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Thankyou, I love my dogs!

Hi Katrina, Thats wonderful you saved your Ottb from slaughter❤️🙏. It can be very frustrating when you are relying on having to board at stables where you have no control over diet etc. Thats dissapointing you stables don't allow hay, I am surprised to hear that, hay is so important for horses, not only for physical gut health but also for their mental wellbeing. Does your Ottb get to go and graze on grass or is he always stabled? Ideally horses need to have access to some type of forage, for a minimum of 14 hours a day. If you cant access hay, being in a pasture where they can eat grass for a time is good option. As a feed the Alfalfa-Bemuda pellets sound like a low starch fibre based pellet which is good for gut health. Are the pellets just at meals or do they have access to them all the time ie big feeders? It sounds like you need to work with what you have to the best of your ability which is access to at least some type of fibre feed for as much of the time as possible, even if it is the pellets.

Hi, thankyou for your comment❤️. To be honest I felt like I was dying. I had a nightmare, my whole life came crashing down last November. All my horses got heavy metal poisoning, one had to be euthanised, another died, and I had to rehome some of my others. It completely broke my heart💔😢. I had to put my business, my studies and more all on hold. Its taken me a good 5 months or so to get back on me feet, BUT I am coming back here on my channel, I will get on board here within the next week or 2!!😃🐎. I will put a video together and tell all ie the last year and then kick off with a fresh start. With preparing to come back, I hopped into my channel tonight and just saw your comment😊.

I am so glad to hear my video has been helpful! Sorry for the delayed response, I took a break from my social media over the last 6 months and just coming back on board.😊x

I have 19 horses so it is near impossible to be able to relocate them, financially and availability. The place I am on is a lease, I do not own it and I am relocating within the next 8 months. I do have my worse horses off the grass and in a dry lot, I have also started them on heavy metal binders and liver support, so hopefully that will help them along. My aim is to have them all off the pasture and on hay, where I can rehabilitate them.

@@offthetrackthoroughbredsuc9987 ah understanble. Did the person that is renting you the place knew of this issue beforehand? Did they have horses in the property before you moved in? If so are they offering to pay some of your expenses for all this trouble? Are they at least helping you managed it?

@@ErisFrance0 , they owners were completely unaware of the issue. They are not horse people and had no stock on it. It has previously been used for cattle production before they bought it 5 years ago.

no creeping indigo, no weed in my paddock. I am actually coming to the conclusion heavy metal toxicity in the soil

My vet seem to not have much idea or knowledge on pasture. He gave me steriod cream for the weird rash around the eyes and I had him do radiographs to confirm bighead. As I am not on oxalate pasture I have had many equine nutritionists and vets tell me I don't have bighead. I knew something wasn't right so I had my 2 worst horses x rayed.

I have had them off the pasture and on hay but I have 19 horses and very little room without grass. It becomes unaffordable to have 19 off the track thoroughbreds on 24/7 hay. I do have my worst horses off the grass and on hay. They all come in of a day into their yards and out of an evening. After sitting up to 1am last night I am coming to the conclusion I have heavy metal toxicity in the soil and it is causing a poisoning in my horses. I had the pasture tested and it came back normal except for high iron and manganese. High iron is also linked to high aluminium contamination.

I have had the pasture tested. The grass is a mix of phalaris and annual rye grass with a small amount of clover. I was thinking high nitrates but the analysis came back normal except for high levels of iron and an elevated manganese. After sitting up to 1am in the morning I am coming to the conclusion I have a heavy metal toxicity. It explains why all my toxin binders and supplements haven't been working.

@@offthetrackthoroughbredsuc9987 here is a link to article regarding big head and calcium deficiency that I think might be helpful. Seems as if tropical pastures can cause this imbalance of calcium and phosphorus . The article refers to Australia as having common occurrence of calcium deficiency.

@@vicki1141 , thankyou, appreciated. I am not on tropical pastures, I am down near Canberra Australia where we have cool season pasture. My situation is unusual is an unusual one as cool season grasses do not contain oxalates so shouldn't cause a calcium absorption problem. I am coming to the conclusion it has more to do with toxic heavy metals in the soil and therefore the grass.

@@offthetrackthoroughbredsuc9987 your case is all very interesting to me and has brought me to researching and learning new conditions related to calcium reabsorption. You are definitely on top of the situation. Not something we have dealt with here. Cheers from Nova Scotia , Canada. Hoping your horses are recovering fully. 🇨🇦

@@vicki1141 , thankyou so much. Yes it is interesting, I was up to 1am the other morning researching. If you look into Iron and Aluminium overload, both affect bone healh. Aluminium affects the calcium/phosphorus ratio and absorption. High iron soil is linked to aluminium toxicity. I will get a hair tissue analysis test done on my worst horses. I would say they have aluminium and iron toxcity. It has definitely given me a lot more knowledge on calcium and reabsorption. x

More than happy to help. Yes, I think you will find the online programme so helpful! Looking forward to having you on board when you are able to😊x

Hi Carol, I am glad that you are ok with being the star feature in this video. I was so busy talking I wasn't aware I had the Academy open on the screen for so long..lol

@@offthetrackthoroughbredsuc9987 oh not at all. Its nice to be there and off course We are a good example of novices haha. Far from experts but we are progressing which is what it is all about. I would advise anyone watching to follow Your Programme.

