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| RAWR racing C Rage |
THAT SAID.
If you're considering getting a horse, don't get an OTTB.
Just don't.
(noted: if you're looking at an older horse already going well in a second career, you can skip this post. I'm talking about horses straight off the track or not yet confirmed in new careers.)
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| first week off the track |
1) Horse ownership has enough problems to begin with.
If you're reading a blog about what horse to buy or not buy, you haven't been around the block enough times to be comfortable with all the issues that are going to come with a recent OTTB. Plain as that. Horses go lame, get crazy, have issues, and require lots of special management. Then tack on that racehorse past and you're looking at all kinds of things that may or may not be manageable, but are definitely going to add stress to your life.
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| 870 |
2) It's a big breed with many, many different sub-types.
I think Courage is pretty damn gorgeous. Conformation experts might harp on his short coupled-ness, which makes him hard to loosen up, and his short neck, which is fun to make shorter and really jam around when he has moment. But Courage isn't representative of all OTTBs.
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| aka "short coupled" |
So just because Courage or Icabod Crane or (insert horse name here) is an OTTB doesn't mean all OTTBs will be like that. Ever.
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| not short coupled. not green. |
I think this creates the most confusion. OTTBs are specially trained to do one thing and do that thing very well. There's a whole language to it and it's very simple and natural for the horse to understand.
So it's not like starting a green horse from scratch. It's restarting a trained horse to do something COMPLETELY different, like say an intermediaire/PSG dressage horse, throwing it in western tack, and bitching because it doesn't know how to work cattle.
It's hard for the horse and that requires a very tactful rider who understands what to put up with, what to shut down, what needs to be addressed right now and what to try another day.
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| life isn't the only unpredictable thing |
A racehorse has a better shot at life than an already-failed ammy horse. A horse is a luxury animal. Life is unpredictable. If things go bad and a horse needs to find a new home, the beloved trained useful horse will be sold for a tidy amount. The green, failed, lame thing goes on a double decker to Mexico. That's hard, but it's reality.
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| sexy grey horse |
Be honest with yourself about your goals, your resources, and your abilities. Do it for yourself, but more importantly, do it for your (potential) horse.
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| it takes a long ass time to get here |
Well said.
ReplyDeleteI second that! Please spread this message far and wide.
ReplyDeleteI've always thought the big problem with the "straight from the track" OTTB that you are talking about here is the difficulty in assessing temperament and train-ability. Unless you are a track insider, you don't get to see very much of the horse, and usually only see it in a stressful environment. Racehorses tend to change so much once they get off the track and into a slower paced life.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with your assesement that the average person doesn't have the skills/doesn't want to deal with the mental and physical issues that can be part of a racehorse changing careers. I personally like those challenges, but many others don't.
I know many bloggers sing the praises of OTTBs and TBs in general, and while I know not all are the same I just cannot ever see myself with one. Ever. I can't even say I've had a horrible experience with one, because I haven't, it just comes down to the fact that not every horse will work for every rider.
ReplyDeleteNever say never! I used to say the same thing, and here I am. With a Thoroughbred, haha
DeleteNope, this is one area I think I can fully say "never" on. I've ridden tons of TBs and plain and simple they are not my kind of ride.
DeleteI really enjoy your honesty. Truthfully, I think that thoroughbreds are NOT for everyone. Their sensitivity and athleticism requires a tactful, quiet ride.
ReplyDeleteI love TBs and always have, but have come to admit they are not the best fit for me as a rider. (I have my own issues with anxiety and reactiveness).
I think your blog is a good caution that it isn't best for everyone to run right out and buy an OTTB. Your line "Be honest with yourself about your goals, your resources, and your abilities" is key, not only for the rider, but for the success of the horse as well.
Also, people shouldn't just go buy an OTTB because they want to "save" one. If someone has that mind set, then they probably don't know enough to own an OTTB. The horse usually ends up worse off, sitting forgotten in a field or going through an auction because that "savior" came into it's life. Makes me crazy!!!!
ReplyDeleteAGREE
DeleteAbsolutely agree!!
DeleteVery well said. I've always loved OTTB's (and TB's in general) but rescuing an off the track Quarter (who was very very appendix, acted and looked more TB than anything.) made me realize that it's not the type of horse for me. Are they gorgeous? Heck yes, most of the time. Obviously there's less than gorgeous ones. I love their builds, the history behind them, the air that seems to flow around them. But they don't fit in my life at all. We didn't know he was off the track until we got him home and sure enough, he had a tattoo and had raced. I loved every minute with him, but I realized that I couldn't deal with the potential of lameness, issues from the track and etc that comes with a OTTB normally. Not every breed works for every rider, I think a lot of people think "Oooh pretty OTTB!" and jump in without thinking and asking themselves if the breed matches their personalities and what they want to do with them.
