I think when it comes to jumping, or any sport in horseback riding for that matter, the horse has to love his job. He can have the best conformation and you may have bought him for 10,000 or more, but that doesn't mean he's going to be a great jumper. My mare doesn't have terrible conformation, but it's not the best either. She's pretty long in the back, however, she LOVES barrels. She's not built for it, but she loves her job and that's why she's good at it. So I think loving their job goes way beyond conformation :)
I agree completely. My mare is built for contesting, and she loves to run barrels, but she loves to jump even more. Just because people say that she's too stocky to be a jumper doesn't mean she couldn't be and that I should keep her from it.
Agreed! If they don't enjoy it, there not going to try there best. You gotta have a horse that wants to do it and wants to get to the other side :-) my lad loves jumping but was built for dressage, so we jump mostly. :)
Or you can do what I did and fall in love with a green OTTB and buy after 6 months of riding it with no vet check and little information or preparedness. Somehow it worked out amazingly and she is more talented at jumping than I could have imagined. Your suggestions sounds better though. :)
I rode an ex racer who was the sweetest, calmest horse you will ever meet, he came on really well, doing leg yields ect, but he injured his back in the field one day and the stress of the small circles in the school hurt it, he had it sorted but had built up a fear of the school, and if you tried to ride him in there he would buck like crazy, he was still an angel hacking so he was sold on as a happy hacker, but he has made me adore ottb and i would love to own one
and don't be turned away by rescue! I got my amazing horse Postess who is 8 and raced for 6 years. she ended up a rescue somehow but she is the best horse I've ever owned! when I reached her she was 17.1 hh and weighted probably 750 lbs. extremely underweight! she knows I saved her and she loves her new job as an eventer.
I'm the same! I have a 6yo OTTB who I rescued, he was really under weight and had virtually no experience under saddle. he loves his job as well as he is the friendliest and most willing horse I have ever ridden! Glad to know I'm not alone with my rescue ottb
As The Senior Editor of The Equestrian News in Los Angeles, I find your videos absolutely wonderful. You ares are consummate horsemen, funny, charitable with your "shout outs." I post all of your work and get plenty of hits and great comments. Thank You Evention TV
I purchased an OTTB in February. I have a 23-year-old thoroughbred gelding who has "been there/done that" and is getting his due retirement. My new guy is wonderful! I wouldn't dream of getting anything other than an OTTB! We live in an area with an active track, so there are many thoroughbred who need second jobs. I am so glad you highlighted this breed!
Kazz reminds me so much of my horse! neck, back, size, so many similarities! can't wait to see him further along. I just competed in my first schooling horse trial with my guy. He's a classic double clear that needs work on his dressage. Look forward to seeing more from Kazzy!
Love this. It’s so interesting to hear the price differences from where you are vs where I am (TX) fresh track horses between 3-6 average around $1k, give or take depending on ppe and injury history and a lot of lightly restarted, same ages, tend to stay around $2.5k-5k.
We have an OTTB at my barn. She was in the round pen for the first time freaked out and jumped the gate! That's when we knew what she would be really good for!
