1. No way to make it go faster than it's going to go. Everything you're doing sounds good (except the rope halter nonsense - you're right, it's nonsense), but at the end of the day, they're 1200 lb toddlers, and building muscle takes time.
2. If you're desperate to move him, you'll need to drop the price. And if you're really desperate to move him, you'll unfortunately need to abandon the idea of a "forever home."
I don't know how the sale market is in Australia, but if it's anything like here, unless your horse is either a) very broke, b) a very well bred breeding animal, or c) very gifted, horses aren't selling. Set the price low, be honest about the fact that he's a project and not a made horse, and target your advertising at the Pony Club level, a kid on a budget who's a good enough rider with a good enough support system to bring him up and along.
Sadly you can hardly give away untrained OTTBs here right now, there is pretty much no regulation on breeding. They'd cross breed with ferrets if they thought it would make them run faster and then drop whats left at the sales. However, you can find them good homes, as project ponies. Or great homes as trained horses.
Good luck OP, it sounds like what you're doing is right, but it's a long process. I'm sorry you got burnt when you bought him. Some sellers are very shifty. What state are you in? If you're in Victoria let me know, I know some channels you could use to find him a good home.
Sadly, no. I'm in WA. Just came from VIC and they loved him there, but alas, a random OTTB isn't worth shipping across country. I'll have to poke around the grape vine here.
And you're right about giving him away, it's just... ghorhgroi and doesn't feel right, especially not if you hear all the horror stories of people getting horses and then not being able to feed them and so on.
So yeah, I'll set the price lower than my pride wants to get (my wallet is going to hate me) but I'm hoping that I'll find someone who values a reasonable education and wants to go on from there. He's not finished but he's not completely green either so... fingers crossed. Maybe not a 'forever home' but at least someone who will keep him longer than a season and then gets bored of him/buys a finished horse after all...
Thanks to both of you for your advice, good to know I'm not a moron when it comes to training methods... ^__^
You're in WA at the moment? I moved over here in January from Victoria and had to leave me two babies over there :(
I think you're doing the right thing with lunging circles and pole work. It really makes them pay more attention to their what they are doing with their legs and feet. If you need any help at all, let me know. I would highly recommend advertising in Horsedeals, but you need to get in quick. I sold my mare to a great home and had heaps of calls from advertising there. It's more most Aussies seem to look. Also, your local saddlery is a really good place to ask. They may know someone who is looking for an OTTB project pony.
I have a few horsey friends over here but I don't think any of them are looking for a new horse right now.
If you need any more help my email is squidypoo@gmail.com :)
OTTBs are going for cheap in WA at the moment, unless they're something spectacular or have had a fair bit of education under saddle. I think he looks quite cute and a nice enough movement. And if he has a quiet temperament, that helps alot. Just out of curiousity, what his breeding
( ... )
Thanks so much, getting an instructor out for reference is actually a good idea and will see if I can find some shows to take him to, but I don't have a float so that's a bit of a hassle...
I'll definitely try the exercise though. When I popped on him today he was sort of leaning against my leg so need to get him to react a bit better again. He was much better by the end though, so at least he remember something.
He's from a stallion called Last Tycoon, it's an irish import I think? He has a very quiet temperament so I'm hoping someone will fall for his personality and take what basice education he has in stride. But the horse market makes me want to cry right now, it's so poor... typical.
I've had two OTTBs now, and I love them, but the thing that makes me successful with them is PATIENCE. You can't rush these puppies. Polish what you can, and hope that the home you sell him to has an idea about how to work with them. They take patience, love, affection, and an able trainer on hand to help (even if you're an accomplished trainer yourself, a pair of eyes on the ground is invaluable).
Pick up Reiner Klimke's 'Cavaletti'. Good exercises in there for younger horses to build muscle, suppling, work on longing, long lining, and side reins. He was a phenomenal trainer, and you can take his words without any salt. I've used these exercises with mine, and have had great success.
I don't think you'll get anything close to your money back, to be brutally honest, but I DO think you could probably find him a home if he's got a great personality.
I worked in a tack store for years, and shoved that book on so many (thankful) people. It's GOOD COMMON SENSE, solid training, safe exercises. It's one of my favorite favorite books.
The most important thing for any work is to have a relaxed horse. If you can get him really settled in his mind everything else will be easier for whoever does take him on.
