OTTB Re-training

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
I am currently riding an extremely friendly ottb. This gelding tries his hardest when riding and can go on trail rides fairly well. Issues I have with him are extreme reactions to things such as what a normal horse would spook at he will take off for something like 20 ft up the trail. He has an old racing injury in his leg so he will never be able to jump but I would really like to train him in dressage. Where should I start?
Thanks,
Ana

ANSWER: hi Anna --well, you could add full cup blinkers to keep from seeing too much and also you can stuff his ears with cotton which will keep him from hearing  too much. i have raced horses with cotton stuffed ears to keep their  minds on racing . worked very well too. blinkers will keep him from seeing  too much.  hope this helps you   thanks ED HESS

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you very much that is actually very helpful. I ordered some blinkers from my local horse store and ill try them out. Just out of curiosity were is your racing farm located?? I ride several ottbs i will list their racing names below if you recognise any please tell me any information you have.....
island skipper, sunny lights, lady dragon, fastracker, springstreet, my true identity, foggy in seattlebig shot scott, wildyears.
thanks,
also out of curiosity what do you do with your horses when their done racing please say you dont send them to slaughter if that is the case and you have any available i could take them off your hands & pay you for them

Answer
HI --WHEN I RACED HORSES ,IT WAS IN  NEW ENGLAND AND UP AND DOWN THE EASTERN SEABOARD . I DO NOT RECOGNIZE AND OF THE NAMES YOU HAVE LISTED , SORRY I HAVEN'T RACED ANY HORSES FOR SOME YEARS NOW, BUT I ALWAYS PLACED MY THOROUGHBREDS WITH PEOPLE WHO WOULD KEEP THEM AND USE THEM AS RIDING HORSES. MANY I HAVE VISITED OVER THESE MANY YEARS.AND HAVE BEEN PLEASED  TO SEE THEM HEALTHY AND IN GOOD HANDS.  THANKS  ED HESS