OTTB Success Stories

Posts Tagged ‘Training Notes’

Hi Elizabeth,

Thank you sooooo much for the phone call consultation two days ago and all the links about training, it has been a great education for me. Here is my story for the website success stories, and what a success it has turned out to be, thanks to you…

These last two weeks have been quite confusing and chaotic for both myself and Tru Native aka “Truman”. I was so busy being a loving and caring Mom to him, wanting him to feel comfortable in his new life, he figured that he needed to keep up his role of the “herd leader”. He could tell from day one immediately that I was not, which turned bad quite quickly as he is extremely intelligent!! Also, which did not help the situation was the training progressing WAY too fast, i.e., lunging with side reins, the lunge-line over the poll (which turned the bit into a gag!! OMG!!), and pushing him to try to canter on a 20 meter circle, all me, unknowingly, and my trainer’s mistakes, lead Truman to become very frustrated, upset and he even started throwing tantrums. So each day became worse and he started pushing me around, rearing on the lunge, getting in my space, and pulling away on the lunge-line, dragging my trainer all across the arena to the aisle door, pushing his way through each and every door or gate he could muster.

The one thing that did not change was his dynamic, sweet way he had to be so loving, he even calls out to me when I come into the barn. He never kicked out or was intentionally mean during all of this commotion, a sign that he is really a SUPER, level-headed horse. We definitely love each other tons, but I knew I needed the help of Elizabeth and something had to change. I never once, though, regretted buying this horse through all of this, because I knew I was doing something wrong and it could be corrected efficiently and quickly, if I just knew what it was!!!!

I needed to be the “HERD LEADER”!!!! and get tough and firm about his pushing me around. I had to give right back and even harder, and more swiftly than he gave. You know what, IT WORKED. He is so smart and a quick learner, and most of all wanted and needed a leader, almost seems relieved now. I have taught him to back up from doors and wait while I open them, and claim them as my own. He is to wait until I allow him to make a move, if he doesn’t he gets a HARD whack on the shoulder. It has only taken once or twice and now he is patient at gates and doors. He also stands completely still at the mounting block while I get on. And… waits for my signal to walk off.

In the beginning, before I talked with Elizabeth, when I rode off from the mounting block, he would turn and run back to the door that leads out to the aisle. I tried to turn him the other way, and it did work, but he always wanted to get back to that door and would protest, trying to scare me. After, my phone call with Elizabeth, we don’t have any of that anymore. I followed through with the HARD smack on the shoulder with a stiff crop when he would turn toward the door. Now, he has given that up, because he knows that he made the wrong CHOICE to do that and there is a consequence now. I let him CHOOSE to make the right decision and praise like crazy, or the wrong decision followed with annoying him anyway I can. He has been so much fun to ride, even though we still swerve a bit, but he is getting better everyday!! No cantering yet, just getting him stronger and happy in his work.

I know the road ahead will be filled with new obstacles, but I know have a great support system in Elizabeth and this time won’t hesitate to call for help and not wait until things get so bad. So, Tru is still my baby but a baby with rules, regulations, and limitations. I have learned that every time I go into his stall, I am teaching him something and have to be consistent from the get-go for him to become a good-horse-citizen!! I am so happy with his progress and am so proud of myself. You were right, Elizabeth, I can do this myself. Your encouragement means the world to me!!

Attached are some new photos of us and my first “official” ride as Truman’s boss.

New Herd Leader,
Lauren

Elizabeth’s Note: Wow! I wish everyone could read this Success Story and learn from it. Off-the-track Thoroughbreds are no different than any other horse breed when it comes to training. The natural horsemen trainers all say the same thing. It is most important that you to take charge and be the leader. How you do it will vary from horse to horse, situation to situation but the basic concept is to make it easy for the horse to do what you ask, and difficult for him if he does not choose to cooperate.

More than anything, the horse just wants to get along and be a part of your herd. If you do not take charge and become the leader, he will. In the wild, it can mean life or death to the horse is the herd leader is weak. The second horse in the herd (beta) will always challenge the leader (alpha) to make sure the leader can lead and protect the herd. If you show weakness, don’t be surprised if your horse gets bossy and difficult. If you are afraid of your horse, get help or get another horse.

Hi Elizabeth,

Today I had my first “official” ride on my beautiful boy Tru Native. Just walking though, or should I say swerving all over the place!! He has been doing quite well in most aspects and I do have some questions and need some advice from you. I figured your the best person to ask for help because of your great expertise!!