He's not completely green, I did ride him before hand so it's not like I'm starting from scratch. He does poles and he jumps (loves it even) and he has great brakes. I've done mostly trail riding and messing around in the ground and under saddle the first weeks I got him when I had the time to go out and see him. xD He's not an insane fidgety overcooked TB that you normally get off the track. Had that been the case I never would've bought him because they'll always be 'special' He's very relaxed and easy going, mellow even.
But you're right, forcing a horse is never a good thing and that's definitely not what I'll be doing. Relaxation and his sanity is more important than getting him 'done'. I know I won't be able to do him up completely, but I want to give him all I can give him before he sells so he has the best possible outlook for the future.
Good luck with finding him a home. For the schoolwork, I'd also add -transitions, transitions, transitions! Don't even worry about getting him in an outline at this stage, just concentrate on getting him light and responsive. If he's already listening to light aids, then try teaching him walk-to-canter transitions - once they've learnt it, some green horses find this easy than trot-to-canter - they've got more time to figure out what their legs are doing!
He does Walk - Canter transitions, but not always clean (starts off cross cantering and then switches to one or the other lead). Thanks for the suggestions, will definitely keep up the transitions!
Comments 32
2. If you're desperate to move him, you'll need to drop the price. And if you're really desperate to move him, you'll unfortunately need to abandon the idea of a "forever home."
I don't know how the sale market is in Australia, but if it's anything like here, unless your horse is either a) very broke, b) a very well bred breeding animal, or c) very gifted, horses aren't selling. Set the price low, be honest about the fact that he's a project and not a made horse, and target your advertising at the Pony Club level, a kid on a budget who's a good enough rider with a good enough support system to bring him up and along.
Good luck!
Reply
Good luck OP, it sounds like what you're doing is right, but it's a long process. I'm sorry you got burnt when you bought him. Some sellers are very shifty.
What state are you in? If you're in Victoria let me know, I know some channels you could use to find him a good home.
Reply
And you're right about giving him away, it's just... ghorhgroi and doesn't feel right, especially not if you hear all the horror stories of people getting horses and then not being able to feed them and so on.
So yeah, I'll set the price lower than my pride wants to get (my wallet is going to hate me) but I'm hoping that I'll find someone who values a reasonable education and wants to go on from there.
He's not finished but he's not completely green either so... fingers crossed. Maybe not a 'forever home' but at least someone who will keep him longer than a season and then gets bored of him/buys a finished horse after all...
Thanks to both of you for your advice, good to know I'm not a moron when it comes to training methods... ^__^
Reply
I think you're doing the right thing with lunging circles and pole work. It really makes them pay more attention to their what they are doing with their legs and feet. If you need any help at all, let me know. I would highly recommend advertising in Horsedeals, but you need to get in quick. I sold my mare to a great home and had heaps of calls from advertising there. It's more most Aussies seem to look. Also, your local saddlery is a really good place to ask. They may know someone who is looking for an OTTB project pony.
I have a few horsey friends over here but I don't think any of them are looking for a new horse right now.
If you need any more help my email is squidypoo@gmail.com :)
Reply
Reply
I'll definitely try the exercise though. When I popped on him today he was sort of leaning against my leg so need to get him to react a bit better again. He was much better by the end though, so at least he remember something.
He's from a stallion called Last Tycoon, it's an irish import I think?
He has a very quiet temperament so I'm hoping someone will fall for his personality and take what basice education he has in stride. But the horse market makes me want to cry right now, it's so poor... typical.
Reply
Pick up Reiner Klimke's 'Cavaletti'. Good exercises in there for younger horses to build muscle, suppling, work on longing, long lining, and side reins. He was a phenomenal trainer, and you can take his words without any salt. I've used these exercises with mine, and have had great success.
I don't think you'll get anything close to your money back, to be brutally honest, but I DO think you could probably find him a home if he's got a great personality.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
The most important thing for any work is to have a relaxed horse. If you can get him really settled in his mind everything else will be easier for whoever does take him on.
Reply
He's not an insane fidgety overcooked TB that you normally get off the track. Had that been the case I never would've bought him because they'll always be 'special'
He's very relaxed and easy going, mellow even.
But you're right, forcing a horse is never a good thing and that's definitely not what I'll be doing. Relaxation and his sanity is more important than getting him 'done'. I know I won't be able to do him up completely, but I want to give him all I can give him before he sells so he has the best possible outlook for the future.
Thanks for the suggestions though. ^___^
Reply
Reply
Thanks for the suggestions, will definitely keep up the transitions!
Reply
Leave a comment