OTTBs: 60 days to build the foundation
A note from your coaches Download the Ride iQ App to embark on an 8-week audio lesson training program. This program is designed to help you establish a strong foundation with your OTTB, prioritizing trust-building through groundwork, confidence development through effective flatwork, and progress toward pole work and basic jumping exercises.
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F latwor k
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This 8-week-training program combines
Building trust, confidence, and fundamentals Remember, it's not just about riding – it's about fostering a strong partnership with your OTTB, both on and off the horse. First and foremost, it’s about getting to know your horse - really getting to know them - and establishing trust through bonding and groundwork which takes time and consistency. These lessons have been curated to assist you in developing that partnership.
Secondly, this program has a clear purpose: to hone your basic flatwork skills and introduce your horse to poles and small fences. Each lesson and week is designed to build upon the last. This systematic approach ensures that both you and your horse are not only competent but also confident as you prepare for your first off-property outing.
This training plan is for you if...
This training plan works for you
You have a recently retired OTTB. You may have already started the retraining process or you might have just picked up your OTTB this week. This is your comprehensive OTTB guide.
Life is full of unpredictability and variability, and this plan is designed to be flexible and work alongside life's other commitments. Rest assured, you can modify the plan to fit your schedule while staying on track with your progress. Some things to keep in mind as you make adjustments Regardless of anything else, your horse's comfort and soundness is priority number one. If your horse shows signs of discomfort, pause the plan and get veterinary help before doing any other work During the program, aim for 4-5 rides per week, plus one hack day and 1-2 rest days
Tips to help you go further
The Private Ride iQ Member Community on Facebook is another great place to get advice and share your progress. Believe it or not, both are very important! Riding is an individual sport, but an encouraging support squad can have an immensely positive impact.
Adapt the plan: repeat a lesson, or an entire week if you feel it is necessary before moving on. Or, skip a lesson if you don’t feel it is suitable. This program is a guide and changes to the plan are perfectly okay Ride iQ and this training plan exist to support your independent rides, not to replace in-person coaching. When you have an in-person lesson, you can skip the prescribed Ride iQ lesson that's most similar for that week.
This 6-week-training plan combines
Weekly Rides
Weekly lessons will help you progressively build skills and refine techniques related to the week’s overarching theme.
GROUNDWORK
Groundwork lessons encompass various training activities conducted with your horse from the safety of the ground, while you establish a partnership with your OTTB. These lessons include lunging, body language, and voice cues to communicate with your horse. HACKs
Hacking your horse is so important for both the body and the mind. Relevant Hack Chats have been suggested throughout the training program to compliment the week’s theme. Hacking out can be done down a quiet road, in a large paddock/field, or on a trail - anywhere with even ground that’s not the arena. FLATWORK
Flatwork lessons have been selected specifically to assist in establishing the under-saddle basics with your OTTB. JUMPING
You’ll find jumping lessons toward the end of the program. These may include poles or small fences. You should always have someone with you when jumping.
