OTTB trainer Aubrey Graham. Photo courtesy of Ride iQ / Kassie A. Colson.
A good Thoroughbred is still the ultimate athlete for the sport of eventing. Their athleticism—and in particular, their gallop—is hard for any other breed of horse to match. Getting a Thoroughbred off the racetrack is also one of the most affordable ways to get into the sport because off-the-track Thoroughbreds (“OTTBs”) are generally a fraction of the price of purpose-bred warmbloods.
However, switching careers can be challenging for a horse. Asking a racehorse to become an eventer is a bit like asking an engineer to become a lawyer. Some aspects of the job might be the same, but shifting careers can present real challenges and there is often a tough adjustment period. The horse has to learn an entirely new set of skills, and they might have some baggage from their years at the track that makes it hard to become an event horse.
In partnership with the Retired Racehorse Project, Ride iQ produced a 10-lesson series to help riders bring along their OTTBs. Ride iQ coach Aubrey Grahamholds your hand through these lessons as she helps you take your horse from basic groundwork exercises to flatwork and eventually jumping.
Aubrey’s main focus is restarting OTTBs, and each year she contributes to the training of, on average, at least 50 Thoroughbreds. She also specializes in horses that are known for having extensive training issues or have been labeled “problem horses.” Aubrey is also the founder of “Thoroughbred Logic,” which includes a series of articles published weekly on EN’s sister site, Horse Nation, as well as nationally-held masterclasses and clinics.
Having such an experienced horsewoman walk you through the steps of restarting your OTTB is a real advantage, especially if you are doing most of the restarting yourself. Through the course of this series, Aubrey works with a 4 year-old Thoroughbred that she is retraining. Whether your horse is four, or six, or eight, the lessons are broadly applicable for any horse switching careers.
To me, one of the most rewarding aspects of training horses is learning how they think and what makes them tick. We have a young OTTB at the moment who I believe has the qualities to be a top eventer. About a year ago, we were out hacking and introduced him to his first “water jump,” which is a wide stream near our farm. He was quite suspicious at first, and would not go in even with a lead horse. We let him stand there and sniff the edge and think about the question for about two minutes with no pressure. Then, like a light switch, he walked straight in. We learned a lot about that horse from that experience—that he likes to have a moment to figure out the question being asked, and then he is more than willing to attempt to give you the right answer. That way of processing information has in turn informed our further training with that horse, and we will keep that in mind for years to come.
The Ride iQ OTTB restarting series is valuable because it will help you figure out what makes your horse tick. You may not follow the exact program that Aubrey presents, and that is entirely okay. The main goal is to build a partnership with your horse and find the best way of communicating with your horse, both from the ground and from the saddle.
One of my first Advanced horses, Joker’s Win, raced over 50 times and then competed in over 65 recognized eventing competitions through the 4* level. He is now semi-retired and still enjoys flatwork and trail riding. That horse taught me what cross country was supposed to feel like, and he was an amazing and generous partner. He was also restarted by a professional rider, who carefully took him from the track into an established eventing program. That smooth transition from racing to eventing is what allowed him to be successful for so many years in the sport of eventing. Having a well-thought out plan like the one Ride iQ provides in this series with Aubrey Graham is a great first step to making your OTTB’s transition smooth. Enlisting additional help from an experienced trainer will also ensure that you have a wonderful partner with which to enjoy the sport for years to come.
