Bringing an OTTB (Off-the-Track Thoroughbred) into your care is a rewarding experience, but the transition from racing life to everyday life at home can be a bit challenging for both horse and owner sometimes. After spending their formative years on the racetrack, many OTTBs are not accustomed to the slower pace and different routines of retirement. With patience and the right approach, you can help your OTTB settle into their new home with ease. Here are our top 5 tips for a smooth transition:
1. Establish a Consistent Routine
One of the most important things you can do when bringing an OTTB home is to establish a consistent routine. Horses thrive on predictability, and a structured day will help your new equine friend feel secure and at ease. Stick to regular feeding, turnout, and grooming times, and maintain consistency in training. This will help your horse adjust more quickly to their new surroundings and feel safe in their new home.
2. Gradually Adjust Their Diet
After leaving the racetrack, your OTTB may have been accustomed to a high-performance racing diet, which likely differs from what they’ll need for everyday life. Make any dietary changes slowly to avoid digestive upset. Transitioning to a balanced diet that includes forage (hay and grass) and possibly some hard feed to help gain sport horse weight and muscle. If your horse is in good race fit body condition I recommend no hard feed or just a low energy balanced feed like Dunstan Breed & Grow once per day until you get used to eachother. Of course keep up the fibre – they need lots! Consult with your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist to ensure you’re meeting all your horse’s nutritional needs for weight management and overall health.
3. Monitor Their Health: Vet and Dental Check-ups
When your OTTB arrives, it’s important to assess their overall health and ensure they’re ready for life off the track. If you are not comfortable doing this you can contact your vet. Your vet will likely perform a physical exam, and it’s essential to get their teeth checked as well. If you are unsure when their teeth, feet, bodywork and health check was last done I would start there and go through the ‘welfare’ check. Also, discuss with your vet any concerns like ulcers or joint issues that can affect many OTTBs.
4. Start with Groundwork and Light Training
After a life of intense training on the track, your OTTB may need some time to adjust to a different training style. Start with groundwork to establish trust and respect before moving to riding. This is especially important for horses that may have limited exposure to things like grooming, lunging, and ground manners outside of their racing environment. Slowly introducing them to new experiences and training techniques will help them build confidence and ease into their new routine. You can also gain insight from a local coach who will help you on your journey and have a strong start together.
5. Create a Calming Environment
Your OTTB may have been used to a fast-paced, noisy track environment. When they first arrive at your property, they might feel overwhelmed by the quieter, more isolated surroundings. To help ease their transition, create a calming environment for them, hay hay or a feed ready for them in their paddock when they arrive. Show them around there paddock, leading them in a halter and lead establishing where the boundary fences are and their water. Providing a familiar companion (another horse or a stablemate) can help ease loneliness. Horses are herd animals, and are used to having other horses around in a racing stable environment. Additionally, consider using calming supplements like BetaVet Ashwaganda or similar to help reduce stress during the first few weeks.