I said USUALLY.
As for electric fencing, we use braids, and they work fine.

[Haas Horse Farm]

How much actual horse keeping experience do you have? How much riding experience do you have?

Why buy one off the track instead of buying one that did not actually get to the track but was started and then the owner went broke or something happened not related to the horse? Trying to understand your comment about wanting on that is OTT instead of just a young TB.

[Berkeley1]

I had posted earlier about my OTTBs. My new one was right off the track and he was high as a kite at first. He did not know how to lunge, but he learned in a couple of days. Good thing about Tb's they are usually pretty smart and want to learn. I turned him out in the paddock and he went crazy and tried to jump out, but when I put my other horse out with him, he settled right down. Now they are best friends and Monet (the new one) cannot be turned out alone. He is the low guy on the totum pole, he does get bullied sometimes.

He does crosstie fine, and he is very quite and gentle now. After several weeks he came down a lot and is very lazy now. I will say though, an experienced rider is a must for these guys. I friend wanted Monet before I said that I would take him and he was thrown and was hurt. So, just be careful and take it slow!

[luckydragon]

I've got two ottbs and they are great! There are so many out there, it's best to look for a completely sound one, physically and mentally. Make sure you find out about the horse's history. That will give you an idea of how the horse was trained. I know the owner's of the horses I got. That really helps when you start working with them. Then you know what type of things the previous owner worked on or didn't.

For turn out, just keep an eye on them. Mine were fine with it as long as they could see the other horses. They got a little worried when turned out my themselves out of sight of the other horses. It is nice for them to have a buddy to be turned out with also!

I found with the lunging that they go really good to the left but don't understand going to the right as well. But they are smart and usually willing to figure out what you want. That is what I love about tbs (in general) so much! They will give everything they've got for a person.

Good luck finding a horse!

[CP_Dude]

Thanks, I have, electric tape fencing.

As far as experience, Well... for me...ehh... i have a fair ammount of experience. I worked with 3 diffrent stallions, i used to exersise, Western, Huntseat, Dressage, BIT BUTTED warmbloods, Saddleseat. I have worked with Green Never broke horses, up to 33 year old Finnished horses. My mom had had horses since she was lik 5, My Aunt is a Trainer, Her daughter is a Profecinal Trainer, My grandfather's freind used to exersise ride TBs, Train TBs, RE train OTTBS, She had an horse ambulanse service, I worked for this one girl, who's parent's used to rais and race tbs, so i have alot of diffrent people to help me if needed. But the one thing i have is a Brain, and it works! lol...