Gear It Up Update - New Oct Pics, AND groundwork is started

[Tiz]

I think his loneliness started after he got home. At the track he would have been surrounded by horses.

We brought our horses home for a few months this summer. They didn't really like it, which surprised me, because they were raised here. The tearing around in the pasture was great fun, but they were constantly eyeing me, wanting some company.

I know you're getting alot of advice on feed, but be careful with the grain. You're in an area that grows first rate alfalfa. Feed it free choice, and once he gets over the steroids or whatever he's been given, he'll start picking up. Don't worry about a few ribs showing. Being a bit underweight is probably healthier anyway. With winter coming, nature will be telling him to bulk up and he will.

Flies are gruesome this time of year, and fly sprays are so short lived, it's impossible to relieve him entirely of the annoyance. I'm sure he'll appreciate anything you do for him. Don't fret, he's a horse and probably expects to deal with pests.

Sounds like you're having fun with him, Geo, and that does my heart good. Have you ruled out his resuming his career?

[geowarrior]

Tiz, I haven't ruled out anything. However, just purchasing and getting him up here just about broke the bank. Although he broke his maiden by 10 lengths, he never placed again, so I think it's unlikely that I could put together a partnership. Also I believe I have a responsibility not only to him but to those people who helped me rescue him, and I therefore would not want to risk losing him in a claim. I need to be sure he's safe for ever, or as long as for ever is these days. So although I haven't ruled it out, I think it's unlikely.

I've had several tentative offers for him ranging from people who want to use him for english show disciplines to people who want to try him in western disciplines. His conformation is so good that no-one seems to think he won't have a career as a show horse. The only limiting factor will be his size, for example I don't see him as a polo pony (and most of the thorougbreds around here are in polo). I would never sell him outright to any of these people though.

Right now I want to get him shiny and nice like the sale horses I saw yesterday, and I'd like to bring back his attitude. He will always be kind and I love him for that but I want him to be happy too.

[kimberley mine]

Right now I want to get him shiny and nice like the sale horses I saw yesterday, and I'd like to bring back his attitude. He will always be kind and I love him for that but I want him to be happy too.

Does he have a job yet? It sounds to me like he needs something to do.

[geowarrior]

Kimberley, we are assuming nothing about what he might have learned at the track, so we are starting from scratch. He's being taught how to tie, so that we know he won't pull back, and he's being lunged (and he successfully went both ways). Also a lot of flapping the rope around and getting him used to a bit of commotion. Otherwise grooming (which he loves), and mooning over his mare. He's been turned out in a bigger pasture now, so I think he will like that. I don't want to rush him or assume he knows things that he doesn't know, but I imagine it won't be too long before they put a saddle on him. Also he's only three and a half and probably has at least half a hand to grow (he's 16 and a half hands now), and I don't want to stress him too much as that was what caused his problems at the track.

The problem is that he has such beautiful conformation and such a wonderful temperament, there's almost nothing I think he couldn't do (except I think he is a bit big for a polo pony, which most of the thoroughbreds around here are). I can't decide, and I think I should let him run around through the winter before really making a decision.

Any suggestions, of course, would be greatly appreciated.

[ak1]

Certainly y'all could teach him to ground drive in addition to the lunging (supposing you don't want to ride him just yet) to help with the transition to a non racing discipline.

Have enjoyed your reports on how he is doing...sounds like he is going to be lots of fun for you!

[geowarrior]

Excuse my ignorance, but I don't know what ground drive means.

Also remember that I myself can't ride, I did ride as a kid but I was terrible, spent more time on my ass than on the ponies, so I need to learn absolutely everything from scratch.

The people who are lunging him are the boarding stable owners. So far I'm doing the grooming.

[ak1]

Hi Geo...I found a link with a decent description of what I meant by ground driving.

http://www.adairmag.com/articles/archive/longlines.html

Helps build muscles and teach headset, response to cues of the bit and voice so that your horse is ready for carrying a rider. I was really thinking this would be a good way to teach responsiveness to the reins and bit since what we'd use in a non racing discipline can be very different from what he was taught at the track.

It is also entirely possible that when he was broken prior to arrival at the track that some of this was taught to him, so in that case it would be a great review and build up the confidence you/barn owners have in him.

[geowarrior]

Thanks ak1, I'll talk to the boarding owner. Ultimately I'd like to learn how to do all these things myself.

I hope I'm not boring everybody with all this, but it's all so new to me and I do want Jura to be a happy and fulfilled horse.

[skeenan]

I hope I'm not boring everybody with all this, but it's all so new to me and I do want Jura to be a happy and fulfilled horse.

Of course you're not boring anyone!

I think it's awesome hearing about him and I'm glad you're having fun with him. He has a great new home with you and I'm sure everyone is more than happy to lend advice and an online ear. I could talk horses all day... so I hope my last post wasn't taken as a lecture or anything, just enjoying all of the discussion going on!

Keep us updated... a good site, BTW, to read about OTTBs and their training:
http://bitsandbytesfarm.com/index.htm

[geowarrior]

Not at all Skeenan. I don't feel lectured at all, and any information is gratefully received.

I was just worried that the thread might start to rival the "inbreeding and breakdown" thread.

[geowarrior]

I finally got the vet out to see my boy. The vet really liked him. Although no x-rays were done, he could find no evidence of any leg or ankle injury, but the horse's feet are very sore, so front shoes were recommended. Then if any leg problems exist we might be able to detect them. He is about 50 lbs underweight. Otherwise the vet thought that it's likely he can pretty much be aimed for any career that's available in horsey life.

I was there yesterday when he got his new shoes, and although his feet are obviously paining him, he was as good as gold (as usual) for the farrier.

He's got two mares now, so he's the odd man out, but he gets better treats than they do.

We have to give him a little time for the foot pain to die down, but otherwise the vet feels he's ready to be ridden. He's 16.5 hands high, 1100 pounds, and looks like he's going to top out at 17 hands high.

[larrygene]

geo, FYI a "hand" is 4 inches. So if your horse is 16.5 hands, he is actually 17.1 hands. Thats a BIG boy!!

Larrygene

[Toccet02]

I think she meant 16 hands 2 inches

[geowarrior]

Sorry Larrygene, I did mean sixteen and a half hands high which I interpret as 16 hands 2 inches.

[WarHorse]

I'm glad he passed the vet. Good luck with the front feet.