Off the track race horse... trail troubles

legendsneverdie · 06-05-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBandRio

Once you get some groundwork on him, where he politely leads where you ask, when you ask, without barging ahead or lagging behind, hand-walking him (with a lunge line to allow him to drift while you still stay connected), can be a very good way to build his confidence. Have a few things he knows how to do well - yielding the hind quarters and front end are EXCELLENT things to know . Then, when walking on the trail and he starts getting nervous, ask him to do these things in quick succession so that he gets his mind focused back on you and what you're asking. Never punish him for spooking, merely redirect his energy into something useful.

How do I teach him that? I'm not exactly sure what that means, and thanks

He usually leads very well, unless one of the other horses is trying to bite his butt

.

maszum · 06-05-2008, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by JBandRio

Once you get some groundwork on him, where he politely leads where you ask, when you ask, without barging ahead or lagging behind, hand-walking him (with a lunge line to allow him to drift while you still stay connected), can be a very good way to build his confidence. Have a few things he knows how to do well - yielding the hind quarters and front end are EXCELLENT things to know . Then, when walking on the trail and he starts getting nervous, ask him to do these things in quick succession so that he gets his mind focused back on you and what you're asking. Never punish him for spooking, merely redirect his energy into something useful.

these are the first things I taught my OTTB. I used clinton Anderson's tapes and they did do what they promised if followed. Yielding the hind quarters does help when you are in a pickle on trail. I don't punish for spooking, but I will approach and desensitize that particular issue. Sometimes it takes a bit of coaxing.

legendsneverdie · 06-05-2008, 01:19 PM

Sounds like a plan... Where should I start with everything?

Circle C · 06-05-2008, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maszum

I'm not too sure I would pony him. That is a track behavior I tried to get rid of. Took me so long to get him to walk straight and not on an angle I thought I would go mad.

Don't you have a trails that you can ride that don't include riding across roads...maybe a half hour trail to let him just walk around maybe trot.

just take your time with him- get trust, a soft and supple horse, trail will just happen without really even knowing it.

good luck

I always pony my OTTB's.... I never had any problem with it. Most of them pony well and stand decent for the hose. 2 track given things that I absolutly love lol

Dancers Mom · 06-05-2008, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maszum

I agree with you painlver about a 3 year old. Mine is 7 and he still has very little attention span. After a year he about 5 1/2 years he finally started to like and want to learn. He really is a sweetie now. Track is hopefully a memory and my new lease rider will do wonders with him. I have a lot of tiime and energy invested in him and I would love for him to be a great dressage horse.

I have dreams of him doing all those athletic moves to music!!! I hope so anyway.

I too wish this gal good luck with her horse. 3 year old is not my idea of a calm ride.!!! Give me a quarter horse or appy any day..nice calm ride no matter how crazy. Nothing like an OTTB

My OTTB is 7 and has the attention span of a peanut but she is has a very willing spirit to learn and is pretty patient I must say, but on the trail she is very nosey. OTTB are really a different horse all together but I love that she is never ever boring!!! I am not a trainer but wanted to put my thoughts out there. I do have an instructor for riding and she also teaches me to train her, I guess I would say I am hoping to be a trainer someday!! At least for my own horse.

mammamia · 06-05-2008, 05:21 PM

My OTTB is 23 and still has the attention span of a rabbit! LOL You need to teach this horse how to be ridden for one and to trust you. You need to ride him in the arena and do some serious groundwork so he understands what you want and how he needs to move etc.

Get an instructor who is qualified and one who knows OTTB's. As for hitting the trails, don't bother for now as you may just sour him, take him in hand if you like but until you two bond and he gets some skill I wouldn't waste my time.

I have worked with tons of OTTB's and they aren't your average Joe and you may need help if you haven't re-trained one.

I can turn Dixie into a race horse in a matter of seconds and she retired a long time ago! I don't think they ever truly forget and I know with her, she LOVES it and loves a good gallop.

