Key Point Description OTTB Temperament and Challenges OTTBs are bred for racing, leading to reactive behaviors and anxiety when transitioning to new roles. Value of Patience and Stillness Essential for reducing stress and building trust, preparing horses for advanced training. 1. Frequent Rest Breaks Enhances recovery and focus, prevents overstimulation, supports patience development. 2. Groundwork for Relaxation Maintaining a relaxed, engaged horse on the ground helps build confidence and stillness. 3. Slow, Deliberate Exercises Pacing training with controlled patterns helps focus on balance and relaxation. 4. Positive Reinforcement Consistency and patience with positive reinforcement reduce fear and increase trust. 5. Consistent Routine Predictable routines with mental rest enhance training effectiveness and reduce anxiety. Benefits Improved safety, enhanced trainability, reduced injury risk, performance flexibility. Conclusion Understanding OTTB behavior helps optimize their transition, unlocking their potential. Mastering Patience and Stillness: Training Techniques for OTTBs Off-the-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) are known for their athleticism and competitive nature. Transitioning them from the racetrack to a new discipline involves nurturing patience and stillness. These qualities are essential for their success in activities like dressage, trail riding, or simply being calm companions. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore training techniques that emphasize patience and stillness, supported by research and expert advice. Understanding the OTTB Temperament and Challenges OTTBs are bred and trained for high-speed racing, which often leads to reactive behaviors when they retire. The conditioning they receive doesn't prioritize stillness or quiet focus, leading to anxiety in new environments. Research emphasizes the importance of balancing intense workouts with rest to maintain performance[1]. This balance is equally critical for OTTBs transitioning to new roles. The Value of Patience and Stillness in OTTB Training Patience and stillness are critical for OTTBs to process new cues, reduce stress, and build trust. Teaching a horse to stand quietly fosters safety and prepares them for advanced training. Developing these traits involves a calm, consistent approach, respecting a horse's innate sensitivities and training history. 1. Incorporate Frequent Rest Breaks and Controlled Workloads Studying Thoroughbred racehorse training practices reveals that well-timed pauses enhance recovery and focus[1]. For OTTBs, frequent short rest periods during training can prevent overstimulation and support the development of patience. 2. Begin with Groundwork Focused on Relaxation and Engagement Experts suggest that the initial goal is maintaining a relaxed horse that remains engaged on the ground across all gaits[2]. Lunging exercises promoting calm responsiveness are pivotal in helping horses build confidence and learn stillness. 3. Use Slow, Deliberate Exercises to Build Stillness Exercises at a slow pace, such as walking and trotting in controlled patterns, help OTTBs focus on balance and relaxation. Research supports the use of measured exercise intensity for developing calmness[1], allowing trainers to pace training according to the horse's comfort level. 4. Employ Positive Reinforcement and Patience Training must be consistent and marked by patience. Positive reinforcement for calmness without rushing is crucial. Slow progress through unfamiliar stimuli reduces fear and increases trust[2]. Providing time to process cues is vital for fostering patience. 5. Establish a Consistent Routine with Time for Mental Rest Structured routines offer predictability and reduce anxiety. Combining consistent groundwork, lunging, and ridden sessions with mental rest enhances training effectiveness[1]. Mental and physical rest are critical for learning assimilation. Benefits of Mastering Patience and Stillness Improved Safety: Calm horses are easier and safer to handle. Enhanced Trainability: Patient OTTBs learn and retain skills more effectively. Reduced Injury Risk: Controlled, balanced work with proper rest lowers chances of injury[1]. Performance Flexibility: Calm OTTBs adapt successfully to different disciplines. Conclusion Mastering patience and stillness in OTTB training requires understanding their previous conditioning and behavioral tendencies. By incorporating frequent rest, slow and focused groundwork, and consistent routines, trainers can optimize the transition from racehorse to versatile partner. Embracing these methods unlocks the full potential of OTTBs, ensuring success and well-being in their new careers. For more guidance and quality horse riding gear, visit Just Horse Riders. Also, check out the Jodhpur Collection, Horse Riding Boots Collection, and Horse Riding Gloves Collection for quality equestrian apparel. Enhance your horse's care with Everyday Horse Vitamins & Supplements.```html```

