Six weeks into restarting my latest OTTB and we've hit the classic — Riding & Training

Katie Simmons·Seller

Six weeks into restarting my latest OTTB and we've hit the classic wall: lovely in walk, but the moment we trot he braces and goes giraffe.

What's working so far:

Lots of walk on a long rein before any trot work
Ground poles on a curve
Short sessions, finishing on something he gets right

What's your go-to exercise for teaching a track horse to stretch down into the contact?

#ottb #flatwork #eventing

3 comments

Brandon Garza2 weeks ago

Check the saddle before anything else. A lot of ex-racers change shape fast in the first few months and a tree that fit in week one can pinch by week six.

Lauren Schaefer2 weeks ago

Spiral in and out on a 20m circle in trot, and let him stretch every time you leg-yield back out. The bend does half the work for you.

Katie SimmonsAuthor2 weeks ago

Ooh, hadn't thought of combining it with the leg-yield. Trying that tomorrow.

3 comments

The best horses and gear, straight to your inbox.