Thoroughbred Logic, Presented by Kentucky Performance Products: Right off the Track Protocol, a Refresher
“With numerous ‘end of the meets’… coming up, and folks looking to pick up their next … Thoroughbred Makeover horse, [here’s] a general care-based refresher for their off-track transitions.”
Welcome to the next installment of Thoroughbred Logic. In this weekly series, Anthropologist and trainer Aubrey Graham, of Kivu Sport Horses, offers insight and training experience when it comes to working with Thoroughbreds (although much will apply to all breeds). This week ride along as Aubrey shares her logic on transitioning horses from the track.
When I chose to move north, one of the things I was intentionally moving closer to was the track. We don’t have sanctioned racing in Georgia. And thus, to get to the backside, make connections, and be able to pick up horses as they’re ready to transition to a second career, I often found myself driving to Lexington or shipping horses in from Louisiana or Florida.
Now that the horses and I are getting settled (well, might be more accurate to say that the dust from the chaos is starting to settle a tiny bit), I’m realizing just how much trouble I have gotten myself in. OK, there are plenty of reasons for that statement, but the key is that the Finger Lakes track is only an hour away. And really lovely horses are getting ready to transition from go-pony to show-pony on a pretty much daily basis. It’s probably a good thing that my current set up has limited stalls or I’d be in more over my head than I already am.
Yes, this punk might also be on the off-track list soon. Photo by author.
This is relevant for this article as I will be transitioning an increasing number of horses from the track life to riding over the next few years, and that comes with a set of protocols and mental checklists. With numerous “end of the meet” (track speak for “track is closing for the season and the horses have to get out of the stalls”) coming up, and folks looking to pick up their next year’s Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover horse, I figured it might be helpful to provide a general care-based refresher for their off-track transitions.
Stuffed hay nets, fans and jolly balls or stuffed animals are common sights on the backside of the track. Photo by author.
Feed:
Most horses at the track are on grain-centric feed with 24-7 access to hay in nets. When they walk into my stalls, regardless of their condition (aka even chonky racehorses get the good stuff), they get as much alfalfa as I can keep in front of them, both as hay and as soaked cubes (or pellets) in their feed. I also make sure they have timothy or quality grass/orchard hay to snack on in case the Alfalfa (which is super protein rich, and therefore like eating a lot of steak) gets a bit overwhelming.
Koops showing off his body condition during a basic ground work session recently. Koops has been healing from a trailer accident as he shipped from the track to me in February, and despite his good weight and top line, has not been in any work yet. Fingers crossed for getting him under saddle later this fall. Photo by author.
There are articles on my feeding process here and here, but its worth reiterating that more meals a day packs on more pounds — AKA lunch is the ribby guy’s friend. And because I like to feed wet grain (and soaked beet pulp and alfalfa cubes, along with a small mix of minerals and supplements), the horses need to be introduced to it and transitioned over slowly so it makes sense. Without a transition, the dry grain to gaspacho situation otherwise leaves them turning up their noses and returning to their alfalfa — AKA missing out on critical calories.
Feeding soaking time in Bath, NY, with large buckets to properly soak their forage and grain. Photo by author.
Their Gut:
In general, Thoroughbreds are sensitive creatures — that’s not news to anyone. So regardless of whether they come off in great shape or a little run down, it is usually a good idea to support their stomach and assume there might be some ulcers in there (more on that in this article here). I generally deworm them with a good quality dewormer (Quest plus, Equimaxx, Zimectrin Gold) and then go down the ulcer rabbit hole. If its possible to scope and treat with Gastroguard or the like, that would be the gold standard. Compounded omeprazole is helpful but rarely as effective as the equine gold mentioned above. And if they are still dull-coated and ribby after a few weeks, I’ll ask a vet to run a fecal test, and deworm according to their egg count and type.
This guy (Major Spin) is going to need some TLC. The gut meds are shipping in this week in time for his arrival. Photo by Adrianne D’Alessandro.
Even with Forrest, my first (mostly) direct from track to me horse, I did all the things to get weight on him… threw grain, alfalfa, let-down time… everything at him. He wasn’t particularly riddled with ulcer symptoms. His coat was shiny, he was happy to go forward and learn under saddle, and he ate well. But it wasn’t until I dosed him with ulcer meds before, during and after the Makeover (a year after I got him) that the weight finally started to pack on. It took a minute, but I learned that lesson, and now try to front-end the idea of supporting their gut as they transition.
Feet:
Ahhhh, Thoroughbred feet. Some in my barn right now are remarkably good — nice strong feet that hold their shoes. But when they come off the track, they range from long and overdue to reasonably stood up and strong. Either way, I tend to veer away from pulling the shoes and chucking them out in a field (as discussed here). Instead, I’ll make sure I have a super farrier on board who understands the breed, the sport they are going into and the needed angles (often having to pull the toe back and support the heels).
Grace Putnam hot shoeing Needles Highway in Bath, NY, while Hudson (Primetime Spy) looks on. Photo by author.
And while I’d love to get away with just shoeing the fronts for financial and turnout reasons, the hind feet are critical to the hocks, stifles, sacroilliac joint, and the horse’s whole back and structure. So if I’m going to ask them to try to get less sore and be ready to work, I’m probably going to add back shoes and make sure the angle of the coffin bone is not negative. Those back hooves then support all of those joints mentioned above and give the horse a solid leg up on getting through the track-to-riding transition. To get that right, one might need radiographs, but as I have said in the past, diagnostics help us help them better — a few rads are always worth the knowledge they provide.
Teeth:
Yes, racehorses absolutely have their teeth done on the track. That said, they are often done efficiently and commonly by hand. After years of having a fantastic equine dentist on board in Georgia, it became clear that when they come off of the track, the first few molars might be smooth and without hooks. That said, it is worth it to look a little further back in their mouth and check for sharp points, cheek and tongue ulcers, and ridges and waves.
So, even if (from what we can see without getting their mouth all the way open) it looks like they have been addressed during their former career, I like to get a vet or equine dentist out to take a deeper gander. Once their teeth are the best they can be, all that feed that you’re offering them will be easier to eat, calories easier to pack on, and they’ll absolutely be happier to accept contact under saddle.
I have used it before, but I love this photo of Dr. Diane Febles and Sailor. Get yourself a good dentist and see how much it improves your horses’ lives. Photo by author.
I could go on and on here about let-down time and turnout, ground work, first rides and so on. But, the important things are to get them healthy and support them through the huge life and career change. And once those basics are shored up, all that comes later has a solid, healthy foundation to build upon.
So go ride, folks. And enjoy perusing the available horses coming off the track… I know I’ll be up at the backside a bunch, making debatable financial (but high-quality horse) decisions all season.
Excellent enablers, Sarah Hepler and Adrianne D’Alessandro both contribute to those decisions as they list horses for rehoming with Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds. Photo by author.
About Kentucky Performance Products, LLC:
Performance horses are susceptible to exercise-induced muscle damage. Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, limits the damage caused by everyday oxidative stress. It maintains healthy muscle and nerve functions, and supports a strong immune system in horses of all ages. Elevate was developed to provide a highly bioavailable source of natural vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) to horses.
Check out this KPP article: Vitamin E and the Performance Horse – A Winning Combination.
The horse that matters to you matters to us®. KPPusa.com