HunterQueen69 · 06-05-2008, 08:16 PM

Ive worked with 5 off track horses and they really teach you patience and trust. All he knows is running, he may have been fine the first time because it was something new and exciting, but he still only knows racing. Its is going to take lots time, patience, trust, learning and lots of re-training for him.

You have to remember that hes learning something new and totally different from what he was brought up on. He will have set backs-thats totally normal and I cant tell you how many times Ive had set backs with the mares I work/ worked with. He will come around for you, try to keep him calm, talk to him in a soothing voice, dont pat him when he does get spooky or freaked-thats showing him that hes doing something right. Just talk to him.

Getting off of him isnt nessecarily a bad thing. It shows him that your going to help him get through what hes spooking at. It will show him that youre there for him when hes scared. Get back on him when hes calm enough and give him a VERY reassuring pat. That way he should learn that when he stays calm, he'll get rewarded.

He is young too, three can be a scary age for horses, they're just like little kids. Try not too shove too much at him at one time. Keep things slower and try not to change things up on him too much. Like take him out on the trails once or twice a week(depending on how many times/week you ride.) And dont forget to ALWAYS reward him when he does something right. My boss/ coach tells me to really exagerate rewarding. Like rub them all over and lots of pats. And talk to him a lot, sing him a song, whatever, it'll help keep him calm. It sounds silly, but it helps. He'll get there, dont worry.

Sati · 06-05-2008, 08:25 PM

All i can say is take it slowly. Hes young, and like any young horse, they are bound to be a handful^^ My Tb is 10, and acts like a 2 yr old stud colt, and has a very, very short attention span lol. I took him out twice, and he was Ok the first time, but the second i went by myself (thinking he was good enough), and he was ok, until he heard other horses screaming. Then he started, and i made him go another 20 or so feet, and then we turned around. I have yet to try again, but its only because i don't get to ride him much. I have 4 horses, so its like a full time job lol. Anyway, do lots of ground work, work with pressure and release, once hes good on the ground, do it under saddle. Is there a place out side (a patch of grass perhaps?) that you can do some light work? if so, do a walk/trot out there until he relaxes. But, i wouldn't try the trails until he is mentally mature enough for it. But overall, bond with him. Once you have his trust, it will become easier^^

gluey33 · 06-06-2008, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legendsneverdie

Sounds like a plan... Where should I start with everything?

Try and get some help from someone who can explain as well as show you the things mentioned by JB. If you dont know what is meant by these then you really should at least get someone to show you. If you cant afford lessons then at least try and sit in on a clinic or 2. Read, watch whatever you can get hold of. ottb have not been taught much and can take a while to really start learning.

legendsneverdie · 06-06-2008, 08:39 AM

^^^^ Thanks for all the advice, I'm definitly going to take it slow and i'm not taking him out on trails for a while. He's gotten better in the short time i've had him, I think he's happy here.

I know he'll have A LOT more energy once he gains more weight

. I'm thinking about turning him into a jumper (once he's older and trained better with the basics) to channel all of his energy. Does that sound like a good idea???

Thanks again!

06-05-2008, 10:56 AM	#22
maszum Full Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern New Jersey Posts: 94 Images: 12	Originally Posted by JBandRio Once you get some groundwork on him, where he politely leads where you ask, when you ask, without barging ahead or lagging behind, hand-walking him (with a lunge line to allow him to drift while you still stay connected), can be a very good way to build his confidence. Have a few things he knows how to do well - yielding the hind quarters and front end are EXCELLENT things to know . Then, when walking on the trail and he starts getting nervous, ask him to do these things in quick succession so that he gets his mind focused back on you and what you're asking. Never punish him for spooking, merely redirect his energy into something useful. these are the first things I taught my OTTB. I used clinton Anderson's tapes and they did do what they promised if followed. Yielding the hind quarters does help when you are in a pickle on trail. I don't punish for spooking, but I will approach and desensitize that particular issue. Sometimes it takes a bit of coaxing. __________________ http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com...gate_thumb.jpg