Ahh! If only this video was created around august last year!! It wouldve helped me so much with my boy thar I got, but thankyou, it was very informative and has helped me realise something today that has had my mind boggled for weeks :) keep up the great work and videos! :)
Hey evention, You should check out Maker's Mark Secretariat Center located in the Kentucky Horse Park. They do a really good job of retraining and rehoming OTTBs
You're so mean making those poor horses stand on grass and not even letting them eat it! Lol you're horses are very polite, most horses I know would be dragging me to get to the yummiest looming patch
I have a OTTB, but didn't spend that much. Bought him right off the track as a 4 year old, didn't know anything when I brought him home. I was going completely on just a good personality and looked smart. He was nothing but skin and bones, so conformation was hard to distinguish. He has excellent blood lines, Seattle slew, even Bold ruler. I only paid 400$ for him, owner said she just needed him gone because she had already rescued him from the people that refused to feed him and he was a waste of money to her, she was losing money every day by keeping him........ I have owned Slew city Slim for 5 years now. And he's the best horse I've ever worked with. He will do ground work English or western, he'll do western trails and pleasure, and he will do English hunt. Got him going over fences 2ft at a X, and a straight pole at a 1 1/2 feet. He'll walk through water, go over ditches, dogs don't scare him, nothing scares him or turns him away. By far the best horse I have ever worked with. Check him out on my channel got a couple videos on him. Got good weight on now and his conformation is perfect, he's just beautiful. Wouldn't trade him for the world
You guys should do a short video on selling horses and estimating price. I've got an appy with a good amount of experience under her belt but she still needs a bit of polishing up that I'm thinking about selling. I really have no idea what I would sell her for. I haven't got a clue what the market is like for hunter apps or the market for any breed or discipline really lol
but that had nothing to do with that horses temperament! it's dad could be the craziest horse ever but the horse your looking at could be completely calm.
Temperament can often be passed down from either parent - my own first horse was calm and gentle-natured, much like her sire, but her mother was a mean old lady!
I am training an OTTB at the moment and she was only $500. She has had very little training but it still seems crazy that people are buying these horses for $2000.
I like what morgan and majestic said. You can have an exceptionally built horse that's been bred from two spruce meadows champions and seems destined to go on to grand prix level. But that doesn't necessarily mean that it will. the horse has to absolutely love his job. Sure it is okay to have off days where the animal cant be bothered because its hot and its already been worked 5 days in the arena that week. But you need to take a good look at that animal and make sure its bad days don't outweigh its good days. I have a kaimanawa x who is a tiny little thing, good confirmation but not fantastic. clean legs but choppy canter. great trot, not so great walk, however this horse is one of the best jumpers iv'e ever owned. She can clear jumps at 1.60 Goes to show that you cannot judge a book by its cover, and in the case of OTTB's you not only want to find a good horse but you need to make sure you have the experience and temperament yourself in order to deal with this horse. They aren't always like every other horse, they have been trained for a specific job and often don't have much tolerance or patience for anything else. its going to take time and a very experienced rider to deal with it.
Man Ott's are expensive over there! Most over here straight off the track are 500-1000 some free I have seen one or two at 1500. Tbs with a small amount of education are normally 1500-3000. Rarely 4000. Eg I got my bay mare for free and she would be worth maybe 1000-1500 now. She has had around 20 rides but is very quiet been on trail rides up very busy main roads jumped a bank under saddle jumped fences on the lunge goes straight thru or over anything. Straight thru water over bridges etc. Has a great brain great temperament can be a little bit shy or scared when the handler is too loud in their movements near her. Show her something new and give her a second to look at it and she is fine. Fine with dogs geese tractors cars truck quadies power tools etc. Easiest horse ever to worm. Walk up to her in the paddock no halter needed will take the wormer straight away. Perfect to catch float tack trim wash you name it. Lovely solid hooves. Very trainable and smart. Has a huge walk on a long rein and a huge, slow, bouncy ground covering trot. Nice big canter. Established contact and is starting to hold a nice frame. Great and getting her correct leads and even does flying changes (better one way then the other but getting there). She has a super soft mouth. Hold weight very very well. No nastiness no buck rear kick Pigroot bolt. A beginner (with some experience aka can rise trot and use some leg aids) can ride her out on trail rides and walk/trot in the paddock. Very good with voice commands. Very willing to please. Lots of personality on the ground (nothing nasty just cheeky aka holds her own lead rope pushes open gates closed etc) then under saddle she is determined to find the right answer. Very fast on her feet. Not afraid of cows. She is just a all around sweet mare. She has a great confirmation (her neck is a tiny bit long and has a typical tb wither). Has quite a pretty face (not very blingy. Just a small star and a small sock) has been in one lead hack class and came 3rd. With a bit more work she little be an awesome little horse. She is only little tho. 15.1hh perfect height for me tho. And she is a bit older tho just turned 9. Ott at 6 spelled (turned out) for two yrs (then I got her) slowly been brought in with lots of lunging and ground work.
