thoroughbred

Question
QUESTION: I was given Abby, a 12year old last month.  She is a rescue. In good physical shape, sound, affectionate, 16hands. She was on the track and won twice in claims races. She has been given away 7 times since then. she came with a 15 year old stable mate. We have her in 55 acres of grass land. She can come and go at will with the other 8 horses from pasture to barn. She grooms comfortably, tacks up easily, and stands for my mount. No problems in the round pen. But as soon as I head out towards open space away from the other horses, she is all over the place. Every trick in the book. Yesterday it took thirty minutes to get her the distance of two city blocks. I am an experienced and patient rider who would like to get where I want to go with the least amount of trauma to myself and the horse. Thank you.

ANSWER: Hi Ann!

Re-training OTTB's to ride as trusted AND trusting partners is a long and arduous job.  I rarely recommend an OTTB for anyone but an advanced rider/trainer.  They are also rarely solid trail riding horses.  So, if you wish to re-train her to this vocation, you must change before she does.  Change the way you think about her, approach her training, your expectations must be lowered for now and you must have a consistent training plan.

You have owned her a very, very short period of time, yet you are asking her to do very, very advanced rides.  This is too much, too soon.

She is herd bound and if you wish to make her a full-time riding partner, you must change her life so she is bonded to you, not the horse herd.  It will be far too difficult for her to understand how to live 2 lives....half in a herd and half with you.  That kind of lifestyle is reserved for older, experienced horses who have known humans as dominant prior to assimilating into a herd.  Then, it is easier for them to go back and forth and remember their training when it counts...like how to politely leave the herd for a hack out.

Your mare knows nothing about real riding, she just knows about racing.  Big difference!

You cannot fix this safely or effectively from the saddle.  So, I recommend you stop riding her until you form a clear and concise plan about what you want to do with her.  Think on it awhile.  If you really want to make her a personal, dependable and happy riding partner, her life must change completely.

If you decide to do just that, write back to me and I will give you some specific guidelines about how to start her new life.

Good luck and remember to always wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet!

Solange



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Solange, yes, I would like a full time riding partner. I would like Abby to trust me and feel safe with me and I would like the same from her in return. She is beautiful and sweet natured and still wants to trust.  Ann

Answer
Hi Ann!

Now the real work begins....

First, she needs to be slowly introduced to living a less freestyle life and get into a routine that revolves around her new human "Boss Mare"....you.

Start by slowly confining her to a smaller pasture, nearer to the barn and eventually into a routine where she is stalled every night by you to get her feed.  You must become a dominant fixture in her life, DAILY making all the decisions for her so she looks to you for what will happen next.  Only her truly kind nature has allowed you any progress with her.  Trust me, she has only done what she wanted so far.  Now, it's time to teach/train her to accept what YOU want.

Second, speak to your farrier, vet or tack shop to recommend a trainer who has experience in re-training OTTB's.  Have him/her out to evaluate your situation and discuss your goals.  You need to have a professional get you two started on your way to becoming a partnership.  There should be exercises in groundwork, longeing and you asserting your dominance 100% of the time.  Now, I don't mean beating her with a 2x4...I mean speaking to her in her language to show her you are in charge.

I like the Monty Roberts' "Join-Up" method to get her under your control and open a line of communication.  You can Google this and also get info on it from tack shops.

I can not stress enough how you must (every single time) approach her with a solid plan that ends in an obtainable goal for that session.  No more just grabbing her for a hack out.  There must be thought put into every move and every move must be a lesson for her to learn.

Everything must be introduced at her pace but, with you always nudging her a little farther than she is comfortable to get her to stretch as a competent mount.  She will tell you when it is enough.  

Get a professional trainer to help you and then be firm, be patient and above all be consistent.  It will take as long as it takes but, with you being smarter than her and her kind heart, it should all come together  :-)

Solange