I really enjoy doing groundwork with my off-track Thoroughbred. Not only does it give us some good warm-up time but it also gives me a few moments to figure out what kind of mental state…
Posts tagged ottb training
This Week With Indy: Picking Up Where We Left Off
There are times when despite all of my best efforts, something just gets in the way of riding. It’s called life, it happens to the best of us. Horses get boo boos, it gets too…
This Week With Indy: Progress is Success
Rain, rain, go away! And don’t come back another day! Please! If you live in the northeast or anywhere in the United States, you can probably commiserate. It’s been 3 weeks and it seems as…
First Trail Ride With My OTTB
Going out on the trails has always been one of my favorite things to do with my horse. There’s just something awesome about going for a stroll in the woods tucked away in nature with…
Liberty Training for Horses: How Free Lunging Builds A Bond
Liberty training for horses can be some absolutely magical stuff to watch. If you’ve ever been to a horse expo or seen a training demonstration, there’s a good chance that you know what I’m talking…
This Week With Indy: A Mounted Police Clinic & Fresh Start
Well kids, it’s been a crazy busy past few weeks at the farm hosting our semi-annual de-spooking clinic with National Mounted Police Services, an organization dedicated to training mounted police units, civilians, and their equine…
This Week With Indy: Getting to Maybe
After a two week hiatus for the annual holiday pilgrimage to my parents’ house in Northern New York, I’m back at the farm and that can only mean one thing for my boy Sure Prize…
Top 10 Most Helpful OTTB Training Books & Videos
Prior to August 23, 2018, the day that my own off-track Thoroughbred stepped off the trailer, I had zero experience in retraining an ex-racehorse. Sure I’d worked plenty of other broke horses, but never a…
Week 8: Indy Update! Group Lesson, Framing & Collection
After two, very long, painful, and rather boring weeks being injured, I am FINALLY back in the saddle. A few weeks ago I managed to clip my foot in a lawnmower and you can guess…
My First Ride On An OTTB
Holy sh*t folks, we’ve arrived. I’ll be honest. I wasn’t expecting to ride an ex-racehorse today… but I did. And you want to know something? He was a perfect gentleman about it. It’s been one…
Taking What The Horse Gives You
As the fiancee of a barn owner in the horse boarding business, I can tell you that I’ve seen my fair share of people’s egos’ get in the way of their progress with their horse….
Beginning With The Basics: Starting My Retired Racehorse Retraining On the Ground
Since Indiana Jones arrived at the farm in late August, it seems like everyone is asking me, “So when are you going to take him for a ride?” And to be honest I haven’t exactly…
Exit With Caution
I had an oops moment. And in that moment I realized how lucky I was. It was really just a mental lapse but one thing’s certain with horses: mental lapses can turn into accidents in…
Day 1: Training an OTTB
Before Indy got off the trailer I spent the week prior reading just about every book I could on how to retrain an OTTB. I joined so many OTTB Facebook groups that my Newsfeed is…