Posted 2016-02-08 2:03 PM Subject: How to get the lanky OTT horse on its hind end
Expert
Posts: 2685
Tips, tricks & exercises welcome. Assuming horse is 100% sound of course.
She is 15.3 & bean poll. She will back and roll over her hocks and do alright rolling against the fence. To the left I can feel her hip stay under her but to the right she is uncomfortable and uncoordinated. I'm sure that has to do with the track but should I just work a little more on the right each day? She's not on the pattern but even loping circles I can get her to collect up nice and keep under herself to the left but have a hard time getting her to do it to the right for more than a step or two.
When I vet checked her my vet said she was slightly positive to left stifle but not enough to inject until we started doing real, hard, work. I wonder if going ahead and doing that now would help? She x-rayed clean literally everywhere.
Posted 2016-02-08 4:41 PM Subject: RE: How to get the lanky OTT horse on its hind end
Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
its a track thing. They rarely if ever run to the right (like so many of our hubbys' and friends' rope horses, too) so warm up lightly to the left and then focus on the right. Maybe do some chiropractic like someone said and stretching to the right before each ride.
Also, racehorses are taught to lean into rein pressure and go faster that way, so if you ask them to sit back and you bump with your hand and they lean into you...drop them and they tend to back off and set up on their rear/hocks a bit.
Posted 2016-02-08 6:27 PM Subject: RE: How to get the lanky OTT horse on its hind end
Elite Veteran
Posts: 898 Location: Mountains of VA
Even before reading your vet. said left stifle, that was my thought too. Walk up and down hills and just keep working her to the right getting her to use herself as best she can right now. She should get stronger and better within a few months.
Posted 2016-02-09 9:58 AM Subject: RE: How to get the lanky OTT horse on its hind end
Veteran
Posts: 227 Location: Heart of Texas
Yes to all of the above! You'll have to work extra hard on right sided exercises. But she will get sore since those are muscles she's not used to using so be sure to keep her chiro'd, message her often, and do lots of stretches. But she'll get there in time :) Good Luck. I just love OTT ponies.
Posted 2016-02-09 12:10 PM Subject: RE: How to get the lanky OTT horse on its hind end
Elite Veteran
Posts: 634
I work my OTTB in draw reins once or twice a week to get him to collect himself more. It really helps them work off their back end. Also up and down hill work will help strengthen those muscles and teach the horse how to position their body for stability. Ground work with yielding the hindquarters will also help. Keep us posted! I LOVE TRACK HORSES!
How to get the lanky OTT horse on its hind end