I am happy to hear you find it helpful😊x

Hi Lisa, I just saw your post in the facebook group and am about to respond to you there😊.Head down is a good tool to have but if the whole flight response is activated it will be hard to achieve it. Asking to lower the head comes after you have trained the your stop and go and therefore have control over their legs. Using head down is most suited to situations where you feel the very beginning of your horse becoming alert. Head down can stop their arousal levels escalating. Once they have escalated having good solid stop and go in hand responses is necessary. I will answer in more detail on your post in the facebook group x

Just take in what you can and come back and rewatch the video. You will learn more as you watch it again😊x

Hi Sammmy, I usually always recommend a soft kind bit ie a french link snaffle with the double joint and with a fixed ring like the eggbutt. The eggbutt encourages the horse to take up the contact as it provides more stability than a loose ring snaffle. On top of picking a soft bit that offers stability, training comes into play as well. Often Ottbs have negative associations with the bit ie pain and discomfort, Riding them with a nice free rein and working on the basic responses of allowing your horse to go forward from a light leg aid response and not worrying about the contact. Usually horses that come behind the vertical and avoid the contact aren't travelling forward active from behind and over their back. Working on this allows the horse to stretch open and out in the neck and head and if you have a soft allowing rein and a bit that is comfortable for your horse, eventually your ottb will reach down into a contact. I hope this makes sense?😊

Hi Ronda, yes I actually have 17 off the track thoroughbreds, most have come straight off the track with no retraining. They have had a spell as I always give the horses a let down spell before I start their retraining. I have ridden a lot of the horses I have trackwork in racing and have taken them on when they retired. Do you want to know what to do with a thoroughbred straight off the track?

I actually have one he's 4 now I got him at age 3 he's 17 hands high now . And he's had a struggle with his hooves . After thousands of dollars his feet are more normal as far as hoof wall thickness amongst other things. I guess I'm kinda stuck on his training now . He's very friendly and quite the personality. I've done loads of ground work and I'm riding him but he's having some issues that I can't seem to get him through . 1st when I ride him he's very willing for about 20 mins or so then he starts rearing ending in a buck he will do this a few times . I really don't believe his intentions are to hurt me in any way but he's a very big boy and I'm 50ish and only 5ft 3 inches I'm riding him western at the moment . And he has taken to it pretty well .he's a beautiful mover and I've gotten an english saddle with the bridal with the nose band. I use a light weight ring snaffle bit. I've been riding since I was around 4 no professional training . I would like to be able to trail ride or even begin dressage with him he's so amazing I do have 2 quarter horse mares ones Is due to foal in about 2 months. So I'm wanting to have my big gut for my everyday . I realize I've gotten off topic a bit I just was needing a little guidance because he is the first thoroughbred I've ever owned.. He likes to be around me no matter what's going on we do have a speacil bond I just have to keep him from panicking and I'm not sure how when we're riding .. please help any advise would be so appreciated . Thank you .

@@rondapauley2353 , it sounds like you have done really well with his feet which is great. It's hard to know exactly what is going on without seeing his behaviour but it does sound like some deficits in his basic training responses. These training responses are a clear understanding of the go, stop, yield and turn which racehorses do not have. If he is rearing then he is showing a deficit in his forward aid response. When you say you have done a lot of groundwork with him, what type of groundwork have you done and what did you work on with him in the groundwork? It's important with off the track thoroughbreds to go back and retrain the basic responses in groundwork. Thoroughbreds are ridden very differently in racing than what we want from them in our pleasure and equestrian disciplines. It would be really good to see a video of what he is doing under saddle. I have a facebook group where I have some good training resources. You could upload a short video in the facebook group for me to have a look at. The link to the facebook group is in the description of this video. I also do voiceover video coaching assessments in my Online Course programme. I am more than happy to give you a free weeks trial to my online course and membership programme, I think you will find it very helpful with working with your Ottb. In the programme you can upload a video of your Ottb under saddle I can have a look and see what is going on and offer some coaching guidance to solve the rearing and bucking. Let me know if you would like the free weeks trial and I will organise a link for you😊x