06-05-2008, 08:16 PM	#27
HunterQueen69 Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Fennville, MI Posts: 99 Images: 35	Ive worked with 5 off track horses and they really teach you patience and trust. All he knows is running, he may have been fine the first time because it was something new and exciting, but he still only knows racing. Its is going to take lots time, patience, trust, learning and lots of re-training for him. You have to remember that hes learning something new and totally different from what he was brought up on. He will have set backs-thats totally normal and I cant tell you how many times Ive had set backs with the mares I work/ worked with. He will come around for you, try to keep him calm, talk to him in a soothing voice, dont pat him when he does get spooky or freaked-thats showing him that hes doing something right. Just talk to him. Getting off of him isnt nessecarily a bad thing. It shows him that your going to help him get through what hes spooking at. It will show him that youre there for him when hes scared. Get back on him when hes calm enough and give him a VERY reassuring pat. That way he should learn that when he stays calm, he'll get rewarded. He is young too, three can be a scary age for horses, they're just like little kids. Try not too shove too much at him at one time. Keep things slower and try not to change things up on him too much. Like take him out on the trails once or twice a week(depending on how many times/week you ride.) And dont forget to ALWAYS reward him when he does something right. My boss/ coach tells me to really exagerate rewarding. Like rub them all over and lots of pats. And talk to him a lot, sing him a song, whatever, it'll help keep him calm. It sounds silly, but it helps. He'll get there, dont worry. Last edited by HunterQueen69; 06-05-2008 at 08:19 PM. Reason: added more

06-05-2008, 08:25 PM	#28
Sati Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mi Posts: 137 Images: 4	All i can say is take it slowly. Hes young, and like any young horse, they are bound to be a handful^^ My Tb is 10, and acts like a 2 yr old stud colt, and has a very, very short attention span lol. I took him out twice, and he was Ok the first time, but the second i went by myself (thinking he was good enough), and he was ok, until he heard other horses screaming. Then he started, and i made him go another 20 or so feet, and then we turned around. I have yet to try again, but its only because i don't get to ride him much. I have 4 horses, so its like a full time job lol. Anyway, do lots of ground work, work with pressure and release, once hes good on the ground, do it under saddle. Is there a place out side (a patch of grass perhaps?) that you can do some light work? if so, do a walk/trot out there until he relaxes. But, i wouldn't try the trails until he is mentally mature enough for it. But overall, bond with him. Once you have his trust, it will become easier^^ __________________ Proud Mother to a newborn bay tobiano Colt (Dezi) on April 29th, 2008! Owner of Dezi, Dixie, Pete, and Faith. *Proud Wife of an American Soldier!*

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06-05-2008, 01:19 PM	#23
legendsneverdie Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: That one really hot place... hmmmm... oh! Arizona Posts: 525 Images: 3	Sounds like a plan... Where should I start with everything?

06-05-2008, 05:21 PM	#26
mammamia Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 123	My OTTB is 23 and still has the attention span of a rabbit! LOL You need to teach this horse how to be ridden for one and to trust you. You need to ride him in the arena and do some serious groundwork so he understands what you want and how he needs to move etc. Get an instructor who is qualified and one who knows OTTB's. As for hitting the trails, don't bother for now as you may just sour him, take him in hand if you like but until you two bond and he gets some skill I wouldn't waste my time. I have worked with tons of OTTB's and they aren't your average Joe and you may need help if you haven't re-trained one. I can turn Dixie into a race horse in a matter of seconds and she retired a long time ago! I don't think they ever truly forget and I know with her, she LOVES it and loves a good gallop.

06-06-2008, 08:39 AM	#30
legendsneverdie Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: That one really hot place... hmmmm... oh! Arizona Posts: 525 Images: 3	^^^^ Thanks for all the advice, I'm definitly going to take it slow and i'm not taking him out on trails for a while. He's gotten better in the short time i've had him, I think he's happy here. I know he'll have A LOT more energy once he gains more weight . I'm thinking about turning him into a jumper (once he's older and trained better with the basics) to channel all of his energy. Does that sound like a good idea??? Thanks again!