Gosh that’s a lot of money for a horse that’s only seen a small fence!! I have a 3 star eventer that’s been to nationals that’s only 10yo super quiet and anyone can ride him, he’s never been lame and he’s up for sale for $3500 because of the drought in Australia!! He’s super pretty too 😅
I'm wondering if there is any difference in learning to ride on thoroughbreds as compared to other breeds? I'm essentially a beginner rider and I've only ridden about 30 times in my entire life. My lesson horses are OTTBs, since my riding school takes in mostly retired racehorses and polo horses.
+fireshadow1328 I'd say you were at a much higher level than those with the same hours but school ponies. OTTBs and TBs in general are renowned for being skittish and fearful so if you can ride them you can ride most anything
So I live in Canada therefore there are more OTSB off track standardbred and I've been riding at a barn for 3 years now and there is a off track mare who was broken by my trainer but hasn't been ridden in a while she gets so bored and weaves but I don't know if she is hot headed under saddle or if it's a normal thing for them it's okay if there is no response.
You guys should check out midatlantic horse rescue. I got my ootb prospect from their. They care so much about the horses and care about finding them the best home they could have. Please look them up and possibly give them one of your shromo shoutouts! That would be great! They are doing good but really could use the help of exposure to more people looking for ottbs
Oh my goodness ottb are so expensive overseas!!!! In NZ you get something that’s been off the track for a year or two and been competed already for under 1k!!!
Gender is not nearly as important as temperament, don't rule either out. When I was your age I had a gelding jumping 3+ foot. He was also in his 20's and liked to take off and crow hop around the arena. Its all about the horse.
Both mares and geldings are great. My current horse whom I've had for 2 years is a mare, she's the sweetest and friendliest horse ever! And she has cleared over 4ft. And then before her I had a gelding who was extremely naughty and lazy, he was awful to work with and NEVER cooperated. But then that said, my Father's mare is very willing to please, but highly strung and can be grumpy on the ground, and my best friend's gelding is so kind and calm. So it's not about the gender, more about the temperament. But personally I do prefer mares over geldings, but every horse is an individual. Please don't be put off by the reputation of mares, they can be equally as good as geldings, if not better, but as I said each horse is an individual :)
You're so mean making those poor horses stand on grass and not even letting them eat it! Lol you're horses are very polite, most horses I know would be dragging me to get to the yummiest looming patch
I think when it comes to jumping, or any sport in horseback riding for that matter, the horse has to love his job. He can have the best conformation and you may have bought him for 10,000 or more, but that doesn't mean he's going to be a great jumper. My mare doesn't have terrible conformation, but it's not the best either. She's pretty long in the back, however, she LOVES barrels. She's not built for it, but she loves her job and that's why she's good at it. So I think loving their job goes way beyond conformation :)
I agree completely. My mare is built for contesting, and she loves to run barrels, but she loves to jump even more. Just because people say that she's too stocky to be a jumper doesn't mean she couldn't be and that I should keep her from it.
Agreed! If they don't enjoy it, there not going to try there best. You gotta have a horse that wants to do it and wants to get to the other side :-) my lad loves jumping but was built for dressage, so we jump mostly. :)
my mare loves both barrels and jumping (it has to be 2” or higher tho😂she hates little jumps)
My 16 year old horse is an ottb and he is my first horse and he is the best thing that ever happened to me
I just purchased an ottb and I'm happy that I have done most of the things you guys recommended! Love your videos!!!
