Owner-Observed Behavioral Characteristics in Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds (OTTTBs) in Equestrian Second Careers
Authors: Anne-Louise Knox, K. Fenner, Rebeka R Zsoldos, B. Wilson, P. McGreevy
Journal: Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Behavioral Profiles of Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds in Second Careers Racing-bred Thoroughbreds represent a significant population entering equestrian sport and leisure riding, yet their behavioural suitability for these contexts remains poorly characterised; Knox and colleagues addressed this gap by analysing owner-reported data from the Equine Behavior Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ) database to compare behavioral traits in off-the-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) against other ridden horses. OTTBs exhibited notably greater boldness compared with other breeds, but crucially demonstrated lower compliance and reduced responsiveness to deceleration cues—characteristics that reflect their racing backgrounds but may compromise safety and rideability in non-racing contexts. These findings suggest a genuine tension between the desirable forward-going temperament that OTTBs bring to second careers and their relative difficulty in executing precise braking responses, indicating that generic retraining protocols may be insufficient. For professionals working with these horses, the results underscore the need for specialised deceleration and compliance work during transition from racing, whilst recognising that boldness itself is a valuable trait when coupled with improved control. The authors appropriately call for further investigation into how breed predisposition and individual racing experience interact to shape behaviour, which would enable evidence-based guidelines for training and management practices that optimise both welfare and performance in OTTBs' equestrian roles.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •OTTTBs require specialized training approaches that account for higher boldness and lower compliance compared to typical riding horses—expect stronger forward impulses and potentially reduced obedience to stopping/slowing cues
- •Retraining programs should explicitly address deceleration responsiveness and compliance as these are areas where OTTTBs differ most from other ridden horses, with safety implications for riders
- •The behavioral profile of OTTTBs reflects their racing history; systematic desensitization and ground work targeting obedience will be necessary before or during ridden work
Key Findings
- •OTTTBs demonstrated significantly greater boldness compared to other horse breeds in the study population
- •OTTTBs showed lower compliance and reduced responsiveness to deceleration signals than non-Thoroughbred horses
- •Behavioral traits advantageous in racing (boldness, acceleration responsiveness) may be problematic in ridden equestrian contexts
- •Owner-reported behavioral assessment via E-BARQ questionnaire revealed both equestrian potential and distinct behavioral challenges in OTTTBs