Retraining OTTBs: How to Safely Introduce Jumps

Safely introducing jumps to an Off-Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) involves a gradual, patient approach. Start with extensive groundwork and solid flatwork to build strength and trust. Progress to ground poles, then very low cross-rails, focusing on rhythm, balance, and positive reinforcement. Always prioritize the horse’s confidence and physical readiness, slowly increasing height and complexity.

Bringing an Off-Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) into a new discipline like jumping can be an incredibly rewarding journey. These magnificent horses, bred for speed and endurance on the racetrack, often possess incredible athleticism and a willingness to work. However, their racing background means they’ve learned a very specific way of moving and thinking, which doesn’t typically involve navigating obstacles. Many new OTTB owners find themselves wondering how to safely transition their horse from flat racing to jumping without causing stress or injury. It’s a common challenge, but with the right understanding and a structured approach, it’s entirely achievable. This article will guide you through each essential step, offering practical advice and real-world examples to help your OTTB confidently embrace the world of jumping.

Understanding the OTTB Mindset

Off-Track Thoroughbreds are unique athletes. Their racing careers shape them in profound ways, both physically and mentally. They are used to a high-energy environment, often working at speed in a herd, and are trained to run forward without much need for collection or lateral work. When you introduce jumping, you’re asking them to use their bodies in new ways and to think about obstacles differently. They need to learn to lift their forehand, engage their hindquarters, and balance over a fence, all while maintaining a calm, focused demeanor. Patience is key here; rushing an OTTB can lead to anxiety, refusal, or even injury. Respecting their past and building a new foundation of trust is paramount for successful retraining.

High Energy and Sensitivity: Many OTTBs are hot-blooded and sensitive. They react quickly to aids and environmental changes. This can be an asset for responsiveness but requires a calm, consistent rider.
Forward Thinking: They are trained to go forward, which is a great starting point for jumping. However, they need to learn to regulate that speed, collect, and adjust their stride.
Physical Development: Their muscles are developed for racing, which is different from the muscle groups needed for jumping. Conditioning specific muscles for jumping is crucial to prevent injury.
New Experiences: Jumps, poles, new arena layouts, and even different types of footing can be novel and potentially scary without proper, gradual introduction.
Herd Mentality: They are used to working in a group. Individual work, especially over new obstacles, requires building strong trust with their rider.

Understanding these characteristics helps you tailor your training approach, ensuring it’s empathetic and effective for your specific horse.

Building a Strong Foundation: Groundwork and Flatwork

Before your OTTB even looks at a jump, a solid foundation of groundwork and flatwork is absolutely essential. Think of this as their “pre-school” for jumping. It builds muscle, improves balance, teaches obedience, and most importantly, establishes clear communication between you and your horse. Without this, attempting to jump will be frustrating, potentially unsafe, and can create bad habits that are hard to correct later.

Groundwork Essentials

Groundwork helps your horse understand basic commands and builds trust without the added complexity of a rider. This phase is about teaching respect, focus, and basic body control.

Leading: Teach your horse to lead calmly and attentively beside you, stopping and going on command. They should respect your space and move with you.
Yielding to Pressure: Teach them to move away from gentle pressure on their shoulder, hip, and poll. This is vital for developing responsiveness and body control, which translates directly to steering and collection under saddle.
Lungeing: Introduce lungeing on a large, consistent circle at walk, trot, and canter. Focus on consistent rhythm, smooth transitions between gaits, and encouraging them to stretch into the bit (or lunge line) rather than rushing or bracing. Use a good quality lunge line for control and comfort. This also helps build strength and balance without a rider’s weight.

Recommended Product: A durable and comfortable lunge line is indispensable for effective groundwork. Consider something like the Weaver Leather Poly Rope Lunge Line for its balance and strength, providing clear communication without being harsh.

Flatwork: The Core of Jumping

Excellent flatwork is the secret to successful jumping. It’s not just about going around the arena; it’s about developing strength, suppleness, and responsiveness that directly impact their ability to jump safely and effectively. This phase can take months, and rushing it will only hinder long-term progress.

