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HORSE  DISCUSSION FORUMS

TBPA

When is a horse no longer 'off the track'? Something that I've noticed in recent years is this notion that a horse is forever forever tainted by a racing education. I don't agree with this, just because I worked as a waitress while I was at Uni doesn't mean I am one now.. Just as my horse he raced two years ago and so now I would not consider him off the track he has moved on from that. Just like I wouldn't consider a horse that was doing pre-novice two years ago but is now purely doing dressage a pre-novice eventer, it is a dressage horse. So how do you classify a horse? I do it by it's current occupation.

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Ozzies_Girl

Well I can honestly say I have never thought about it like that before but that is a really good point. "'ll be very interested to see the replies to this one.

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justjam

Good point TBPA

Speaking for myself, maybe it is almost used as an excuse for MY poor riding skills... Oh, he's an OTTB - which explains his hair-raising antics in the ring and I get to avoid acknowledging that, as a rider, I lack a LOT of skills.



*sigh* I really hate when a question actually makes me think

JustJam

Riffraff

Great question, I definately wanna see some1 answer this. I thinks its a judgement call.
JustJam, I bet ur not as bad as u think. Plus u havent seen me ride hahaha :P

smash

easy, they only say OTTB when they
1) play up
2) dont put weight on
3) when they FINALLY have a nice ride
blah blah blah
so OTTB is used when they are making excuses for why they cant handle it, or if it has taken so long for it to come round
otherwise, they would say, i have a nice or naughty T/B
cheers

pso

Mine have only been OTTB in the ad they were purchased from (they graduate to prospective performance horse once they are on the float), and when they go to the vet with bad joints...

TBPA

maybe thats why I play up sometimes I once rode some trackwork lol

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Dusty Road

For me it is the level of training they are at, some horses never have correct training and education after their racing career, and they display a lot of that 'racing' behaviour for the rest of their lives. Others have a more willing nature to learn and in the right environment behave like a 'riding' horse not a 'race' horse, so in my opinion they are no longer OTT.

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Trojane

It's a good point TBPA but the prejudice may have some basis in a horses legendary memory.

Consider the careful slow start and schooling non-racehorses may be given, to that of many racehorses. Also the first big outings - to a breed show where it's taken gently through its paces - or to a race meet when it leaps out of a pen and gallops. Flight response has a high reinforcement value and so in a worst-case scenario you get a horse conditioned to bolt. Andrew McLean is worth reading on how the brain works in horses.

As for criteria for being "OOTT"... interesting idea!! Bring it on!!!

simbin

I think it depends on the horse personally some come off behaving like they have never raced and some due to their breeding have head problems. Take most serheeds for example. Not many end up settling down. It also depends on their breaking in and education. Some trainers like to have them going so that they can have a life after racing and some couldnt care less.

I always say mine are ottb because they will always have that element of racehorse in them being tb and it lets people know that there could be possible joint or other problems later on down the track. I'm actually proud mine have raced and did really well. I dont feel like hiding it.

Take Roly in his mind hes still racing. Apparently today at the agistment centre he is at he was walking/trotting to one side of the paddock would turn around stop and race back with my other tb. They did this numerous times. One has been ottb 5 years and one 5 months. Its bred into them.

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