As a horse owner, you always want to see your horse succeed in anything it may do. Many people want or expect to see progress on Day One, and others know it may take time. From all the horses I have had in my life, the biggest thing I have learned is that every horse is different, and every horse needs different training opportunities. Yes, all horses need the same type of foundation, but it all comes in different times and different ways.

Thoroughbreds come with a lot of unknowns with their new owner because they are used to a very strict schedule at the track with multiple handlers working with them. Then they retire to their second career and their very structured life changes dramatically. This is when you hear about Thoroughbreds going through “down time” to be a horse.

Drafted was a well-known Thoroughbred in his time, winning many high-level races. Due to him being a part of a Thoroughbred aftercare program, there is more background of where he came from and his history. He has plenty of frequent flyer miles and has seen almost everything you can think of in his career! However, the day he came to our farm he started his retirement to learn be a horse. During his high-stakes career, he was treated delicately to prevent injury, so his time of learning to be a “horse” at my farm is a story in itself.

Drafted's first in hand show - a success. (Courtesy of Katie Tarasevich)

Horse herd dynamics change when a new horse comes in and typically, they figure it out in time and have their pecking order in the herd. So far, I have been lucky with my farm that I haven’t had to separate anyone, and they get along well. Drafted, on the other hand, didn’t quite know how that worked, and even after some settling in, he still quite didn’t get herd dynamics. This is when Jerry the Donkey became Drafted’s best friend and Jerry showed him the ropes of horse and donkey life. I kept trying slowly to introduce Drafted to the herd, but he kept getting bullied – which causes a lot of issues and separation of horses at farms. Widget Factory (Widget), my other RRP candidate, came into my life at exactly the right time as I was struggling to find a way for Drafted to settle into the herd. Widget and Drafted instantly became BFFs and look like twins out in the fields together! Widget is Drafted’s protector in the herd – and finally, everyone gets along!

Widget Factory was based at one racetrack for the majority of his career and lived in the same environment for most of his whole life. His life was on repeat – stall to track and track to stall – so his experience outside the track is very limited. The day I brought him home and he saw the farm, I got the hot-snorting Thoroughbred you typically hear about. If anything new came into the field his expression was “WHAT IS THAT?!?” So, you can only imagine what his reaction was when Jerry the Donkey came to say hello! 

Both of my Thoroughbred Makeover hopefuls come from polar-opposite backgrounds and experience levels. Each horse I get I always starts at ground zero and finds out their personality – what they like or dislike, what quirks they may have, what things they spook at or what concerns them the most – and also find their most important groundwork. Drafted was pretty much bomb-proof at anything I exposed him to; even a giant hairy stuffed gorilla couldn’t scare him! Widget is more cautious, but willing to explore new things he experiences.

In my horse training, I strongly focus on in hand and ground work. You will often hear the saying, “If you can’t do it on the ground, don’t try it in the saddle,” with which I 100% agree. A lot of times horse owners forget ground work and rush to riding and then struggle in the saddle. The first thing I teach is respecting my space while being haltered and walked. You see a lot of Thoroughbreds being led around with stud chains due to their spirited personalities at the track. It is no fun when a horse is all over you and steps on your foot! Once they are solid in this area, I like to take them for walks around the farm and outside the farm to get them more exposure to new surroundings.

Drafted and his new friend Jerry the Donkey. (Courtesy of Katie Tarasevich)

Drafted is very smart and has picked up ground work fast, but he does get a little impatient when you don’t pay attention to him – I think he is used to all of his past fame and glory! We have taken him on walks on different equestrian trails to see how he reacts to different situations, and of course he was mellow as can be. So I took the next step and entered him into a local hunter show and we competed in hunter in hand classes. He took in the whole show environment like he was made to be there! His first show he placed second in Hunter in Hand and then first place in Thoroughbred in Hand class! Every show I have taken him he has placed in his division. This is when I really knew Drafted is going to be a solid rock star! (More to come on this in next article!)

Widget has been more anxious in new surroundings and “buddy sour” as he has been more secluded in his track life and is always used to having a horse near him. His in hand work is going slower than Drafted, but I want to ensure he has a solid confident foundation where he can be less nervous and put his trust in me over worrying about his barn mates. I have added different sessions with Widget by meeting up with other equestrian friends and their horses to take walks at local parks. This really helps with going away from home, but he still has a friend when he arrives at a new place. With the extra time spent on these types of sessions, Widget is molding into a brave and confident horse and developing a better relationship with me.

Every horse has a unique story and training experience. Taking the extra time to get to know them and building a solid foundation over rushing to ride them in the saddle makes all the difference, especially in a Thoroughbred’s world. They have already had a rider on their back and need more time to adjust to their new second career of being a horse. Drafted and Widget are on their way with plenty of ground work and off-the-farm adventures!

The Jockey Club supports many aftercare initiatives including the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the only accrediting body in aftercare, and Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), which encourages the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon completion of careers. View all of the initiatives supported by The Jockey Club.