ReplyDeleteI think it's important, especially for amateur owners, to be realistic and fully comprehend what they're getting themselves into. Understanding OTTBs, and their needs, is really important; but really this goes for ANY horse coming off the track, be it Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, Paint or Arabian, etc.
ReplyDeleteTHIS.
ReplyDeleteComing from a home where my mother made a living from reselling OTTB's, and having said mother advise me to not invest in one- has always meant something to me. That woman has a golden thumb when it came to picking which horses would make good sport horse prospects, and she made a point of having excellent contacts in the racing industry that would send her 'the good ones'. There was a lot of trust there, and experience in purchasing horses, and that's something your average AA doesn't have.
That said, I love a good successful racehorse-turned-sporthorse story as much as the next person (ah, Icabod Crane, *swoon*). It's just frustrating to me to see some people think they can just as easily replicate those results themselves. It's not for everyone.
This! My trainer has been around for a long time and knows her stuff, including ottb's and making them nice horses. She has connections and knows what she is looking for (both confirmation and brain/breeding).
DeleteSo yes an AA shouldn't go blindly but an AA with a trainer and who trainer thinks can do it, there are exceptions.
I think this is also applicable to buying a cheap, amateur reject, crazy Warmblood or some other breed. I know this from experience!!! Assume you may not be able to "fix" a horse when you buy them and really make sure you are ok with that!!
ReplyDeleteSince someone commented about it---Speaking of the breed TB (not OTTB), I think the spectrum of personality/rideablity/temperament is huge. I have seriously ridden more f-d'up Warmbloods than TBs.
You're 100% right. An inappropriate match is almost always going to come out worse for the horse. Too often, we ammies are drawn to the cheap misfit horse and think we can change it, when what we should be looking at is that nice steady eddy who isn't flashy but takes care of his riders.
DeleteI think being honest with one's own abilities, preferences, goals, and resources is HUGE for anyone looking to buy any type of horse - not just OTTB's. I've ridden a ton of really wonderful OTTB's that successfully transitioned to new careers, but I don't think I'd want to re-start one myself. I'm a pony person, I like things that are quiet and sensible, and I'd rather leave the re-training of an OTTB to someone else, even though they can be really fabulous horses.
ReplyDeleteMany people looking to buy a horse don't honestly consider their own abilities and end up over-horsed because the horse in question is fancy, or athletic, or they wanted to 'save' it... not because it's the most appropriate partner for them. Great food for thought in this post!
I think the honesty thing here is key -- not every rider OR trainer is suited for a horse straight off the track. I know of several trainers who have pushed ottbs too far and too fast and it usually results in the aforementioned tears and blood.
DeleteAnd Alli -- quiet and sensible? Dino? ;)
This post seems rather timely... Last weekend, I was helping my trainer out while she showed one of her OTTBs to a potential client. Potential client and I hacked to and from a nearby farm, in traffic, on unfamiliar paths, past fields of horses, all while our mounts casually walked and trotted like old school ponies. As I spoke to the client (who, is very horse/OTTB savvy) I made mention of how my trainer approaches retraining post-track and the kinds of experiences we expose our horses to that seem rather common place. As a car got impatient behind us and zipped by rather aggressively, our horses barely flicked an ear. The client was astounded and said that none of her horses would be okay in a scenario like that. Later, after speaking with her Mom I spoke about how much I loved TBs and that you need to have a sense of humor to own one and that I enjoy the fact that they have a good work ethic and that they are willing to meet you half way. She commented on that and said, "you must have gotten really lucky with every OTTB you've ridden, because that has not been our experience". Interesting. But it got me thinking... have I just been lucky? Is my trainer just that good at finding horses with great brains? Perhaps we have gotten a bit lucky, but really I think what I learned from working with my trainer now for several years and watching her buy and sell horses off the track is that each horse is very, very different. Some get let down, some don't. Some start showing very quickly and then maybe tossed out into a field for a few months to let the experience soak in. Some just go hacking for months while a relationship develops. No two are alike, and it's hard to tell what you'll be able to do with any OTTB until you get them home, their bodies change and their minds settle into a new lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteSo, if I had anything to add to your post is would be:
If you are thinking about acquiring an OTTB, heed my advice: DO NOT HAVE AN AGENDA.