Or you can do what I did and fall in love with a green OTTB and buy after 6 months of riding it with no vet check and little information or preparedness. Somehow it worked out amazingly and she is more talented at jumping than I could have imagined. Your suggestions sounds better though. :)
I rode an ex racer who was the sweetest, calmest horse you will ever meet, he came on really well, doing leg yields ect, but he injured his back in the field one day and the stress of the small circles in the school hurt it, he had it sorted but had built up a fear of the school, and if you tried to ride him in there he would buck like crazy, he was still an angel hacking so he was sold on as a happy hacker, but he has made me adore ottb and i would love to own one
and don't be turned away by rescue! I got my amazing horse Postess who is 8 and raced for 6 years. she ended up a rescue somehow but she is the best horse I've ever owned! when I reached her she was 17.1 hh and weighted probably 750 lbs. extremely underweight! she knows I saved her and she loves her new job as an eventer.
sarah hooper That's amazing! Great job!
I'm the same! I have a 6yo OTTB who I rescued, he was really under weight and had virtually no experience under saddle. he loves his job as well as he is the friendliest and most willing horse I have ever ridden! Glad to know I'm not alone with my rescue ottb
As The Senior Editor of The Equestrian News in Los Angeles, I find your videos absolutely wonderful. You ares are consummate horsemen, funny, charitable with your "shout outs." I post all of your work and get plenty of hits and great comments. Thank You Evention TV
I purchased an OTTB in February. I have a 23-year-old thoroughbred gelding who has "been there/done that" and is getting his due retirement. My new guy is wonderful! I wouldn't dream of getting anything other than an OTTB! We live in an area with an active track, so there are many thoroughbred who need second jobs. I am so glad you highlighted this breed!
Kazz reminds me so much of my horse! neck, back, size, so many similarities! can't wait to see him further along. I just competed in my first schooling horse trial with my guy. He's a classic double clear that needs work on his dressage. Look forward to seeing more from Kazzy!
Love this. It’s so interesting to hear the price differences from where you are vs where I am (TX) fresh track horses between 3-6 average around $1k, give or take depending on ppe and injury history and a lot of lightly restarted, same ages, tend to stay around $2.5k-5k.
We have an OTTB at my barn. She was in the round pen for the first time freaked out and jumped the gate! That's when we knew what she would be really good for!
I have a 16 year old ottb gelding. I think he’s perfect all the around. Great hunter and jumper. I love him to death
Ahh! If only this video was created around august last year!! It wouldve helped me so much with my boy thar I got, but thankyou, it was very informative and has helped me realise something today that has had my mind boggled for weeks :) keep up the great work and videos! :)
Hey evention,
You should check out Maker's Mark Secretariat Center located in the Kentucky Horse Park. They do a really good job of retraining and rehoming OTTBs
This came at a really good time,looking to buy my own horse next year and seriously considering an OTTB!:)
Dear Evention,
When you where kids did you do pony club?
Sure did!
That's awesome that you rode at Birchtown Stables, it's lovely there!
You're so mean making those poor horses stand on grass and not even letting them eat it! Lol you're horses are very polite, most horses I know would be dragging me to get to the yummiest looming patch
LOL, how old are you?
Excellent video - all great points (esp. about the horse's demeanor ) - but I really loved the dogs playing in the background. :P
Incredibly informative as always! I think you guys are the best. :)
I have a OTTB, but didn't spend that much. Bought him right off the track as a 4 year old, didn't know anything when I brought him home. I was going completely on just a good personality and looked smart. He was nothing but skin and bones, so conformation was hard to distinguish. He has excellent blood lines, Seattle slew, even Bold ruler. I only paid 400$ for him, owner said she just needed him gone because she had already rescued him from the people that refused to feed him and he was a waste of money to her, she was losing money every day by keeping him........ I have owned Slew city Slim for 5 years now. And he's the best horse I've ever worked with. He will do ground work English or western, he'll do western trails and pleasure, and he will do English hunt. Got him going over fences 2ft at a X, and a straight pole at a 1 1/2 feet. He'll walk through water, go over ditches, dogs don't scare him, nothing scares him or turns him away. By far the best horse I have ever worked with. Check him out on my channel got a couple videos on him. Got good weight on now and his conformation is perfect, he's just beautiful. Wouldn't trade him for the world
You guys should do a short video on selling horses and estimating price. I've got an appy with a good amount of experience under her belt but she still needs a bit of polishing up that I'm thinking about selling. I really have no idea what I would sell her for. I haven't got a clue what the market is like for hunter apps or the market for any breed or discipline really lol
This is a great video! I would also suggest looking back at the horse's family tree; what was their sire's and dam's temperament like.
but that had nothing to do with that horses temperament! it's dad could be the craziest horse ever but the horse your looking at could be completely calm.