The
Weekly Plan
WEEK 1: GROUNDWORK FUNDAMENTALS
MONDAY
TUESDAY
GROUNDWORK
GROUNDWORK
Lesson: Lesson 1. Groundwork with Shoulder &
Lesson: 906. Friendly, Porcupine, and Driving
Neck Aids (from the Thoroughbred
Games
Fundamentals by RRP program)
Coach: Kathy Baar
Coach: Aubrey Graham
Duration: 30:52
Duration: 24:15
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
Thoroughbred Fundamentals by RRP program)
HACK (UNMOUNTED LISTENING)
Hack Chat: Hacking 3-Year Olds
Coach: Ema Klugman
Coach: Aubrey Graham
Duration: 11:19
LUNGING
Lesson: Lesson 2. Intro to Lunging (from the
Duration: 29:11 FRIDAY
SATURDAY
AND/OR WEDNESDAY
HACK (MOUNTED OR UNMOUNTED LISTENING)
Ask An Expert: Episode 49, Restarting OTTBs
REPEAT LESSON FROM MONDAY, TUESDAY,
Coach: Aubrey Graham
SUNDAY
DAY OFF
Duration: 01:00:20
CORNERS WEEK 2: gET TING STARTED UNDER SADDLE
3 weeks to go
MONDAY
FLATWORK
Lesson: Lesson 3. Intro to Mounting (from the Thoroughbred Fundamentals by RRP program)
Coach: Aubrey Graham
Duration: 17:57 WEDNESDAY
FLATWORK (REPEAT)
Lesson: Lesson 3. Intro to Mounting (from the Thoroughbred Fundamentals by RRP program)
Coach: Aubrey Graham
Duration: 17:57 FRIDAY
FLATWORK
Lesson: Lesson 2: Steering in Trot (from the Foundation for Beginner Riders program)
Coach: Jon Holling
Duration: 25:12 SUNDAY
DAY OFF
TUESDAY
LUNGING
Lesson: 910. Lunging 101
Coach: Prue Barrett
Duration: 19:05 THURSDAY
FLATWORK
Lesson: Lesson 1: Steering & W/T Transitions (from the Foundation for Beginner Riders program)
Coach: Jon Holling
Duration: 25:48 SATURDAY
HACK (MOUNTED OR UNMOUNTED LISTENING)
Hack Chat: Introducing Young Horses to the Pyramid of Training
Coach: Reese Koffler-Stanfield
Duration: 18:18
-AND/OR-
Hack Chat: Developing Rhythm in Every Gait
Coach: Gina Smith
Duration: 23:00
CORNERS WEEK 3: Building basics
3 weeks to go
MONDAY
FLATWORK
Lesson: Lesson 3: Steering in Walk/Trot (from the Foundation for Beginner Riders program)
Coach: Jon Holling
Duration: 31:25 WEDNESDAY
FLATWORK
Lesson: Lesson 4. Establishing Rhythm in
W/T/C (from the Thoroughbred Fundamentals by RRP program)
Coach: Aubrey Graham
Duration: 39:13 FRIDAY
FLATWORK + HACK
Lesson: 065. W/T/C with a Green/Young Horse
Coach: Nicole Tough
Duration: 16:42 (+15 min hack afterwards) SUNDAY
DAY OFF
UESDAY
LUNGING + HACK
Lesson: 911. Lunging a Green Horse Before Getting On
Coach: Nicole Tough
Duration: 10:58 (+15 min hack aftwerwards) T
URSDAY
FLATWORK
Lesson: 002. Rhythmic Tempo with Green OTTB
Coach: Holly Hepp Hudspeth
Duration: 28:48 TH
SATURDAY
HACK (MOUNTED OR UNMOUNTED LISTENING)
Ask An Expert: Episode 30, Green Horses 101
Coach: Lauren Sprieser
Duration: 01:02:19
WEEK 4: STRAIGHTNESS
MONDAY
TUESDAY
FLATWORK
FLATWORK
Lesson: Lesson 5: Straightness Exercise (from
Lesson: 022. Straightness for Tense Horses
the Thoroughbred Fundamentals by RRP
Coach: Holly Hudspeth
program)
Duration: 37:12
Coach: Aubrey Graham
Duration: 27:07
THURSDAY
WEDNESDAY
FLATWORK
FLATWORK
Warmup: 019. Walk / Trot Warmup
Lesson: 066. Straight & Supple with a Green OTTB
Coach: Holly Hudspeth
Duration: 36:02
Coach: Kyle Carter
Duration: 24:23
-THEN-
Skill: 303. Stage 1, Half Halts & Straightness
Coach: Holly Hudspeth
FRIDAY
Duration: 19:22
FLATWORK
Lesson: Lesson 6. Quiet Transitions (from the Thoroughbred Fundamentals by RRP program)
Coach: Aubrey Graham
SATURDAY
HACK (MOUNTED OR UNMOUNTED LISTENING)
Duration: 37:20
In Stride: Trust is Your Superpower
SUNDAY
Duration: 01:25:46
DAY OFF
Coach: Lucinda Green
CORNERS week 5: consistency & connection
3 weeks to go
MONDAY
FLATWORK
Warmup: 015. Everyday Warmup Pattern
Coach: Gina Smith
Duration: 20:05
-THEN-
Skill: 302. Stage 1, Young Horse Half Halt
Coach: Jon Holling
Duration: 15:43
WEDNESDAY
FLATWORK
Lesson: Lesson 31. Light Ride Working on Tempo (from the 3 year old progression with Conroy program)
Coach: Kyle Carter
Duration: 24:19 RIDAY
FLATWORK
