United States Eventing Association

Off-Track-Thoroughbred Talk Part 2

Can OTTBs become good pony club mounts? The story of the little mare that could do just that.

Today, we ask an important question in terms of OTTB utility in other sports, especially relating to Pony Clubs. Pony Clubs are the backbone of learning for so many young riders today and they fill a niche in terms of providing young riders with valuable experiences in competition and in preparing for greater learning in equine sports. I conducted an interview with Ashley M, busy mom and experienced horsewoman, who is also the riding coach and trainer for her young daughter, Hannah. Ashley and Hannah recently purchased an OTTB mare as a potential competition horse for Hannah with the intent of advancing Hannah’s eventing skills so that she could compete at higher levels. Hannah is an avid D3 Pony Clubber member at the Beginner/Novice Eventer Level and at Training Level in Dressage.

Through some on-line research, Ashley and Hannah discovered one of Susann Jones’ OTTBs* and then went to see her at the boarding facility where she was stabled in Alabama. The five-year old OTTB mare they were going to see was named “Toy Train”. Ashley initially had some reservations about an OTTB as a transition horse for Hannah in terms of what she believed she knew about the OTTB temperament. When they first met Toy Train, Ashley was more than pleasantly surprised by her temperament. She was “a lot different than I had expected—laid back, calm, not high-strung at all.” She was fully settled into the farm where she was awaiting sale and regarded her visitors with lively interest. It didn’t take long for both Ashley and Hannah to see Toy Train’s sterling qualities and it didn’t take long for them to trailer her back to her new home. It didn’t take them long to rename her, taking into account her lovely temperament: she is now known as “Harmony”.

Hannah is very fortunate to have a mom who has the experience and ability to teach Harmony and to teach Hannah at the same time. Ashley schools and trains Harmony, assessing her progress and then makes the determination on how and when Hannah rides her so that both horse and Pony Clubber have a great riding experience together. Ashley has spent years riding, starting in her own childhood. Her equine experience in both English and Western is wide ranging and includes horse training. These are invaluable skills to have individually and Ashley stressed that if a parent does not have these skills then it is essential to have an experienced trainer guide an OTTB’s learning process to avoid pitfalls, miscommunications and slowed learning on the part of the horse and rider.

Ashley’s schooling of Harmony has been a joyful experience for both of them. Harmony has consistently displayed a willing attitude to learn. One of Ashley’s biggest surprises early in Harmony’s training was how she seemed to sense and to understand what it meant to be a riding horse, despite never having been that before. As Ashley explained it, Harmony seemed to grasp the concept of the long leg down her side and was very responsive to the leg aids almost immediately. This was so much more than Ashley expected out of Harmony so early on in her training. Ashley assessed Harmony as an intelligent horse who is willing to learn; she tries to do everything as well as she can do and is not afraid of new experiences. Harmony receives ring training, mostly outside until the weather turns REALLY cold, trail riding and work over trot poles. On trail rides, she boldly goes over creeks and down banks, enjoying the company of other horses and riders. She has the confidence to be lead horse as well, truly an amazing feat for a horse that was on a race track as recently as this spring.

Harmony has so much enjoyed becoming a herd member that she now gets slightly upset to be away from her two older gelding friends. Harmony is already good with lead changes but when her herd buddies look on from the far field, Harmony gets distracted by them. As Ashley laughingly put it, “She’s regressed slightly in training because she sulks if she’s away from them.” Ashley, an old hand at managing this type of avoidance behavior, continues to work Harmony through this phase of excessive bonding.

Ashley describes Harmony as funny, sweet tempered and loving. Harmony really enjoys the company of humans and frosted mini-wheat cereal. She’s just crazy about them and, since Hannah eats the cereal too, how bad can it be to share just a small tidbit with a good little mare? She hasn’t done anything bad and nothing about Harmony has ever scared either Ashley or Hannah. Ashley admitted feeling a bit anxious once she bought her—on the drive home, she worried that if this lovely little OTTB didn’t fit their needs then they would be obligated to keep her until they could find a more appropriate home for her. No horse that Ashley has is ever abandoned.

Harmony and Hannah enjoying their lessons. Harmony sports a clipped coat and very cool saddle pads.

When asked what advice Ashley would give other parents of Pony Clubbers who are in the market for a next-level horse for their children, she provided some very sage advice. If the parents are not experienced trainers in their own right, then Ashley strongly recommends that they procure the services of a professional trainer to help both horse and rider achieve success. Training, done correctly, is rewarding for both horse and rider.

She would recommend parents look at OTTBs as potential mounts because they can be so rewarding for the family. In Harmony’s case, Ashley bought this courageous mare that, in her final act as a racehorse, had just run in a $2500.00 claiming race and that after the race, no one wanted her. With this knowledge of Harmony’s racing past, it was so fulfilling for Ashley and Hannah to bring Harmony along to where she is now and to continue to enjoy her progress because the racing world no longer valued her and her racing days were over.

Happy times: Harmony and Hannah enjoy their outings together.

Ashley credits the careful selection of OTTB horses by Susann Jones as key to finding a sane, calm and quality OTTB. It is very important that parents become educated about OTTBs in advance of purchasing one and that they work with a reputable seller. Susann Jones brings the racehorses from the track and allows them to begin the journey to non-racing status at a comfortable and well-run farm so that they can begin decompressing from track life before potential buyers see them.

Finally, Ashley stresses the importance that riders have confidence when working on all horses, not just OTTBs. Confidence as a rider is essential, as horses look to the rider for reassurance and leadership when they are learning a new job or when they are in new situations.

*Susann Jones’ horses can be viewed at www.silverlininghorsefarm.com