Every year, the British Equestrian Federation presents Medals of Honour to those who have made an outstanding contribution to the sport of eventing.Jane Tuckwell (pictured), director of MARS Badminton Horse Trials, has been associated with this event for more than 50 years, starting as a Pony Club runner, then event secretary under Col Frank Weldon, Assistant Director to Hugh Thomas and, on Hughs retirement in 2019, Director.The award recognises Janes exceptional eye for detail, her vast experience and the people skills and charm that keep the worlds oldest, most famous Horse Trials at the top of the sport after 76 years plus riders, owners, spectators and some 800 volunteers coming back year after year.Nicky Salmon, Badmintons Chief Steward, is a familiar and reassuring face at international events and championships. She has been involved in the sport for decades as a British Eventing steward and as an owner her horse Lord Killinghurst, ridden by Andrew Nicholson, was the Badminton runner-up in 2004 who was pivotal in setting up the Event Horse Owners Association. She is currently on BEs Sport Committee.In addition, one of the behind-the-scenes mainstays of Badminton, Harry Verney, is retiring after 35 years as site manager. His is an enormous job everything from the arenas and tentage to loos and infrastructure and he will have been in residence in the park here for some months before the event. He will hugely missed.

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New Zealands Tayla Mason only found out she was off the waitlist and would be making her Mars Badminton Horse Trials debut last Tuesday (6 May),the day before the first horse inspection.The 31-year-old has gone on to complete with her homebred gelding Centennial, whowas bred by Taylas mother, Sonya, and born on the family farm on New Zealands north island.Ive been preparing like I was coming but [not knowing] means I was probably less stressed because I didnt actually know if I was actually going to get in, said Tayla.[Riding a homebred] makes it all the more special. Mum and I do a lot of breeding back in New Zealand and Chase [Centennial] is one of our homebreds. Mum is here as well, so she is over the moon. A real gentlemanThe New-Zealander originally came over to the UK in 2019 to work for her compatriots Tim and Jonelle Price, and she brought Chase with her.My mum rode his mother and weve done it all from the beginning. Weve moved over to England together and now were doing our third five-star, added Tayla.Since arriving in Europe, the pair have completed Pau CCI5* twice. He is cheeky. Lucy whos looking after him this weekend keeps saying that hes like an overgrown pet dog. Hes very well behaved, he just wants to please. A real gentleman, but also has this cheeky quirky side to him which makes him quite fun.Main image by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentLatest news from BadmintonOliver Townend hangs on to lead after action-filled cross-country dayWhen riding isnt your day job: Badminton contenders with interesting jobsAll British top 10! Oliver Townend leads after two days of dressageThe post First timer pulls off Badminton completion after very last-minute call up appeared first on Your Horse.

A stellar week for our graduates .Delighted to see the legendary finduss pfb (Saffier x Sarantos) and Sammie Birch back for their 3rd badminton completion ending up in24th Place , delighted for Sammie and his owners at parkfield breeding who believed in him like we did as a 2yo all those years ago when we said one day hed go to badminton , now hes been 3 times Jack Mantel and Jack Thomas watsons Jack Daniels as first timers at Badminton and at 5 * level had an amazing run to finish in 32nd placeThis indorado x kojak gelding was sold by us as a 2yo, we actually found his old advert from those years ago where we thought he was a then, nice to be right about them..Earlier in the week it was lovely to see so many up and coming young bosanko sports horses graduates in the byeh 4 and 5yo qualifiers , too many to list !Particularly poignant was to see good friend of ours Mike Jackson back with a 3rd in the 4yos qualifying for burghley in September aboard rockerfellar and the seriously smart reine tn finishing 7th.Lets hope he can replicate 2023/2024 where he won back to back 4 and 5yo finals aboard his earlier Bsh graduate Oscar Maybe you will Find your next Badminton horse with us ?