Let me explain what has been going on the last eight days. The first few days I just lunged him with the help of my trainer, Jaime. Truman is very “stall sour” so to speak. And I understand why, I think. Let me know if you agree. Since he has lived alone for about a year with no rules, no horses, and no limitations, he is having a harder time dealing with the “new rules and work”. He LOVES his stall and my grooming and constant attention. When we go into the indoor, or out to his paddock for that matter, he seems uneasy and wants to get back to his stall. Do you think this is because he lived outside and he loves his new stall and safe area and is worried that it might go away? When we go to lunge in the indoor, he pulls, sometimes very hard, dragging us to the door which leads to the isle. He is VERY strong. I always bring him back to the lunging spot, calmly, and start over. He is having trouble cantering as well, and we are not pushing this at all. Small steps. He has been getting better each day, but still has that tendency to want to get out that door and pull out of the circle, with front legs stomping on the ground, like a child having a temper-tantrum!! Read the rest of this entry »

It is a beautiful evening here and I am sitting outside watching the horses. It is so peaceful just watching them graze. Heather is wonderful. I just can’t tell you how much I love that horse. In fact I am actually in love with him! He is going so beautifully and his jumping is amazing. He is really talented and we have such a great bond and trust now.  I can hop on him bareback in the pasture and he will walk us to the gate!

I have a funny story for you. When the vet was here doing spring shots his phone rang. Well his ringtone was the bugle call to post from the track! Heather heard that and went nuts! He was like “holy s…! The race is starting without me!” The poor guy could not figure out how it was possible that he was missing the action. I could not believe he had such a reaction to that tune after all this time. He is a true competitor!

He looks better than ever and just seems really relaxed and happy. You won’t believe how great he is!

Love from Jennifer and Heather

Joe Bear and Heather's Best loved playing in the mud.

Heather’s former pasture mate, Joe Bear had a similiar reaction to the “Call to the Post” ringtone on my phone. Joe Bear was in the wash rack while Paula was hosing him off. I received a phone call from my Louisville track contact. Her ring tone is the “Call to the Post” bugle sound. Joe Bear’s eyes got wide. He looked out the barn door to see where it was coming from. His heart started beating so hard people sitting across the hallway could actually see it! These horses remember their time at the track. Becareful what you expose your horse to. Make sure they have positive experiences because these horses DO remember. – Elizabeth

Elizabeth,

You’re welcome! I am just taking the comments all in stride. I figured I would run any by you (like the being in heat one ) before I let someone else tell me what I should do when it is my horse. I really REALLY like her (Allegiant), and can definitely see her potential. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. There is no way I would sell her just because of the comments people are telling me.  She hasn’t done ONE bad thing. Mom and Dad can hold her, and they aren’t even horse people. And, I love how she talks to me when she sees me! I know we will go far!

Thanks for all your help!
Amanda and Alle!!

P.S. I am working on the tips you gave me when I was riding (don’t point my feet out, hold my hands straight not horizontal, bend my elbows, and move with her. She really listens and is FANTASTIC to ride!!

Amanda experienced what a lot of buyers of off-the-track Thoroughbreds experience – negative comments from people who know nothing about OTTBs. She was told inaccurate and totally ridiculous stories about what to expect from an off-the-track Thoroughbred. Fortunately she called us for advice.

Bits & Bytes Farm is dedicated to making your experience a positive one. We want your Success Stories. We are here to answer your questions and to clear up the myths about OTTBs. Spend some time reading the stories on this Web site and you will see a common theme: These horses are wonderful, kind and gentle. They love their owners and follow them around and nicker to them. The stories from the owners of these ex-races tell the real story. If the match is not working out, we will help the horse find a better suited match.

Tux (Bato Loco)and I are meeting our latest challenge.  Robert O. Mayer has started training a few of us at our stable in classical dressage.  Tux and I are at quite a disadvantage, since neither one of us knows what we are doing.  I’m a hunter/jumper girl!  We are starting slow.   We made a little tiny bit of progress this weekend, and it feels wonderful.  It is obvious this will be quite a project.  Wish us luck!

Classical dressage is the basis for all riding disciplines. It is all about learning to communicate with your horse so that there is a harmony and balance. I like to call it, “Meditation in Motion”. Jumping should be just dressage over fences rather than the yanking and pulling that you see from so many jumper riders. If the horse is balanced and listening to the rider, you will be able to adjust to the stride of a combination by adjusting your body’s position. Whether you are a Western reiner, hunter/jumper or pleasure rider – learning the basics of classical dressage will make you a better rider and your horse a lot happier. – Elizabeth

Goldie’s (Gold’s Anatomy)papers arrived yesterday, thank you.  He’s coming along really nicely and we are taking him to his first local schooling show the end of this month.  We plan on just working a bit in the warm up ring to give him some exposure to a show environment.  Laura will be schooling her event horse in jumpers so Goldie will have a calm buddy.  We finally bought a new camera so I will be sending pics soon!