I personally would never buy a horse if I knew the sire/dam and their progeny had bad temperaments.
Temperament can often be passed down from either parent - my own first horse was calm and gentle-natured, much like her sire, but her mother was a mean old lady!
Especially the sire. Seems sires pass down more traits than mares.
This video came at the right time! Thank you!!!
I am training an OTTB at the moment and she was only $500. She has had very little training but it still seems crazy that people are buying these horses for $2000.
When is along for the ride 6 coming out?
I like what morgan and majestic said. You can have an exceptionally built horse that's been bred from two spruce meadows champions and seems destined to go on to grand prix level. But that doesn't necessarily mean that it will. the horse has to absolutely love his job. Sure it is okay to have off days where the animal cant be bothered because its hot and its already been worked 5 days in the arena that week. But you need to take a good look at that animal and make sure its bad days don't outweigh its good days. I have a kaimanawa x who is a tiny little thing, good confirmation but not fantastic. clean legs but choppy canter. great trot, not so great walk, however this horse is one of the best jumpers iv'e ever owned. She can clear jumps at 1.60 Goes to show that you cannot judge a book by its cover, and in the case of OTTB's you not only want to find a good horse but you need to make sure you have the experience and temperament yourself in order to deal with this horse. They aren't always like every other horse, they have been trained for a specific job and often don't have much tolerance or patience for anything else. its going to take time and a very experienced rider to deal with it.
I love your channel!
I love this episode because in a few years i am wanting an ottb :D
Awesome video!!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE you guys!!!
Kaitlyn Stergar I second that emotion
Man Ott's are expensive over there! Most over here straight off the track are 500-1000 some free I have seen one or two at 1500. Tbs with a small amount of education are normally 1500-3000. Rarely 4000. Eg I got my bay mare for free and she would be worth maybe 1000-1500 now. She has had around 20 rides but is very quiet been on trail rides up very busy main roads jumped a bank under saddle jumped fences on the lunge goes straight thru or over anything. Straight thru water over bridges etc. Has a great brain great temperament can be a little bit shy or scared when the handler is too loud in their movements near her. Show her something new and give her a second to look at it and she is fine. Fine with dogs geese tractors cars truck quadies power tools etc. Easiest horse ever to worm. Walk up to her in the paddock no halter needed will take the wormer straight away. Perfect to catch float tack trim wash you name it. Lovely solid hooves. Very trainable and smart. Has a huge walk on a long rein and a huge, slow, bouncy ground covering trot. Nice big canter. Established contact and is starting to hold a nice frame. Great and getting her correct leads and even does flying changes (better one way then the other but getting there). She has a super soft mouth. Hold weight very very well. No nastiness no buck rear kick Pigroot bolt. A beginner (with some experience aka can rise trot and use some leg aids) can ride her out on trail rides and walk/trot in the paddock. Very good with voice commands. Very willing to please. Lots of personality on the ground (nothing nasty just cheeky aka holds her own lead rope pushes open gates closed etc) then under saddle she is determined to find the right answer. Very fast on her feet. Not afraid of cows. She is just a all around sweet mare. She has a great confirmation (her neck is a tiny bit long and has a typical tb wither). Has quite a pretty face (not very blingy. Just a small star and a small sock) has been in one lead hack class and came 3rd. With a bit more work she little be an awesome little horse. She is only little tho. 15.1hh perfect height for me tho. And she is a bit older tho just turned 9. Ott at 6 spelled (turned out) for two yrs (then I got her) slowly been brought in with lots of lunging and ground work.
