River River Ranch

When you hear the word Thoroughbred, it is syonomis with Horse Racing.... By Definition, "the Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of pureblood horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are considered "hot-blooded" horses, known for their agility, speed and spirit." - Wikipedia​

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Therefore, it is no wonder this breed is so 'feared' on the outskirts of racing. They are seen in the publics eyes as a breed that only knows how to run.  While it is true, most thorougbreds 'hit the ground running' in the racing industry, it is not all they are capable of. Most owners/trainers don't teach them how to be a horse, don't teach them manners; they just throw them into training for racing. So when someone that is new to OTTBs gets ahold of one, they have usually bitten off more then they can handle and give up on thoroughbreds all together, thinking it is just the way the breed is. That is not true.......

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River Run Ranch Thoroughbreds is here to break that stigma of this amazing breed! When I got Luke I knew nothing about OTTBs, except that he was likely to be a handful, as I was one of those that knew thoroughbreds as high-sprited and all they knew how to do was run.... Well, I had my work cut out for me, no doubt.... but Luke was the most gentle horse I have owned. It was not uncommon to see me riding him around bareback in a halter and lead.... Would I have EVER planned on doing that back when I first got him? Nope, I would have told you you were crazy after my first attempt. Sat on his back with nothing but a halter and a leadrope, took a few steps forward and started running and bucking across the field... I knew I could get through to him, I just had to develop a system that worked for his hyper mind and spirit. It took me almost a year to develop that system... but I now have one of the most laid back, LAZY THOROUGHBREDS ever!  In May 2011, the barn my parents boarded at got in a young thoroughbred just of the track, literally, he just raced his last race the day before.... He was trying to climb out of the stall they put him in, again, literally as there was no ceiling because it was attached to the indoor arena. So some of the boarders got him out and put him in a turnout, he tried jumping the fence, so they put him in the indoor arena and let him run. Since I was the only boarder with any experience with OTTBs, they called me to help them get him settled down. I arrived about 10 minutes later and he was still a ball of energy running and bucking around the indoor arena. I walked into the middle of the arena and knelt down... it took him a couple minutes to realize I was there, but he then slowed down to a trot, then a walk, then stopped and looked at me and snorted. I stood up and walked away from him, he squealed and took off bucking past me. I went and stood at one of the gates and looked outside while he threw his tantrum. A few minutes later, he had walked up behind me and was looking out the same door with his head over the gate. I again walked away, he squealed again, but followed me..... In the process of about 10 minutes, I was leading him around the arena without effort. I put money down on him so that only I could work with him, but wound up buying him anyways. He too is one that I ride around in a halter and lead. He is still a little gung-ho about certain environments, but I hadn't been able to expose him to as much in the first few months as I did with Luke. What I am trying to say, is that if I want a feisty horse, I ride my moms QH mare over my two, she is more hot-headed and spunky then my boys are now.  Will my boys still get fired up? Of course! If I take them to a show and show Luke the poles, he starts prancing all over the place, show Ti the barrels and he does the same.... They may very well be 'hot-blooded' and 'spirited' horses by breed, but teach them to be a horse, not a racer, and they are just as versatile and mild-mannered as your QH is...