After Racing: Retraining Thoroughbreds

We're making room for new foster horses at the barn. Next week, after the Paddock Sale at Hoosier Park, we're expecting two new horses fresh from the track. I'm looking forward to helping transition these horses to new lives and careers.

...so says Stormy. Stormy is really happy just being out on the trail. He is happiest moving at a walk. He will trot and canter if you ask correctly, but pretty much prefers to take it easy. A confident rider is necessary, not because he is tricky, but rather because he can lack confidence if his leader lacks confidence. He has been taken on public trail rides (see the post below) and did VERY well. Not only did he take great care of his rider, but he didn't even get nervous when they lagged behind a bit and he couldn't see other horses. He does have some bursitis in his hip which means that he shouldn't be ridden on hills or jumped. But other than that, he's good to go.

So if you know of anyone who is looking for a low-key trail horse, please let them know about Stormy!

Sara Busbice (the president of FFI) and I decided to participate in the B&O Trail Ride fund raiser at Natural Valley Farms. She rode Stormy and I rode Jewel. The third member of our TB contingency was made up of Sue Pratt and her TB gelding Printout. Although we knew that Stormy had been trail ridden extensively before he came to my barn, we still wondered what he would do.

It turns out that he was awesome. Not only was he confident, he really had no qualms with needing to be near the other horses. In fact, Sara says that there were a few times when he thought it would be great to just go down a different trail. She reported that most of the day, she rode him on the buckle. He would trot off a few times to catch up with the group, but in general was just awesome!

As far as soundness is concerned, he had an issue with jumping up the bank to get out of the creek. Oh yeah, we rode through a creek too. Because of the bursitis in his right hip, he was sore after being required to jump up the bank in order to get out of the creek. I gave him bute for a couple days after the ride and it seems to have helped. Due to a cold I've been dealing with, I haven't been out to the barn in a few days though. Assuming he stays on fairly level ground, I think Stormy has found his calling. Here are a few pictures from the day:

Well, Stormy has been an interesting character to work with. He's definitely going to take someone with confidence, who knows what they're doing. But, aside from that, I'm really quite pleased with how he's coming along. I think he really understands the concept of the bitting rig. I rode him today for the first time since starting to work him in that rig and he was like a different horse. He still has stiffness issues, but he was eager to seek out contact with the bit and we got upward and downward transitions (walk to trot and trot to walk) wit his head down and stretching forward. I could actually feel his back lift! Yippee! Yes, he was on the forehand, but considering where we had been (giraffe land), I'm very pleased with today's ride.

As for my initial comment, he's a bit obstinate. I think he has been both a bully and was bullied. He will put up a fight if you let him, but at the same time, he responds very well to praise. A confident owner and handler will be key with this cute fellow.