This was for Caroline, announced a visibly emotional Ros Canter moments after securing the second Mars Badminton Horse Trials victory of her career.Ros, 39, was referring to esteemed coach Caroline Moore, her long-time mentor and friend, who sadly passed away after a battle with cancer in March this year. She was by my side my whole career and this is the first time Ive done anything like this without her, continued Ros. She was selfless in her attention to detail that she gave to me and not only my mentor but also a wonderful friend and I have made so many memories with her.History-making horseLordships Graffalo the 17hh 13-year-old who also won here in 2023 with Ros is the first horse ever to regain a Badminton title.Five other horse have won twice but they did it back to back.Im so happy to have him in my life, added Ros. Also for his owners [Archie & Michele Saul] who have been fantastic supporters not only for me for years but also so many other riders.Ros confessed that she was more nervous ahead of her showjumping round than usual.I was actually really nervous today, she said. Caroline would usually be with me, keeping my mind occupied, so Ive been by myself a lot today, but Ive had help from Christopher Bartle who is a wonderful trainer.Ros and Walter for the penultimate pair to enter the showjumping arena this afternoon, lying second overnight behind Oliver Townend with Cooley Rosalent.But when the grey mare tapped the front rail on a green Spillers oxer at fence 10 and it came down, they slipped to the runner-up spot. The reason I didnt watch Oliver is because I dont wish bad on anybody, said Ros. I would have been happy with second. To win is the icing on the cake.Lifes pretty hectic with a little girl, lots of horses, teaching and everything else. Im lucky to have the opportunity to do this again.Main image by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentLatest news from BadmintonOliver Townend hangs on to lead after action-filled cross-country dayWhen riding isnt your day job: Badminton contenders with interesting jobsAll British top 10! Oliver Townend leads after two days of dressageThe post Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo make history with emotional second Badminton victory appeared first on Your Horse.

Katie Magee piloted Treworra into 11th place at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials today (11 May), a feat that earned her the accolade of highest placed first timer.This is my second five-star, but Im 43 now so its taken me a little longer than most people to get here, said Katie, who is based in County Durham.Its a lifetime ambition to get [to Badminton], Ive watched it every year since I can remember.Katie was presented with the Laurence Rook trophy, which is awarded to the highest placed British rider who has not previously completed Badminton.Katie hails from a non-horsey family and studied physiotherapy at Teeside University but doesnt practice the profession. Instead she makes a living out of horses.Im pretty much full-time teaching and riding. Over the years its kind of evolved, said Katie, who revealed that she married a non-horsey man, Ciaran, who has since learned to ride and now competes.A proper, old-fashioned cross-country horseWith the 11-year-old Treworra (Wilf), whom she has partnered for six years, she made her five-star debut at Pau last year and finished 13th.Ive ridden Wilf since he was five and hes just a beautiful horse, said Katie, who has a son and who trains with the former European Champion and Your Horse Live star Nicola Wilson.From the minute he walked on the yard we all fell in love with him. Hes bigover 17hh so weve taken our time strengthening him up.Weve found hes needed a bit of time to get the dressage and showjumping, but hes a proper, old-fashioned cross-country horse.Hes three quarters Thoroughbred and I wouldnt want to be on anyone else.Katie was aiming for a low thirties score in the first phase and the pair nailed it, recording a 31.8 dressage score.The duo went on to smash the cross-country phase with a confident clear round with 5.2 time-faults to add on a day when only six horses achieved the optimum time and went to pick up 9.6 faults (two fences down plus 1.6 for time) in the final showjumping phase.Main image by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentLatest news from BadmintonOliver Townend hangs on to lead after action-filled cross-country dayWhen riding isnt your day job: Badminton contenders with interesting jobsAll British top 10! Oliver Townend leads after two days of dressageThe post 43-year-old rider fulfils long-held ambition when finishing as highest placed first timer at Badminton appeared first on Your Horse.

