OTTB Program – Phase II

Basic Groundwork

Building Body Control and Mental Connection

Overview

Once the horse is calm and manageable on the ground, it’s time to start communication through movement. These stages teach the OTTB how to yield to pressure, follow the handler’s focus, and develop confidence through purposeful work.

Stages
What You’ll Work On
  • Forequarter and hindquarter yields at the standstill and in motion
  • Backing up lightly with the lead rope or training tooll
  • Circling (lunging) on a loose line at all three gaits
  • Stopping on a circle using cones or obstacles as visual focus points
  • Pressure and drive-line control — moving the horse’s feet with clarity and timing
  • Direction changes with lightness, encouraging the horse to turn toward the handler
  • Gait transitions: walk, trot, canter — up and down through feel and handler position
  • Backward spirals that end with the horse turning and waiting calmly to be caught
Why It Matters
This stage replaces racing instinct with responsiveness. The horse begins to understand how to read the handler’s intent, find comfort in stillness, and accept direction without anxiety. It’s the foundation of self-control.
This is where the OTTB learns curiosity instead of fear. We use obstacles to teach the horse to think and move through challenges calmly.
What You’ll Work On
  • Approaching, touching, or stepping on/over obstacles like tarps, bridges, and poles
  • Navigating figure-8 barrels, hanging tarps, and roping dummies
  • Building confidence to go over, under, around, and through new things
  • Accepting a Western saddle, breast collar, and back cinch without reaction
  • Repeating groundwork drills while saddled to confirm acceptance
Why It Matters

Horses coming off the track can often be desensitized to a soft feel, but hypersensitive to noise and motion. This stage rebuilds emotional balance — teaching them to pause, assess, and relax in motion.