NOVEMBER 2021 THE RIDER /27 ^Between The Ears^


behaviour. Temperament is what is more important, but it can difficult to assess in that environment. Probably the biggest ‘benefit’ (to the new owner) of the racehorse is the fact that they are not living as a herd animal, therefore they bond with their people. They are groomed, bathed, clipped, shod, wrapped,


rubbed,


By Ellie Ross I can’t think of a more


misunderstood equine than the fresh off the track thor- oughbred. These horses are often labelled as ‘crazy’, ‘hot’, nuts etc. They are simply reacting to the envi- ronment in which they are kept ,as would any breed in such an environment. As a racehorse, they need to be fit, fed a diet that creates an abundance of energy and lead a life where they are isolated from being the herd


downright explosive. Un- derstandably,


this often


scares away potential buyers and is a premature judge- ment of the horse’s own merits. One cannot accu- rately judge most of the horses based on their behav- iour at the track. I can hon- estly say that of the many, many OTTBs (Off Track Thoroughbreds)


I have


helped transition, most of them, when let down prop- erly, went on to become amazing partners. Others, continue to be misunder-


Photo Credit: Norm Files Brittany Parsons with her OTTB ‘Odom’


animal that they are. To top it off, a study on gastric ul- cers in horses, showed that 100% of the racehorses tested, were suffering from ulcers, a painful condition. In no means is this article intended to attack the racing industry as this is simply about the horses and under- standing them in order to give more consideration to their needs with the transi- tion from racehorse to riding horse.


Typically, racehorses


are fed a diet that I would equate to rocket fuel for your car. They get very lim- ited time out of their stall and hence become very ex- pressive and animated when out. I have seen many that are rearing up, grooms that look very concerned about handling them and some just


stood and I’d suspect con- tinue to suffer from gastric ulcers or other undiagnosed issues. I will never forget an OTTB that was given to me at the track. He was labelled as dangerous and had hurt many people. A year later he was in the show ring and the sanest thing there. There was no magic pill or new training method. It was sim- ply providing the horse time to let down, recover and be a horse. He was incredibly sore and he simply didn’t like the track life or racing. The Myths • Thoroughbreds are crazy. While I would say it is mostly us, the horse people ,that tend to be a bit crazy, the horse just needs a little more understanding. As ex- plained above, their envi- ronment


impacts their


blanketed, trailered, walked in hand etc., likely more than most other horses. They are also handled by a variety of people on a regu- lar basis. • Thoroughbreds spook eas- ily. While some, like any breed, may certainly be re- active, I cannot think of any other horse that has been ex- posed to the amount of things a racehorse has been exposed to. Vehicles, heavy machinery, starting gates, crowds, lights, loud music and PA systems, jets flying over (at Woodbine) as well as a variety of other noises. In my personal experience, many of my OTTBs initially were reactive but once they settled in, had a diet high in fibre that is more suited to them, and got turned out, they were pretty sane and reasonable. Any that were not, likely just needed a bet- ter trainer. As with dogs, we don’t always have the right match between animal and human. • They are all lame. While it is always advisable to have a veterinarian examine a horse before purchase, there is indeed always the risk that the horse, as with any horse, could have an injury or wear and tear that could impact their soundness. Its important to note that these horses are galloping at over 30mph, which is a very physically demanding feat to say the least. What type of physical demands will your horse be required to do? Consult with a sports medicine minded veterinar- ian for the best advice and this doesn’t just apply to OTTBs. At this time of year, most of the horses are quite body sore, which is typical of most athletes in training. Budget for a good chiro- practor and be patient. Give the horse the opportunity to recover. Hand walking and turnout will be most benefi- cial for at least the first 30 days. • They are hard keepers. The only OTTBs I have ever seen hard to keep weight on are either cribbers or suffer- ing from ulcers. Interest- ingly enough, I have had many cribbers cease crib- bing once properly treated for


ulcers. Typically


,OTTBs are very easy keep- ers. It will take about 6-8 months for their metabolism to change and the best ap- proach is no grain and high quality hay. Alfalfa hay mix is ideal and helps their


tummy troubles. As a rou- tine, any OTTB I have brought home was treated with Ulcer meds for 14-30 days but this is something you should discuss with your veterinarian. • They’re limited in what they can do. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Many OTTB’s have gone on to be ranch horses, barrel racers, endurance horses, carriage horses etc. In the eventing world, it would ap- pear that the Thoroughbred is the breed of choice! This breed is the ultimate athlete. They are brave, bold, and athletic. • They have bad feet. Most of the OTTBs I see have flat feet with heels that are run under but that does not mean that their feet are bad. • They have to be drugged to be safe. It is very common that racehorses are given Acepromazine prior


to


being exercised, but it is not just because they need to be tranqued. Ace helps to pre- vent tying up and provides some muscle relaxing ef- fects. Of course the drug also helps take the edge off of their excitement of being out of the stall but its impor- tant to note all the reasons. When you bring home your OTTB, it would be wise to discuss ahead of time with your veterinarian if the con- tinued temporary use of Ace, as a kindness, to help with the transition, espe- cially turnout, which can be overwhelming, is needed.


A few things to keep in


mind… • Racehorses are typically not cross tied so it would not be wise to just tie them this way without some training. Most single tie in their stall just fine. • They likely haven’t had a ‘real’ saddle on so be aware and proactive. • They don’t understand the rider’s legs. • Here’s a bonus! They do know how to do flying lead changes but the cue is a bit different as there has been no leg when ridden. • The brakes. Pulling back on an OTTB is not going to get you much of a stop. You have to teach them and the best way is to start with ground work. • If they are grumpy when grooming, there is a distinct possibility that they’re phys- ically oversensitive due to their racehorse diet that has been very high in protein and starch. This should sub- side after about 6-8months. Most are also body sore so a good chiropractor, turnout and easy exercise for the first 6 months are likely to be beneficial. • Turnout in a round pen is the best option for the OTTB’s initial time outside. Gradually work into large space over time.


someone that understands and has experience with Thoroughbred Racehorses.


Photo Credit : Ellie Ross


Fresh off the track and first day of her new life. ‘Leave it With Me’ AKA ‘Mya’ Try to work with


Violence begins where knowledge ends. Most of the OTTBs I have known have the biggest heart, are


the most brave and by far have the strongest bond with people.


Understanding the Off Track Thoroughbred


Photo Credit: Laurie Langley Brittany Parsons on ‘Lucky Street’


Have an interesting photo from your farm, event or show? Send it to us with a caption and we might put it in our next issue!


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