I think that difference in your/your trainer's experience with OTTB's (which has been mine as well) and this other person's is probably explained by how the horse is treated/approached. You really have to understand a TB and how they think in order to get the best out of them, and if you don't "get" them, you will NOT have great results. Luck doesn't have anything to do with it, IMO.
DeleteAgreed!
DeleteVery true advice..... Sadly, it's not often followed. As someone that worked for a farm that took horses off the track and restarted them, I've restarted a ton of OTTBs. With the exception of a few unusually easy horses, I would not have wanted the average amateur on any of them in the beginning. Not because they are raving lunatics or bucking broncos ( though we had some...) but they do require a large amount and tact, patience, and FEEL that the average ammy doesn't have. I have seen some very nice OTTBs ruined by inexperience. As you pointed out, this is not training a green horse! These horses are experts at running and track life which is VERY different from riding horse life. People become easily frustrated and in turn, confuse and frustrate the horses. If you just HAVE to have a fresh off the track racehorse. Please, do yourself and your horse a favor by sending it to a good trainer.
ReplyDeleteI really love this. Not because I have something against OTTBs, but I think they usually end up in the wrong hands. I love someone who can work with a great OTTB and turn it into a great horse, but those are almost always experienced, experienced riders.
ReplyDeleteWhy are there SO MANY first time horse owners with OTTBs at my barn? They are scared to death of them and aren't having much success or fun. But hey, the horse was cheap right? Seriously such a shame to see such a bad combination.
Yes, scared to death is right! I have seen so many first time horse owners come through with OTTBs that just dumped the discipline because of the horse they weren't ready for
DeleteI have a hard time reading this post objectively because I've only ever owned horses directly off the track, and I would never buy anything else ever. For the average "adult ammy" I guess a fresh OTTB might not be the best idea, but there are plenty of them out there that are capable of making the transition to riding horse pretty seamlessly.
ReplyDeleteAgree!
DeleteYes. I think it's a lot more about the "adult ammy" than it is about the breed.
DeleteThen again - that's just my philosophy in general. Once people get honest about their skills and goals they are better prepared to select and work with a horse of any breed.
We bring our bodies and our issues to every horse we ride. It's just that tb's are more than willing to reflect your issues back to you. The real questions is whether you are ready to hear what they have to say lol...
*tbs*
Deletei think your general message here could be expanded beyond 'don't buy an OTTB,' to: 'be honest with yourself about your abilities and your goals.'
ReplyDeleteeach point can be translated to any other breed (except maybe the 'green' bit, but plenty of ammies try on the green horse for size too) and the results can be equally disastrous and just as easily lead to a failed ammy horse on the truck to mexico.
ottbs might just be the most blatant example bc the volume of young horses available on the cheap is just so so high...
all the same tho - i agree that the prospective buyer must take ego out of the equation and look for something level-appropriate. (this also means that the typical ammy jumping 2'6 doesn't need a 4*-capable horse!)
OTTBs are trendy right now and they get marketed as being "so easy".
DeleteWhich some probably are, but horses are horses and way more people are jumping on the bandwagon than there are seatbelts for.
So yes, I agree with you. This is just the part of the world I see and I find it disturbing.
ok...I disagree with you for once! haha...only because, I don't think the OTTB is the issue, I think the lack of knowledgeable people to help riders find appropriate mounts is the issue.
ReplyDeleteMy first horse (had ponies before) was an OTTB - and he changed my entire life. The girl I teach Nicole, also new to riding, started on an OTTB off the track. They had a great partnership, but it was because she had someone there helping her and making sure the match was suitable.
ANY horse can be like an OTTB, sure they may have other "quirks", but they are no more difficult, money pit, lame, or crazy than any other breed. I say this from years of working at riding schools with 50+ horses. I have seen kids of all types buy horses of all types.
My advice would not be to avoid an OTTB, but to avoid horse shopping alone for a first time horse owner.
Of course, I'm the crazy lady with 4 TBs so maybe I'm biased :)
We actually agree, I think. I think the only thing that differentiates the OTTB from the rest of problem is that they're more widely available and trendy right now and people snap them up thinking they're getting a show quality horse for a tenth the price.
DeleteThoroughbreds are gorgeous and athletic and sensitive and expressive and all of those attributes are a double edged sword. If you're working with a good trainer who understands green horses, that's fantastic. If you're more DIY, well, that can go south in a hurry if you aren't really, really solid and honest with yourself about it.
