Sunny dun 20!

[Lucky Feathers]

Thoroughbred's Rock!!!!!!

I am a long time Thoroughbred lover and they are by far my favorite breed. My Thoroughbred is now 10 and I got him as a 5 year old and he was off the track. The day before I brought him home he ran his last race. Racing is definitely in his blood, but not at all in his heart. He is my pride and joy and I would do anything for him not to mention he would and has done anything for me. He and I have the best bond ever - we trust each other completely and I will be the first to admit that I tend to trust him a little to much. He is my baby!!!

Like I said he was 5 when I got him and had his last race the day before he came home, but he has been a true joy. I easily retrained him and he was to be a project that I would train and re home, however I fell deathly in love with him and he will never go anywhere. After that plan failed - I decided I would have him be my new show horse for the Jumper ring - that plan then failed as once I was training at the high level my leg could not take it regularly (old riding injury), so we just played around for a few months and I realized that I was having more fun just pleasure riding then I ever did showing, so he became my pleasure horse and will remain that way forever. There was a point where he could only be ridden by myself or other experienced riders, but with more training he is now ridden by a lovely woman who is an intermediate rider and they are doing wonderful together. She partial leases him and has been for over a year now and has just fallen in love with him. He's a wonderful horse and my true love.

If I could afford a third horse it would by far been another Thoroughbred and definitely another off the tracker to retrain.

He are a couple of pictures of my Thoroughbred -

[Halo]

LOL I'm serious... that surgery was bad. Much much much much more painful and harder to recover from than my C-Section! If they ever wanted to do it on my left, I'd say no. I seriously regret having it done as I was in less pain and less numbness before I did it than after.

And Lucky, I did not say thoroughbreds were bad. You're post had the key in it exactly "experienced rider" I can ride horses, do ground training, and all of that but we should have realized that horse was more than we could handle and we didn't. Hence my fault, not his. I'm not putting down the breed, simply discussing my own experience in answer to a question.

[TikusMom]

Yeah, I don't think I'm going to even consider surgery until I can't use my hands at all. I need them too much to risk something like that. I really hope that your doctor is correct and that as time goes on, the nerves will restore themselves to a point where the numbness isn't an issue anymore. I'll pray for a FULL recovery for you!!!!

Mere: I'm glad your guy was easy to retrain. He's gorgeous, and very scopey over that oxer I might add! He's a beautiful, beautiful boy!!!!!
Now, my point is that Thoroughbreds coming off the track need an experienced horseperson to work with them. Too many of them are sold to novices (or even experienced riders that aren't necessarily able to train), and these guys are not fit for that kind of home until they are properly retrained by someone who knows their psyche and why they are the way they are, and how they will react in any given situation.
Take this point using a stallion as an example:
You can be the most experienced rider, and ride at gran prix level, but that doesn't qualify you to handle a stallion, especially if you've never handled one. Stallions are a whole different ball of wax....And so are Thoroughbreds off the track.
I love Thoroughbreds....I love HORSES! Though I would love to knock the crap out of these trainers for pushing such young babies too far...yeah, do NOT get me started on that subject....I do think they are beautifuly breathtaking to watch when they do what they were bred for and that is running.

[jenniferag]

Oh my god, you guys are killing me!

My biggest dream in life is to have a little land and a horse one day....

That story you told about going for a ride just got right to me....

That is the life I want!!!!


I hope one day I can get a horse... I don't know if I'll ever have the money, but my goodness that would be amazing


Sigh....... I can dream :)

[TikusMom]

Never give up on your dream! That's how I felt about ever getting a B&G....I never thought I'd ever be able to do it. I figured I'd always just admire from afar and wish. But now I'm counting down the days (7!!!) until my dream bird Tiku comes to join my family!
I used to board my horses until we were able to get our little piece of heaven here. I didn't mind boarding cause there were so many people to socialize with that were as obsessed with horses as I was. Having horses on your own place is ALOT of work, but I wouldn't trade it for all the gold on earth!!! There's nothing like looking out your window and watching the horses out in the pasture to make you realize how blessed you are.
I really hope you get the chance to do the same. There's no experience like it on earth so never give up!

[jenniferag]

:)

Maybe one day... I'll have to save up some money and see

[Lucky Feathers]

Originally Posted by TikusMom

Mere: Now, my point is that Thoroughbreds coming off the track need an experienced horseperson to work with them. Too many of them are sold to novices (or even experienced riders that aren't necessarily able to train), and these guys are not fit for that kind of home until they are properly retrained by someone who knows their psyche and why they are the way they are, and how they will react in any given situation.
Take this point using a stallion as an example:
You can be the most experienced rider, and ride at gran prix level, but that doesn't qualify you to handle a stallion, especially if you've never handled one. Stallions are a whole different ball of wax....And so are Thoroughbreds off the track.

Please don't take this the wrong way because this is meant to be nothing but facts on my personal experience with Thoroughbred's, but I am really going to have to disagree with you on this. I cannot count how many OTTB's I have worked with - I specialize in Thoroughbred's as I understand them and they have always been the breed that I can help the most. I have to say that not all OTTB's NEED and experienced rider - I have seen many come right off the track and be dead quiet and never show any signs of needing special attention. Some I have even put non experienced riders on and that have all be fine. Just because it is a TB and was a racer is not meaning that is going to be hot, need lots of work, and have to have an experienced rider. Same goes for the stallions I have worked with - some have been crazy and needed a firm hand while many others I have dealt with had no clue they were even a stallion or so that is how they acted.

It's like saying quarter horses are going to be a nice and quiet trail horse or Oldenburgs are meant for the dressage ring or ISH's are what hunting is all about.

Yes, I will agree with you that lots of OTTB's are sold to novice riders, but that is because alot of the OTTB's have only a short time frame to be sold before they are sent off to auction as there stalls need to be filled. Most trainers are going to sell to a novice rather then waste the little time that they have and risk the horse going to auction. These trainers also know that most of these horses they are selling to a novice is a suitable match. In most cases of a horse being to much for a rider it is not because of the horse, it is actually on the riders side.

I am working with a Thoroughbred right now - how owner is a novice rider and they did well together for a while and then everything went down hill. He is a perfect gentlemen when I am on him, she gets back on and it all goes down hill. I put a different novice and everything is fine. Alot of the time it is within the rider and not the horse.

[TikusMom]

Point taken Mere.

As soon as my shipment of Tiku stuff arrives today, Sunny and I will be heading out. This time I'll be riding him to the next highway down which will tack on another 6 miles to the 20 he's already done.