@@offthetrackthoroughbredsuc9987 I would love to get some help with him . I will give you my email address . I live in California up near Oregon so I will make a video as soon as the weather clears a little . It's been snowing and raining alot. Hopefully I can get a nice day soon to ride a bit. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to me. Now I don't feel so quite alone. I do ride western and he is learning the leg and reign cues . But he is learning still . He does good stopping backing up turning moving our going slow he really is trying hard.. So the problem may be something I'm not doing correctly. I'm not saying it's his fault in fact chances are it's something I'm doing I'm not afraid to ask for help and except it .. I will be contacting you very soon .. And thank you again.. 😊

@@rondapauley2353 , I am more than happy to help😊.If you wanted to download the free ebook I have, that will put you on my email list. You can then email me directly and I can organise the complimentary 7 day membership for you. There are a few students in the programme that live in California. I know how bad the weather has been for you! No rush with a video. I think when you go through the course and see some of the videos, things will become a lot clearer for you with your training. You are not alone, that is the wonderful opportunity today's technology gives us. we can connect with and get some wonderful support, training and guidance. Here is the link to the free ebook download: learn.ottbsuccess.com/freebie Or if you would prefer to email me directly and then we can chat more, my email address is: karin@ottbsuccess.com My name is Karin, so you know me by name, not just by my channel name. I have also attached my facebook group if you were interested in joining, you are more than welcome: facebook.com/groups/ottbsuccesslearningcommunity/ I am looking forward to talking more and helping you solve these current issues you are having with your ottb.😊x

Hi Mikaela, the lessons starts at the 11.59min mark in this video. Let me know if you still have an issue with finding it😊x

I am glad you liked it. I find it is more valuable working with horses that haven't got the training down perfect. That way I can show how to address training issues that arise and improve them😊.

Hi Daniel, I am happy to hear it has been helpful!😊x

Hi Sarah, I am glad you enjoyed the video😃Feed XL is a fantastic tool isn't it! Yes every horse is different and has their unique needs and some horses can't go grain free. The wonderful thing now is that we have the cooked grains like Hygain and Mitavite etc. Cooked grains are much more digestable and as you mentioned meal size and gut health is also an important factor. x

I am so glad to hear the video has been helpful for you! Sifting through all the trainers with their different training methods can be so overwhelming. Often they make horse training seem like some mystical talent. I hope to make it clearer and attainable for people!😊x

Hi Carol, that is a fantastic diet! Such a lovely, well balanced clean diet. I am so glad to hear he is doing great😃🐎x

Hi Anne, I am so glad to hear you love my channel😃. What you are doing with your Ottb doesn't sound too much at all, as long as when she is ridden the 3 days a week it is conducive to where she currently is in her fitness level. It actually sounds like a good programme you have set up with her. It is good to have a variety of training days and breaks between in hand work. Doing the same type of work daily when horses are learning something new can fatigue their brain and impair learning. So I think what you are doing is good! You are welcome to join my facebook group if you are on facebook? I put up regular posts in the facebook group on training , equine nutrition and other topics that relate to Ottb retraining. If you were interested you will find the link in the description😊🐎 Karin x

Great to hear it has helped!😃

Hi Kate, I am so glad to hear it was helpful! There is more episodes coming up with Nina very soon!😊🐎

@@offthetrackthoroughbredsuc9987 Thsts great, can’t wait to watch them 😊

Hi Kelly , My apologies for the delayed reply, I am not sure how I missed your comment. to answer your question, there is some very food alternatives to grain that are much more beneficial for gut health, these include linseeds. beet pulp, soybean meal, and added oils and lupins if you are in Australia. Horses aren't designed to eat grain and high starch feeds, they are meant to eat long stem forage. My latest video upload yesterday goes into detail about this. I think you will find it very helpful.

@@offthetrackthoroughbredsuc9987 Thank you for your insight! I agree high grains are are a recipe for disaster. I had a OTTB he was 19 and what you call a easy keeper and he ended up with cushings and foundered sadly had to euthanize him in 2019. My new OTTB he is 3 I had trouble getting weight on him and so I have him on a low NSC grain, only gets about 2 lbs daily with a ration balancer, gets flaxseed oil and alfalfa and alfalfa Timothy hay. I had to address gut ulcers so I have him in succeed. All in all I will not feed a high grain diet ever again. Alfalfa has high calcium which helps buffer the acid in the stomach but has a lot of calories so have to be careful with alfalfa. My 3 year old is doing well on alfalfa. The grass hats tend to be higher in starch and sugar I have found. Thanks again and love your videos!

@@kellythyben3984 , I can totally relate to you. I used to feed my first 2 horses a grain diet, I also lost one of them to cushings and liver failure. My other boy got sever laminitis, we. got through it but it was a huge learning curve for me and hence my grain free approach now. I am so happy to hear you love my videos😊❤x

@@offthetrackthoroughbredsuc9987 ❤️🐎

It does take time for their gut to heal. Flaxseeds are an excellent source of protein, fat and fibre that also help heal gastric ulceration. They may be worth incorporating into his feeding programme.