Leslie

Gold’s Anatomy came off-the-track in April 2009. He shipped to Flagstaff, AZ where he is the new Pony Club mount of Laura Hempleman. It is a great idea to take a horse to a show and not to show. A horse may think he is on his way back to the race track on his first trip away from his new home. Let him look around and get used to the energy and sounds of a horse show. Expect some extra energy at first.  Just remember that your ex-race horse has no idea of where he will be when you drop the ramp on his trailer. His only experience is being shipped to a track to race. Most horses figure the show out in about an hour and could care less about where they are as long as it is not at a race track.

I am amazed at the intelligence of Thoroughbreds and in particular, my little Bubba (Lynn’s Vision). We went to the ring to ride and there was a spotted horse trotting around at the far end. Bubba couldn’t take his eyes off this horse. He kept angling to get closer and twisting to keep his eye on this fancy fella.

Then Elizabeth came over and said “Hey Bubba remembers Apache!”

I asked “Why would Bubba remember Apache? Were they in the pasture together today?”

Elizabeth laughed and said “No, Apache was Bubba’s lead pony at the track. He remembers him from the track!”

I almost fell over. Bubba hasn’t raced since early last summer. He sees horses all the time and hasn’t been as obssesively interested in anyone else. But by golly, Elizabeth was right. He remembered Apache and the security he afforded Bubba at the track as his lead pony. Wow!

–Melanie (”Bubba’s” Mom”)

Horses, and especially Thoroughbreds, attach themselves to their special friends whether human or horse. I have experienced the heartbreaking screams of horses left behind as the trailer with their special buddy leaves the farm. It was a joy to see Bubba and Hollywood Vic both recognize Apache Brave who was their pony horse at the track. “Apache” was their rock when they were young colts going to the track for the first time. Even after almost a year apart, both horses recognized their faithful companion. — Elizabeth

I have a hard time calling this a success story; to tell the truth, I have a hard time writing about it at all. Some events feel too sacred to talk about, and my third day with Tucks St. Aly was one such event.

The ride that day was superb, we continued our communication, and I think we are beginning to learn more and more about each other; but the best surprise I have ever had was the great highlight of the day. Who can I think of that I am more indebted to than Aly’s original owner and breeder, the person whose very desire to have him was and is responsible for his existence today.

I feel like I am an incredibly lucky person to be almost all healthy again today; I know that I am incredibly fortunate to have found Bits & Bytes Farm and to have such parents as to have been so eager to help me come here and spend time with you great people. But when I met Suzy Hiller I felt something beyond lucky, beyond fortunate. It was pure blessing, truly something that you cannot come in contact with without feeling like ‘how am I ever good enough to have come in touch with an event and people like this.’ Read the rest of this entry »

Ok, that title looks like not a very good description for a horse, especially one that behaved so fantastically on our first ride together, but he is an explosion of awesomeness for me.

I’m still in that silent awe at how sweet Tucks St. Aly is, and how good he’s been to me. On the other hand, I was definitely not in awe at how I rode. But I’m SO glad you were there when I did. I’m rusty, and need to work on my form a lot, (self note to keep that head square on my shoulders).

But no matter how rough my riding was, I was so happy with how we did, we talked so much through those reins, and working him to drop his head, I felt his mind talking to me and felt him reaching back to me, wondering what did I want him to do, what did I have to keep him busy. Read the rest of this entry »

“Kwinn” is doing amazingly well. I’m so pleased that I found a new rider to help me get him conditioned and trained. She’s a dressage rider, so looks like I’ll be leaning that way; good thing I have a good all purpose saddle!

We’ve done a lot of natural horsemanship techniques with him, and it’s working VERY well. He’s making amazing strides. Of course it helps that he’s intelligent and catches on quickly. Once he knows what is expected, he relaxes.

And, he doesn’t like mindless work. He will lose interest and focus if you just ride him around in the ring at a trot or canter. So, we change it up by asking him for transitions. Seems to keep his mind on you much better.

All best, Ronni

Dressage training is the basis for all training. It teaches the horse to collect and extend and be balanced. A horse that has had dressage training will quickly adjust his stride as the ride adjusts her position. This is helpful in jumping combinations, barrel racing or reining. Dressage is not just for “queens” . . . it is the foundation of classical riding.