Rhythm and Tempo: Establish a consistent, relaxed rhythm in all gaits. This is the heartbeat of your jumping round. The horse should be able to maintain a steady, unhurried pace.
Balance: Encourage your horse to carry themselves evenly, engaging their hindquarters and lifting their back. Lots of transitions (walk-trot, trot-canter, canter-trot, halt) help build balance, strengthen core muscles, and teach them to shift their weight.
Suppleness: Incorporate bending exercises, circles of various sizes, serpentines, and leg yields. These movements make your horse more flexible, able to bend through their body, and use their muscles effectively over a fence.
Responsiveness to Aids: Ensure your horse moves forward willingly from your leg, collects from your seat, and turns precisely from your reins. Clear, consistent aids are paramount for precise approaches to jumps.
Straightness: Teach your horse to travel in a straight line, especially between your hands and legs. This is crucial for approaching jumps accurately and preventing run-outs.

Spend months, not weeks, on this foundation. Your horse should be comfortable and confident with all basic flatwork movements, consistently responding to your aids, and showing good balance and rhythm before you even think about poles.

Essential Equipment for Jumping OTTBs

Having the right gear ensures both your and your horse’s safety and comfort. While you don’t need a full jumping setup from day one, some items are non-negotiable for any type of jumping work, even small ones. Investing in good quality, well-fitting equipment is a key part of EEAT (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) in horsemanship.

Equipment Item	Purpose	Key Considerations for OTTBs
Saddle	Rider stability, horse comfort, proper weight distribution.	Must fit well to avoid back pain and allow freedom of shoulder movement. A jumping saddle provides a more forward flap and flatter seat for better rider balance over fences. Always consider a professional saddle fitter.
Bridle & Bit	Communication, control, direction.	Start with a simple, mild snaffle bit (e.g., loose ring or D-ring). OTTBs are often sensitive; avoid harsh or complicated bits. Focus on clear, consistent rein aids developed through flatwork.
Protective Boots	Leg protection against splints, knocks, and over-reaching.	Bell boots for front hooves (to prevent over-reaching), open-front or closed-front boots for cannon bones. Essential for preventing injury from hitting poles or other legs.
Ground Poles/Cavaletti	Introduction to obstacles, rhythm training, footwork development.	Safe, low-impact way to teach your horse to lift their feet and adjust their stride without the mental pressure or physical demand of actual jumping.
Safety Vest (Rider)	Rider protection in case of a fall.	Highly recommended, especially when introducing new concepts, working with a green horse, or for less experienced riders. Modern vests are much more comfortable.
Helmet (Rider)	Head protection in case of a fall.	Non-negotiable. Always wear an ASTM/SEI certified helmet that fits properly. Replace after any significant impact.
Lunge Line & Whip	Groundwork, initial introduction to poles, establishing voice commands.	A long, sturdy lunge line and a lunge whip (used as an extension of your arm, not for hitting) are vital for effective groundwork.

Starting with Poles: Groundwork to Mounted Work

Poles are your best friend when introducing jumps. They teach your horse to lift their feet, adjust their stride, and focus on obstacles without the physical demand or mental pressure of actual jumping. This stage builds confidence and muscle memory.

Poles on the Ground (In-Hand and Lungeing)

Begin with poles laid flat on the ground. This familiarizes your horse with the appearance of obstacles in a non-threatening way, allowing them to process the new visual element calmly.

Single Pole: Start by walking your horse over a single pole on the ground, in-hand. Reward them with praise and a pat for stepping over it calmly and confidently.
Multiple Poles: Gradually introduce two or three poles, spaced appropriately for a walk stride (about 3 feet for a typical horse). This encourages them to lift their feet and find a rhythm.
Lungeing Over Poles: Once comfortable in-hand, lunge your horse over single and then multiple poles at a walk and trot. Ensure they maintain a consistent rhythm and don’t rush. This also helps them develop balance and body awareness.

Tip: Vary the pole colors and types if possible (e.g., painted poles, natural wood, plastic) to get them used to different appearances and textures. This helps with desensitization.

Mounted Pole Work

Once your horse is confidently navigating poles on the ground while being lunged, mounted work can begin. This is where you start to integrate your riding aids with the task of navigating obstacles.