+SheIsMyMare She sounds lovely, and you sound like a very proud horse parent that loves her a lot!
+Hannah Bodner
thanks Hannah. yes very proud of her. she is great bareback. so chilled. such a cool little mare.
SheIsMyMare my OTTTB earned over $1.2 million dollars but I got her for under $1,000
Gosh that’s a lot of money for a horse that’s only seen a small fence!! I have a 3 star eventer that’s been to nationals that’s only 10yo super quiet and anyone can ride him, he’s never been lame and he’s up for sale for $3500 because of the drought in Australia!! He’s super pretty too 😅
Question for ETV
Are you guys in Aiken, South Carolina still?
If not, will you be returning any time soon?
And do you guys do lessons?
You have a beautiful dog I wish my horses look that good
I'm wondering if there is any difference in learning to ride on thoroughbreds as compared to other breeds? I'm essentially a beginner rider and I've only ridden about 30 times in my entire life. My lesson horses are OTTBs, since my riding school takes in mostly retired racehorses and polo horses.
+fireshadow1328 I'd say you were at a much higher level than those with the same hours but school ponies. OTTBs and TBs in general are renowned for being skittish and fearful so if you can ride them you can ride most anything
hi evention tv, I was just wondering what your take on standard bred's as eventing horses?
Could you do things to help people that have horses that bolt my friend might be selling her pony if it doesn't stop bolting
So I live in Canada therefore there are more OTSB off track standardbred and I've been riding at a barn for 3 years now and there is a off track mare who was broken by my trainer but hasn't been ridden in a while she gets so bored and weaves but I don't know if she is hot headed under saddle or if it's a normal thing for them it's okay if there is no response.
You guys should check out midatlantic horse rescue. I got my ootb prospect from their. They care so much about the horses and care about finding them the best home they could have. Please look them up and possibly give them one of your shromo shoutouts! That would be great! They are doing good but really could use the help of exposure to more people looking for ottbs
www.midatlantichorserescue.org/
My 3 year old is a off the track appendix quarter horse
He came off the track because he was jot fast enought for the races he was put into
I have a OTTB she was injured and fell over in the horse lorry and hurt her shoulder, she's completely fine though 😀💘
Glad she's okay :)
I love my ottb Cash!
Oh my goodness ottb are so expensive overseas!!!! In NZ you get something that’s been off the track for a year or two and been competed already for under 1k!!!
Same!! In Australia you can get one that’s done the basics for like $1200
im a 12 year old looking for a new horse would you get a mare or gelding for a rider jumping around 3 foot? would a mare be to high strung for me?
Gender is not nearly as important as temperament, don't rule either out. When I was your age I had a gelding jumping 3+ foot. He was also in his 20's and liked to take off and crow hop around the arena. Its all about the horse.
If your in the Missouri area and are seriously looking, I may have horse you would be interested in.
Bryn MacQueen thanks I never thought about that
Both mares and geldings are great. My current horse whom I've had for 2 years is a mare, she's the sweetest and friendliest horse ever! And she has cleared over 4ft.
And then before her I had a gelding who was extremely naughty and lazy, he was awful to work with and NEVER cooperated.
But then that said, my Father's mare is very willing to please, but highly strung and can be grumpy on the ground, and my best friend's gelding is so kind and calm.
So it's not about the gender, more about the temperament.
But personally I do prefer mares over geldings, but every horse is an individual. Please don't be put off by the reputation of mares, they can be equally as good as geldings, if not better, but as I said each horse is an individual :)
Well said!
lol i am watching this video because i am looking for my next ottb for the RRP
I am watching this because I am looking for an OTTB😅
Sarrah Mirza me too
What is an OTTB?
Evi Marioli ottb stands for “off the track thoroughbred”, which basically means they were taken off the racing circuit and sold!
If you want an Ottb prospect go to Finger Lakes Finests ttbs best place
You're so mean making those poor horses stand on grass and not even letting them eat it! Lol you're horses are very polite, most horses I know would be dragging me to get to the yummiest looming patch