My first time riding a TB....

Ok so I have been riding for hmmmmmmm 17-18 years now, and I have never ridden a thoroughbred. My boyfriend rescued an OTTB and he doesn't really know anything about horses, he just saved him and got him vet care and food in his belly..... so now it's time to do some evaluating of this guy, so of course I am the one who say "Oh me! Me! Please pick me!!!" lol

WOW

I have a new respect for anyone who rides TB's

IT'S A SERIOUS WORKOUT!!! I am use to an Arabians short bouncy gaits.... TB's have such a long stride it took me a long while to get the hang of it, and the canter is unreal! I feel as though I am going to fly right out of the saddle, and right when I am totally ready to become a 747, he puts me right back on my seat! Totally amazing.

I think this is a good way to test my (non) riding skills lol

Besides the fact Walter doesn't turn right, and freaks out when trying to saddle him, he is such a great horse lol. Yea btw is it normal for a track horse to only feel comfortable turning left? I mean it would make sense, but I can't imagine that they were only trained to go left...... But anyway, here are some pictures. Please don't judge my riding, I haven't ridden anything that needed to be told where to go in 10 years, and I have been completely out of the saddle for 3 as I retired my mare :)

Then this is my boyfriend. This is his first time riding, ever. I needed to drop the stirrups for him, but he just wanted to get on to see what it was like.......... yea he's hooked lol. He and Walter have this amazing bond, it's amazing to see...

Haha welcome to the group of owning tbs :)
Good on your boyfriend for rescueing him
And I wish you all good luck in re-training him

Yeah, these TBs are amazing, aren't they?

His problems sound like the typical racehorse problems. Just baby him through them and try your hardest to earn his trust.

Sam and William, my mom's and my TB's, were much the same...now they're doing great! All we've done is baby them and be oh-so-nice (contrary to popular belief - but most OTTB's are just that - contrary to poular belief!) to them, and they've turned out so great! They get rough handling at the track, and that's what makes them "high strung" and "nervous", although part of that is their metabolism and energy levels.

Good luck with him, he's gorgeous!

P.s. ..... is his tail rubbed at the top?

Thank you, he wants to trust me.... in fact I was able to get him right on a trailer when we had to move him. My boyfriend said it took nearly 2 hours the first time, and the trailer was bigger than the one I loaded him in. The owners we rescued him from were SO mean to him, and had no idea how to saddle properly, so I know that didn't help. He is coming along great.

And yes he has serious anxiety, and he constantly rubs himself on the fence. At first I thought he had worms, but after a year of on-time worming, he still does it.

Awww, he's cute. Horse isn't bad either! Welcome to the wonderful world of TBs. As you're already discovering, once you get their trust, they'll walk through fire for you.

Lmao! :)

Try a tail wrap around the tail bone...he'll rub it to snot, but it'll keep him from hurting himself.

Lol i'm glad you like your tb I actually somewhat own a tb too >3< he's not a ottb though I didn't relize he was one cause I was always taught the whole tbs are evil and crazy and he's not at all lolz so I just figured out he was a tb he's awsome and i'm glad you like tbs too!! Your tb is gorgus!