Single Pole at Walk/Trot: Ride over a single pole, focusing on maintaining a straight line and consistent pace. Look up, not down at the pole, and maintain a soft, following contact.
Multiple Poles (Trot Poles): Set up a line of 3-5 poles at trot spacing (typically 4.5-5 feet apart). Riding over these is excellent for developing rhythm, balance, and encouraging the horse to lift their back and engage their hindquarters. This exercise strengthens their jumping muscles.
Canter Poles: Once trot poles are mastered, introduce canter poles (typically 9-12 feet apart). This teaches stride adjustment and prepares them for the canter approaches needed for actual jumps. Focus on maintaining a consistent canter rhythm.
Raised Poles/Cavaletti: Slowly raise the poles a few inches off the ground using blocks or cavaletti. This simulates a very small jump without significant effort, teaching them to use their body more effectively and preparing them for the feeling of lift-off.

Consistency and positive reinforcement are vital here. Always end on a good note, praising your horse for their efforts.

The First Small Jumps: Cross-Rails and Verticals

When your OTTB is confidently and consistently navigating raised poles at all gaits, showing good rhythm, balance, and willingness, you can consider introducing very small jumps. Remember, this stage is about building confidence and technique, not height. Keep expectations low and focus on positive experiences.

Starting with Cross-Rails

Cross-rails are ideal for beginners because they create a natural “V” shape that encourages the horse to jump in the middle, making it easier for them to find their line and take off straight.

Very Low Height: Start with cross-rails no higher than 12-18 inches. The goal is a positive, easy experience, not a challenge.
Single Jump: Introduce one cross-rail at a time. Approach at a consistent, active trot or canter, depending on what your horse is most comfortable with. Focus on a straight approach, a smooth take-off, and a soft landing.
Rider Position: Maintain a light seat, following the horse’s motion over the jump with your hands. Don’t pull on the reins or get ahead of their motion.
Positive Reinforcement: Praise your horse immediately after a good effort. A pat, a verbal “good boy/girl,” and a relaxed ride away from the jump are crucial.
Ground Line: A ground line (a pole placed on the ground directly in front of the cross-rail) can help the horse judge the take-off point.

Progressing to Small Verticals

Once your horse is confidently clearing cross-rails with ease and enthusiasm, you can introduce small vertical fences.

Low Height: Keep verticals at a very modest height (18-24 inches) initially. The visual of a vertical is different from a cross-rail and can be more intimidating.
Focus on Straightness: Verticals require more precision in the approach. Ensure your horse is straight and balanced, with impulsion, on approach.
Consistent Ground Line: Continue using a ground line, especially when first introducing verticals, as it helps the horse understand the base of the jump.
Repetition, Not Intensity: Do a few good, calm jumps and then move on to flatwork or finish the session. Don’t drill them until they’re tired, resentful, or making mistakes. Quality over quantity.

Training Stage	Objective	Key Focus Points	Approximate Time Investment
Groundwork & Flatwork	Build trust, strength, and basic obedience under saddle.	Rhythm, balance, suppleness, responsiveness to aids, transitions.	2-4 months (or more)
Ground Poles (In-Hand/Lunge)	Introduce obstacles visually and physically without rider weight.	Calmness, lifting feet, consistent pace, desensitization to new objects.	2-4 weeks
Mounted Pole Work	Develop rhythm, stride adjustment, and engagement with a rider.	Trot poles, canter poles, raised cavaletti, straightness.	1-2 months
First Small Jumps	Build confidence over actual obstacles.	Low cross-rails, small verticals, straightness, positive experience, soft landings.	1-2 months
Progression	Gradually increase height and complexity of obstacles.	Grids, combinations, varied jump types, simple courses.	Ongoing

Progression and Advanced Training

Once your OTTB is happily jumping small cross-rails and verticals with confidence and good form, you can begin to slowly increase the complexity of your jumping exercises. Remember the “3 Ps”: Patience, Persistence, and Positive Reinforcement. Each step should feel easy before moving to the next.

Grids: Introduce simple grids (e.g., a pole to a cross-rail, or a cross-rail to a small vertical with appropriate distances). Grids are fantastic for helping horses learn to use their bodies efficiently, develop a consistent canter, and understand take-off and landing zones. Start with very low elements and ensure distances are accurate for your horse’s stride.
Combinations: Once comfortable with grids, you can introduce simple one-stride or two-stride combinations. Again

Retraining OTTBs: How to Safely Introduce Jumps