Restarting a retired racehorse is a unique process. These horses were bred to have an acute flight instinct and have most commonly only been trained to run on the track. While excellent sporthorses, restarting the thoroughbred must be done systematically to ensure that you will not encounter difficulty or holes later on in their training as you finish them in your discipline of choice.
The Thoroughbred Restart program at River Birch Farm will give your retired racehorse the opportunity to start his new life as a sport horse with as much success as possible. This 60 day program will have your horse started correctly in the essential skills that all horses need to have successful careers. At the end of 60 days, your OTTB will:
- Walk, trot, canter on a loose rein in a rhythm
- Understand how to connect and soften into the bridle
- Have experience trail riding and hacking both alone and in groups
- Started jumping over small cross rails and natural fences
Depending on your goals with your horse, we can tailor the restart program to fit your needs. The thoroughbred restart program includes a full work program (at least 5 days/week of work) and full board for 60 days.