Do you know what an OTTB is? OTTB stands for off the track thoroughbred. Basically a term for a thoroughbred that used to do races but has now retired from racing and is in a new career. Click here for a helpful link about what an ottb is.
If you have read my about me page, you would know that I have a horse named Bucket. Bucket is an ottb and we got him off the track in October of 2020 and he is 5 years old.
As the owner of a young horse, I am responsible for his training and his behaviour. Bucket is an example of what we would call a “green” horse. As you can see by the photo, Bucket is not actually the colour green but when it comes to his level of training he is quite new and inexperienced. That’s what it means when a horse is “green”.
You might know that thoroughbreds are the main breed used in horse racing like the Kentucky derby. Because thoroughbreds are bred for a high-stress and high-performance lifestyle, they are exceptionally high strung and get easily excited. But with time and effort these horses can excel at any career.
Here is a video by one of my favourite YouTubers about the basics of riding an off the track thoroughbred.
The Jockey Club is basically the go-to place for all things racehorse. Founded in 1894, The Jockey Club is a main pillar in the horse racing industry and continues to promote thoroughbreds and shed a positive light on ottb’s and their seccond careers. Here is an informational PDF about the thoroughbred industry: thoroughly_thoroughbred
Well I hope that you enjoyed learning a little bit about what an OTTB is and hopefully I will do more horse-related posts in the future if y’all are interested.
As always, Brooke.