I think the key to the post was not buying an OTTB fresh off the track, which is a very different animal than one who has been let down and restarted
DeleteI don't know, I have seen many who were super quiet right off the track, although imo I always prefer they have some time off.
DeleteI agree with you SB on those points.
I agree with T's comment 100%!! Exactly what I was trying to convey in my own comment.
DeleteI will never understand green riders getting OTTBs (I assume because they've become popular and are cheap). What a nightmare! My baby tb with no baggage is hard enough. Somedays I love his TB qualities, sometimes I'm like wtf am I doing with a TB, I wish I had gotten another QH...
ReplyDeleteMost definitely find an OTTB who has already been well started with a reputable trainer or organization. It is amazing and sad how many times the organization I work with is contacted by people who bought a horse straight from the track and now don't know what to do with it. The horse is almost always either "broken" physically in some way or has developed some sort of nasty habit such as bucking or bolting. It's much harder to go back and fix something than it is to keep it from happening in the first place through correct training. And I'm glad OTTBs are trendy right now because it does help us find more homes for our horses but I really wish there was more warning about trying to do it by yourself.
ReplyDeleteOTTBs can make amazing ammy horses but they need to be started by someone with the knowledge and experience to bring them along correctly.
I am so thankful to whoever restarted RIes
ReplyDeleteInteresting blog topic. I have to say that the opening statements were a bit misleading, as it seems to portray this "Don't buy an OTTB because only special people can handle them." I understand Thoroughbreds are a very different breed and it does take time to bring a freshly off the track horse around, but I've worked with several OTTBs and they've been nothing but pleasant and easy peasy (one had just come off the track, btw).
ReplyDeleteThe real message in your post should be more of "buy a horse within your limitations and goals" instead of "don't buy an OTTB because only special people will get anywhere with them." If you think about it, racing Quarter Horses or racing STBs can be just as dangerous to a "newbie" or uneducated ammie.
I appreciate your post and I don't think the intent to "hit a nerve" was there, but it did bother me a bit (to be truthful! haha).
Agreed with her point about racing quarters, STB's and etc. My Off the Track Quarter was very, very similar to a TB. And he was very, very dangerous and definitely not an ammy horse. Everyone swore he was TB until I showed them his pedigree.
DeleteIn addition to that, while racing horses are generally labeled as dangerous/unpredictable, it should be taken with a grain of salt in some instances. Let down time for a race horse is important - no matter the breed. They are supposed to be hot, athletic and muscular animals.
DeleteIMO, a racing animal is captivating, bold, and exceptionally breathtaking. However, I think this blog post really missed the finer points of what I think SprinklerBandit was trying to convey. The real point of it all is that Amateur owners or first time horse buyers should not be exploring the avenue of a freshly off the track horse any more than they should be pursuing the purchase of an unbroke and unhandled stud colt.
I agree that fresh-off-the-track OTTBs seem to be trendy but many are not suitable for new riders or even experienced ammys. I was open to adopting one because my trainer has decades of experience with racehorses and retraining them for eventing, and it was through an experienced adoption agency that considered my background, skills, and personality.
ReplyDeleteOf course people can and do screw up horses when they take on a project outside of their skill level. However, even with all the ingredients for success in place, not every OTTB can be a suitable ammy horse for a chosen discipline. Like your post somewhat implies, I used to think that a horse deemed unsuitable for ammys was somehow a failure. But not all partnerships work out and it doesn't mean the horse or the rider (or trainer) was a failure - it just sometimes is best for all to find a more compatible partner, as I'm tying to do with my OTTB by sending him on a trial with a 4* rider. If it doesn't work out, there's a number of other solutions I'll try with him (and the double-decker bus to Mexico will never be one of them).
Totally, totally agree. I know for a fact that I don't have the patience, or horsemanship, or ability to deal with an OTTB and their issues. And this is coming from the girl who has the nearly-certifiable reject warmblood.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great post! I've seen many OTTB body types, from ones that look almost like Quarters, ones that look like Courage, and ones that look like the chestnut(more of a warmblood bred for dressage look). It's so interesting!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely agree with you on all these points. I considered an OTTB when I was thinking about my next horse and it's definitely something that is within my tiny budget. But I decided against it because I'd rather have zero baggage. I've also never ridden a TB that I really got along with on the same level that I get along with warmbloods (plus TBs are still a bit tough to sell in the dressage market, despite gaining popularity).
