Retraining Racehorses Programme
Learn how to retrain your OTT with minimal stress, confidence in your own abilities, and maximum joy throughout the process
Do you have an OTT? Don’t know where to start with retraining? Want to avoid common pitfalls? Or maybe you feel you are in one of those pitfalls already? This programme is designed for you.
It is my belief that the best way to help OTTs is to help their new owners understand them better, so they can work with them easily and ethically, with a better understanding of the horse in front of them and how to build the horse they wish for the future.
🌟 Learn how OTTs differ from other horses (and where the are actually the same!)
🌟 Learn how to identify where your horse is starting from, what they already know, or don’t know
🌟 Learn how to make the most of the “letting down” process, and use this time to set you and your horse up for success later
🌟 Train and retrain from the ground up. From better ground manners, to float loading, to standing still, to creating light aids under saddle and introducing them to lessons, trails, competitions and more!
🌟 We look at the whole picture, lifestyle, gear fitting, bitting and bridle choices, shoeing vs barefoot, diet and ulcers, bodywork and more
🌟 Problem solving! We talk about common problems people are seen to have with their OTTBs and how you can mitigate (or recover from!) them!
🌟 It is online learning, and totally self paced.
🌟 There is theory so you really understand why you are doing things, but there are also really simple swipe guides so you can cut straight to the point too.
This training is delivered by me, Keira Byrnes. I have been working with OTTBs for over 25 years. I have retrained many of my own either for rehoming or as my own competition horses. I have produced horses all the way up to 5***** eventing, but also turned out quiet trail horses, successful pony club horses, show horses and more. I have also had countless OTTBs on schooling for a range of issues and coached their owners through working with their horses either from the very beginning, or partway through their journey.
These days, I am a QOTT Acknowledged Retrainer, and often have OTTBs with me that are being trained in order to be rehomed under Racing Queensland.
So while this programme quotes training practices according to education and understanding, it is also grounded in deep lived experience with countless horses and countless humans.
Next Intake starts August, 2026.
Please Note: This programme is currently set up for those retraining gallopers/Thoroughbreds, while there is crossover, a harness racer/Standardbred stream will be coming in 2027