The Challenge Badminton Horse Trials Trophy ~ to the winning owners: Michele & Archie SaulMars Equestrian Yeti Cool Box ~ to the winning rider: Rosalind CanterMars Equestrian and Spillers prize ~ 1,000 to the Groom of winner: Sarah CharnleyReplica of the Trophy ~ to the top three riders and the winning owner: Michele & Archie Saul, Rosalind Canter, Oliver Townend, Austin OConnorMark Holliday Memorial Trophy ~ Groom of winner: Sarah CharnleyButler Challenge Bowl, with replica ~ for the highest placed British rider: Rosalind CanterWorshipful Company of Saddlers saddle ~ Rider with the best score who is under 25 on 1/1/26 and who has not previously won a Company saddle in the calendar year: Alice CasburnSilver Jubilee Plate ~ to the most successful rider, the horse to be owned by the rider alone, or in conjunction with immediate family: Will Rawlin (Ballycoog Breaker Boy)Laurence Rook Trophy ~ best British rider not previously completed Badminton: Katie Magee, riding TreworraGlentrool Trophy ~ Horse & Rider who have made greatest improvement on their dressage placing: Tayla Mason & CentennialFrank Weldon Memorial Trophy ~ Rider of the youngest British owned and ridden horse in top 12: Oliver TownendCotswold Life Trophy ~ To the best British rider who is not entitled to wear the adult Union Jack Badge and whose permanent address is in the county of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire or Somerset: Tom RowlandThe William Miflin Memorial Trophy ~ To the rider of the horse with no cross-country jumping penalties and closest to optimum time: Harry Meade (Superstition)Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain ~ Owner of best horse sired by a SHB(GB) Graded Stallion or Premium Stallion, provided it is in the top 12: Miichele & Archie Saul for Lordships GrafaloThe British Horse Foundation 1000 ~ The Breeder of the highest placed British bred horse, provided it finished in the top 20: Lordships Stud/Pennie WallaceLeMieux rug ~ To the winner: Rosalind CanterFarriers Prize ~ plaque to the owner and farrier of the best shod horse: Robert Shave for High Time, owned by Jo West, Serena Greenwell, Ruth Armstrong, Tom & Annabel Jenks-Craig & RiderStud Voucher 500 ~ owner of the highest placed British owned mare: Paul & Diana Ridgeon for Cooley RosalentDavid Beaufort Memorial Trophy ~ to the person who has contributed to the running of the Horse Trials over many years: Pamela Twissell, Badminton administratorEmbryo Transfer or OPU session ~ to the highest placed British bred or domiciled mare, courtesy of Tomlinson Equine: Cooley RosalentBreeder of the winner ~ Lordships Stud/Pennie WallaceArmada Dishes: Sammi Birch, Pippa Funnell (should have been presented in 2024), Tom Jackon, Tim Price, Zara Tindall, Sam Watson

Who has a plan B as Badminton? Only me, probably, said Belgiums Lara de Liederke-Meier, who piloted Hooney DArville into 14th place this afternoon (11 May).I wanted to go to Kentucky, because I think its a little bit more [like the] Europeans [in its] way of building, explained Lara, 37, who is aiming for a place at this Septembers European Championships, which will take place at Blenheim Palace.Derek [di Grazia, cross-country designer at Kentucky], builds what my horse has been used to in the past.Shes a really careful horse and its so so big [at Badminton] and sometimes she can take a look. I would have maybe liked to do another five-star before coming here but she has surprised me a lot of times in the past.The 12-year-old home-bred mare was rerouted to the UK fixture for financial reasons.I tried crowdfunding, but even if you finish third [in Kentucky] then you still dont break even after your transport costs, said Lara.We won Luhmuhlen 5* last year, but Im not arrogant enough to feel I could do it again. I thought [well go to Badminton instead] for experience and to keep learning, so I hope shes enjoyed it.Back on a homebredLara, who has a BSc in business administration and an MSc in business sciences, last came to Badminton in 2016.It feels really good to be back. I forgot how much the atmosphere is here, so