ReplyDeleteI understand the draw of the OTTB though- it's hard having a small budget, especially if you're inexperienced and can't handle a baby. The options are slim: older horse that needs maintenance and eventual retirement OR youngster that is barely started and needs full training OR something off the track that people assume are started enough for an ammy to be able to take lessons on and help retrain.
You hear all these success stories but the stories that people often need to hear to give them a well rounded understanding of the situation are the ones that aren't in the media. The failures, the dangerous situations, etc.
Interesting discussion, and interesting to hear everyone's ideas.
I totally agree. "OTTB" almost should not be a category because they are all soooo different, and are available to new homes/careers for so many different reasons (too slow, too small, other better prospects but nothing's actually wrong with him, injury, successful race career but ready to retire, no promise, etc....). In working with any horse, the key I think is to have an open mind and flexible agenda, like another commenter said, but it is even more important when dealing with a TB or another hot, smart horse like an Arab. Like you said, know what needs to be dealt with now, what you can ignore, and when to give up on a particular lesson and try that one another day. That said, if you have some balls and a decent amount of patience, and if you can think outside the box and not get locked into a particular "plan", I don't think you could ever learn as much from any other kind of horse :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent post, and I say that as a thoroughbred fan. The amount of ammies trying to ride baby thoroughbreds is just shocking. You and Courage are one of the few resounding success stories.
ReplyDeletePeople race these things for a reason. They're fast, they're spirited, and they've got a will of their own. They've also been bred in stables for the past several hundred years, so they're sensitive and fragile. All these can change from horse to horse, and with training and different management, but the baby horse coming off the racetrack is about as far from a good ammy horse as you can possibly get.
(I say that having just bought a five-year-old thoroughbred that hadn't really been ridden since her last race as a three-year-old, who proceeded to cruise around in all three gaits with me in a spooky arena she hadn't seen for a year, without batting an eyelid. There are exceptions.)
Like everything, exceptions to the rule. But on the whole, I don't think I would consider an OTTB probably ever. I say that as someone with experience with backing and ushering a baby horse from his journey of first time in the crossties to taking a victory pass at a national horse show. The OTTB is an unknown quantity for me, though, and the TB brain... I don't know. If you get the right one, okay. In general? The TB I've seen around (4* etc horses excluded) are generally lower level and do not look like fun rides. The several I've ridden, I've gotten on with well but it is perhaps not my brain of choice.
ReplyDeleteFrom a resale point of view it is somewhat dismal... Frankly the TB just will not sell as well, or cost as much as a WB with the same training, age, and show record. Assuming the horse is advertised as TB. It is what it is; there is a bias. I think it is probably justified. Purpose bred TB may be another story, but even still, people see TB and as a rule generally turn away. This is show jumping I speak of only - not sure how it goes in something like, say, eventing.
Lastly, I'm not sure the OMG pro-OTTB people are doing themselves many factors. COTH is full of them and frankly I get sick of hearing about how everyone can't ride because they have (insert non-TB breed here). The truth is, Warmbloods these days, despite being heavily TB infused, are purpose bred for athleticism and brain. TB are bred to do one thing: run fast. Big difference there.
You know you're right. I've been riding for a few decades and dealt with green and "problem" horses in the past and thought an OTTB wouldn't be that different, (Treat them as green, work through anxiety issues, put the ground work in, go from there) but I was wrong.
ReplyDeleteMaybe not with all of them, but in my experience it really is about having to undo a whole lot of training and past experience that had ingrained certain behaviours you don't want in a riding horse, to get back to a clean enough slate to start to reteach what you want. Re-educating is definitely harder than teaching a horse that's just green.
They do have the basics in there, but it's basics + race training. There's often big gaps in their education that I just wasn't expecting coming from horses that had been started in a normal way, and that got me into trouble and I ended up thrown off and injured from being lulled into a false sense of security. (Everything's going well until is suddenly isn't, and you've got an explosive horse on your hands who's only idea is to respond to something they can't deal with by going into full flight mode! If I learned anything from this guy, it was just that the only response to being worried was to react first, think later (if at all). This took a lot of time to reteach.)
If it's your first OTTB, I'd really only recommend taking one on if you have a trainer familiar with them on hand to help you out, especially if the horse has a lot of behavioural "baggage" from the track that needs extra work to undo. They're great horses, but not always the same as working with normally started ones. I love the one I've got now and he's come along from his racehorse phase in his life, but if I had my time again, I probably wouldn't have taken him on (or at least sent him out for someone else to do the initial re-educating.)