Lesson: 003. Green Horse Spiraling Circles
Coach: Holly Hepp Hudspeth
Duration: 35:13 F
SUNDAY
DAY OFF
TUESDAY
FLATWORK (REPEAT)
Lesson: Lesson 6. Quiet Transitions (from the Thoroughbred Fundamentals by RRP program)
Coach: Aubrey Graham
Duration: 37:20
THURSDAY
FLATWORK
Lesson: 009. Loose & Rhythmic
Coach: Jen Carter
Duration: 22:16 SATURDAY
HACK CHAT
Lesson: Developing Rhythm in Every Gait
Coach: Gina Smith
Duration: 23:00
CORNERS : I NTRODUC I N G P OLES week 6
3 weeks to go
MONDAY
FLATWORK WITH POLES
Lesson: 014. Wide Hands for Steady Connection
Coach: Kyle Carter
Duration: 23:01 WEDNESDAY
FLATWORK WITH POLES & HACK
Lesson: 603. Young Horse Relaxation
Coach: Jon Holling
Duration: 18:26 (+15 minute hack afterwards)
RIDAY
FLATWORK WITH POLES
Lesson: 893. Light & Attentive with Ground Rails
Coach: Heather Caristo Williams
Duration: 33:11
TUESDAY
FLATWORK WITH POLES
Lesson: Lesson 7. Ground Poles in
W/T/C (from the Thoroughbred Fundamentals by RRP program)
Coach: Aubrey Graham
Duration: 43:28
THURSDAY
FLATWORK
Lesson: 022. Straightness for Tense Horses
Coach: Holly Hudspeth
Duration: 37:12
F
SUNDAY
DAY OFF
SATURDAY
HACK (MOUNTED OR UNMOUNTED LISTENING)
Ask An Expert: Episode 104, OTTB Retraining
Coach: Kate Rogers
Duration: 55:39
CORNERS week 7: developing suppleness
3 weeks to go
MONDAY
FLATWORK
Lesson: 043. First Ride of the Week
Coach: Jon Holling
Duration: 26:13 WEDNESDAY
FLATWORK
Lesson: 110. Focus Young Horse (W/T lesson)
Coach: Lesley Grant Law
Duration: 38:58 FRIDAY
FLATWORK
Lesson: Lesson 1. Supple & Forward (from the 5-year-old Progression with Kurt program)
Coach: Jon Holling
Duration: 45:47
SUNDAY
DAY OFF
TUESDAY
FLATWORK
Lesson: 015. Everyday Warmup Pattern
Coach: Gina Smith
Duration: 20:05
-THEN-
Lesson: 332. Leg-Yield in W/T
Coach: Lauren Sprieser
Duration: 07:56
THURSDAY
FLATWORK
Lesson: 003. Green Horse Spiraling Circles
Coach: Holly Hepp Hudspeth
Duration: 35:13 SATURDAY
DAY OFF
CORNERS week 8: INTRODUCING FENCES
3 weeks to go
MONDAY
FLATWORK
Lesson: 005. Young Horse Full Ride
Coach: Jon Holling
Duration: 46:11 WEDNESDAY
FLATWORK
Lesson: 047. Low Pressure Ride
Coach: Kyle Carter
Duration: 22:31 FRIDAY
JUMPING
Lesson: Lesson 9. Grids & Basic Gymnastics (from the Thoroughbred Fundamentals by RRP program)
Coach: Aubrey Graham
Duration: 34:30 SUNDAY
DAY OFF
TUESDAY
JUMPING
Lesson: Lesson 8. Intro to Jumping (from the Thoroughbred Fundamentals by RRP program)
Coach: Aubrey Graham
Duration: 34:30
THURSDAY
JUMPING WARMUP
Lesson: 605. Off the Leg
Coach: Leslie Law
Duration: 23:02 SATURDAY
DAY OFF
You're ready for your first off-property adventure with your new OTTB - how exciting!
Keep in mind that things may not always go perfectly, and it's totally okay to make adjustments while prioritizing both your and your horse's safety.
Plan the location and timing of your outing carefully. Opt for a calm venue and a quieter time with fewer horses or outside distractions. Consider bringing a friend along with another horse as a buddy or sense of reassurance for your OTTB.
Have one of your favorite Ride iQ lessons from this program queued up ready to ride through when you arrive. This could also include starting with one of the groundwork lessons if your OTTB seems unsettled. It's perfectly fine to start with groundwork on their first outing; taking it slow and not overwhelming them is a wise approach. Always remember, there's plenty of time for future adventures under saddle.
10 Podcasts 10 10 TOP TEN
Ask
an RIDE iQ PRESENTS
expert
RIDE iQ PRESENTS
TOP TEN
Flatwork
F latwor k
Rider fitnes s
Fitness
Conversations
Warmup Jumping
Hack chats WITH RIDE iQ COACHES
Horse Fitness
Jumping
Warmup
10 Lessons 10 10
Jamie Graham
Kyle Carter Upper level
Sports Psychology
F undamentals
RIDE iQ COLLECTIONS
just for fun USPC Academy
Groundwork Kathy Ba ar
Beyond the b asics
Go get ‘em!
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