special, said Lara, a mother-of-two who is married to German event rider and Belgiums eventing team trainer, Kai-Steffen Meier.I think its still the pinnacle of the sport. Im really happy to bring her here.Hooney dArvilles dam, Nooney Blue, was Laras ride at the 2010 World Equestrian Games the riders first senior team appearance and they were successful at junior eventing level together.Lara has represented Belgium at two Olympic Games including Paris last year four world championships and six senior Europeans.The pair scored 31.7 in the dressage and added 13.6 time penalties on the cross country to finish inside the top 20.Main image by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentLatest news from BadmintonHow to watch Mars Badminton Horse Trials 2025When riding isnt your day job: Badminton contenders with interesting jobsAll British top 10! Oliver Townend leads after two days of dressageThe post Badminton was a plan B for business graduate on homebred mare appeared first on Your Horse.

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo were pure class in the final, tense moments of the 2025 MARS Badminton Horse Trials, jumping faultlessly to regain the title they won two years ago by just one penalty.Their clear show jumping round left Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent, the overnight leaders after cross-country, with no margin for error.Oliver had Paul and Diana Ridgeons lovely grey mare jumping beautifully and it looked as if they would pull off the win, but the dream evaporated in a split second with the tap of one rail, leaving him a frustrated runner-up at Badminton for the fifth time.It was a repeat of the top three riders from 2023, with Irelands Austin OConnor in third place on the ever-popular grey, Colorado Blue. Like Ros, he finished on his dressage score. If it wasnt for these two, Id have won two Badmintons by now, he quipped.Its very special sitting here with these guys [Ros and Oliver]. We have got three of the best event horses in the world and its a magical feeling, a great privilege.Ros was emotional at her moment of triumpn, saying: This is for Caroline, a tribute to her long-term mentor, trainer and friend Caroline Moore, who died earlier this year, and who has very much been part of her previous great moments including world and European titles, Olympic gold and victory at Burghley.It is the first time I have done anything big without her she would normally have been with me, keeping me occupied and confident, and I was really nervous today, said Ros. And the owners, Michele and Archie Saul, deserve it as much.Ros, 39, is the fifth rider in history to win Badminton twice on the same horse (following Frank Weldon/Kilbarry, Mark Phillips/Great Ovation, Ian Stark/Sir Wattie and Pippa Funnell/Supreme Rock). She has produced the 13-year-old gelding by Grafenstolz, who was bred by Pennie Wallace and the Lordship Stud (stable name Walter), since he was a three-year-old.The 11-year-old Cooley Rosalent has been first, second and third at five-star level. She improves every time, and learns every time, said Oliver. Shes unbelievable. I thought her performance was as good as any horses and she will come on for the run. Shes had a good experience.Harry Meade added no further penalties on Cavalier Crystal to finish fourth and survived a near unseating on the sixth-placed Superstition when the horse shuffled in a stride and crashed through a fence. Harrys horses were split by Emily King on Valmy Biats in fifth place.Gemma Stevens suffered an unexpected disaster when Chilli Knight hit five rails and dropped from third to 15th place.It was a vintage Badminton that gripped the imagination right until the very end, with all its twists and turns the fluffed flying changes for Ros, the 1.2 of a time penalty for Oliver after his father advised him to take the slower route at Huntsmans Close, the tension over flag penalties for both riders, and the inexorable rise of Austin from 20th place after dressage and above all, some superbly talented horses and riders.Full results on www.badminton-horse.co.uk