Читать книгу Beyond the Track - Anna Morgan Ford - Страница 9

Introduction

Ever since the first Thoroughbred race was run hundreds of years ago, there has been a need for people to help “transition” retired racehorses into new careers. In a business that rolls a lot of dice in the hopes that one will be a winner, it is natural that many of the horses bred and trained to run will fail to meet expectations—they might be too aggressive or spooky in nature, they might not be fast enough, or they might get hurt early in the game, rendering them unable to reach their racing potential. In North America alone, the Jockey Club registers about 20,000 Thoroughbred foals each year. A third of them might go on to be viable stakes winners or breeding stock. The rest…well, the rest are unsure of their fate.

In 1992, it became apparent to my mother, Dot Morgan, that a vast number of off-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) were in desperate need of new homes. When shipping horses to our home farm near Dayton, Ohio, my mother got on the horse van and saw a Thoroughbred still in the ties. She asked the driver where the horse was going, but it was clear that no one knew or was worried that the horse might end up in a bad situation. At that moment, the idea for New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program was born.

The goal from the beginning was simple: prepare ex-racehorses for new jobs instead of retiring them from all service. There are farms where horses are “retired” from working; they are simply turned out in fields. However, the vast majority of Thoroughbreds love having a routine and a job. With a little time and retraining, most OTTBs can go on to excel in other riding careers, whether that is in the show arena or simply as a pleasure mount.

As we began offering ex-racehorses a safe haven, rehabilitation from injury, and retraining, we quickly learned that although OTTBs are, in many ways, different from other types of horses, there is great potential in each one of them. Yes, Thoroughbreds are bred to run. But, they are not just “running machines”; they have great hearts, too. Once a Thoroughbred is retrained for riding he will do anything for his rider and handler. Many act like children and constantly seek their owner’s approval. Give these guys a job to do, and they will wholeheartedly give it their all!

Through the years I have seen thousands of adopted OTTBs leave our program and go to their new homes—New Vocations adopts out more ex-racehorses than any other program in the United States. Horses from our program have gone on to become eventers, show hunters, jumpers, dressage horses, Pony Club mounts, foxhunters, trail horses, endurance horses, and even barrel racers! Fortunately, most people who take these horses are successful in introducing them to their new lives, though there are inevitably a few who get frustrated and send a horse back to our program.

This book is designed for owners adopting or purchasing their first OTTBs, but it encompasses many additional tidbits that may be helpful for long-time Thoroughbred owners, as well. Equine aftercare, specifically racehorse aftercare, has expanded exponentially since New Vocations’ inception. There are now many options available to ensure that all horses retiring from the track have a soft place to land and transition to new chapters in their lives.

Over time I have noticed some common factors in the scenarios where OTTBs have been successfully transitioned:

Patience

It can take months—or even years—for a horse to fully settle in to a new career. Many of the people who are successful with OTTBs give a horse several months to just relax before they start really working him. Holding a horse to a set time frame only puts unnecessary pressure on both the horse and his owner.

Commitment

A person who chooses to adopt an animal is assuming many responsibilities; one who adopts an OTTB has the added responsibility of understanding that the horse is trying to learn right along with his new owner. Horses retiring from the track go through a massive life change. They must learn new routines, including how to be turned out and how to work in an arena, as well as new skills, like bending and picking up canter leads. And they learn that life off the track is much less regimented than what they are used to—and that this change is okay.

An OTTB needs an owner who is committed to ensuring that his transition from racehorse to riding horse is a positive one. An understanding and sense of empathy for the horse as he learns his new job is essential—and a sense of humor doesn’t hurt, either.

Experience

The more experience the adopter has with owning and training horses, the better. OTTBs need a lot of help figuring out how the world works away from the track—from both the ground and the saddle. When they first arrive at New Vocations, they may have bad barn habits, poor ground manners, and can be excitable and strong under saddle. While these are all issues that will likely change with kind and consistent training, they still require a foundation of horse knowledge and an ability to “read” equine behavior usually gained with experience. Therefore, OTTBs are generally not suitable for first-time horse owners.

Assistance

If an adopter is unable to work through a certain problem with a horse, he or she must be willing to search for someone with experience who can help. In addition, early work with ex-racehorses often requires a second set of hands or a ground person to ensure safety and a positive experience for all involved.

Environment

A safe and welcoming environment where the horse is able to focus on learning his new job is essential.

Partnership

It takes time to get to know a horse, but by developing a good, working partnership, you will have a better understanding of what the horse likes and dislikes. Successful adopters understand the value of working with rather than against the horse when they encounter a problem, never forcing the horse to mold to a set program. And, sometimes it is necessary to work around a problem—with time and patience—instead of working through it as you might do with other horses.

Overall, I find that success with an OTTB has a great deal to do with the adopter’s mindset. I have seen people who lacked experience, but who were infinitely patient and always willing to ask for help, have more success than others who had plenty of experience but didn’t possess the frame of mind to handle an OTTB.

If you decide you would like to work with an OTTB, you need to realize you will be in it for the long haul. You must understand that transitioning a Thoroughbred from racetrack to regular life is a challenging experience. You need to roll with the punches and patiently take the good with the bad.

The purpose of this book is to help you along the way, providing basic information and training tips that will enable the average horseman to prepare the OTTB for a new career. In addition, my recommendations for feeding, farrier work, and socialization are also helpful for transitioning the retiree to simply become a companion or pasture pal.

I will help you deal with everything from your horse’s first day at his new home to his first outing away from home. I’ll discuss many of the “peculiarities” of the ex-racehorse, and knowing about these habits and behaviors before you begin retraining will help the process go much more smoothly. This book will not tell you how to train the ex-racehorse to be a hunter, jumper, eventer, or dressage horse, but it will help you build a solid foundation that is invaluable in the pursuit of any specific discipline.