A few weeks ago, I introduced my latest project horse, a (now) 4-year-old OTTB formerly known as “Rich and Creamy.” After suggestions and a poll from EN readers, he is now named “Aero.” I promised some updates as we went along, so here’s a look at how he’s done in the last few weeks. Are you working on a retraining project? Tell us about it at [email protected].
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One of Aero's first rides
After about 3 weeks, Aero has slowly started on his journey to becoming an event horse. When I got him, he was in the midst of the post-racing “crash” that many OTTBs face– skinny, loss of muscle, and awful-looking topline. Not all racehorses suffer the crash, but many do. At the track, they eat a lot of rocket-fuel feed and as much high-quality hay as they want. They settle into a daily routine, and spend most of the time in their stall. The transition off the track takes a physical toll on many of them; some people blame drugs or steroid withdrawal, but truthfully that’s not the problem in most cases. Whatever the reason, most racehorses will go through an embarrassingly skinny, “hide ’em behind the barn” phase a few months after they leave the track, losing a lot of muscle and condition. Aero last raced in August, and was thrown out in a field in September. I have no idea what he was fed during that time, but he was in the midst of “the crash” when I bought him in December. Most horses don’t slip away quite as much as he did…but thankfully he’s turned the corner and is showing improvement. In such a case, it’s a good idea to check teeth, deworm with a PowerPak, and consider a course of omeprazole to be sure they’re utilizing feed properly.
Aero after he first arrived in December: an awful, awkward photo emphasizing his skinniness.
While Aero no longer resembles an anorexic greyhound, he’s still needs to keep gaining. He gets pretty much free-choice alfalfa mix (ah, the benefits of living on a hay farm!) and gobbles it up along with a high-fat, and for now, moderately-high protein concentrate. He lives outside with a buddy; the good news is that (for ONCE!!) the skinny horse is The Boss of the fatter one. Aero is stingy about sharing his food, and his 5-year-old pasture mate has learned to wait at a respectful distance after his own grain is finished. The bad news: Aero likes being outside with his friend so much that he can be difficult to catch. We’re working on that, and I have endless patience when it comes to walking down a horse, but a bucket of grain always helps. When he’s by himself, Aero hangs in my back pocket and follows me like a lost puppy; clearly he’s a bit insecure, and a human is a welcomed companion if a fellow equine is unavailable.
3 weeks later, January 4th: Aero looks less like an anorexic greyhound, though still has a ways to go, especially in the neck department.
