OTTB on Tap

Join us for the latest episode of the RRP Trainer Chronicles, where hosts Niamh and Emily sit down with Julianne Pangal and Ashley Olin to check in on their OTTB, Brooklawn (aka Rye), fresh off a successful run at the American Eventing Championships (AEC). Get an inside look at their journey as they share Rye’s training progress, key moments from the AEC, and how they’re preparing him for the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) Thoroughbred Makeover. Though he has excelled at eventing, they describe why they've aimed him at dressage and hunters for the Makeover, and discuss what it is like to train and compete Rye as a team.

Listeners will hear about Rye's progress, training challenges, and how Julianne and Ashley are preparing for the 2024 Makeover. Plus, they offer practical tips for managing OTTBs that are recently off the track. Tune in for a deep dive into Rye’s development and a sneak peek at their training plan leading up to the RRP Makeover!

Interested parties can check out Brooklawn's RRP ad at: https://www.therrp.org/horses/4993/ or on Julianne's website, www.ottbmakeover.com

Special thanks to photographer Erin Gilmore for use of her beautiful photo!

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In this episode of OTTB on Tap, we catch up with RRP Trainer Chelsey O’Brien as she prepares off-track Thoroughbred, Unbeknownst To Me (UBie), for the 2024 Retired Racehorse Project Makeover. UBie is owned by Pastured Place, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving the needs of Thoroughbreds. Chelsey shares insights into UBie’s training for Western disciplines, including barrel racing and ranch work, emphasizing the importance of "creating value in the undervalued" OTTBs like him. She also discusses the challenges they’ve overcome, including some great tips on OTTB hoofcare in the first year off the track, and how she ensures UBie stays healthy and prepared for the big event in Lexington, KY.

Join us as Chelsey reflects on her journey with UBie, her new farm in Berryville, VA, and what it’s like bringing an OTTB to their next career. Whether you’re looking for tips on training OTTBs, preparing for the RRP Makeover, or searching for an OTTB for sale, Chelsey offers valuable advice on transitioning these horses from the track to their new lives. Tune in for all the latest!

We encourage anybody interested in UBie to check out his RRP Makeover sale ad: https://www.therrp.org/horses/5506/, or contact Chelsey or Pastured Place for more details.

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In Part 2 of Madeline's Camp Windurra experience, we follow Madeline and her OTTB, Pepe and Heywood or "Pete" as they wrap up their final days at Boyd Martin’s Camp Windurra. On Day 4, Madeline worked closely with Olympic-level trainers, including another cross country school with Boyd and dressage with Silva Martin, honing her dressage skills and focusing on precision, rhythm, and connection with her OTTB. By Day 5, Madeline and her Thoroughbred faced a mock horse trial, tackling a challenging course designed to test their newfound confidence and agility.

Madeline opens up about the lessons learned in these intense sessions, how she managed the pressure, and how the experience has impacted her future plans with her OTTB. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to participate in a high-level training camp with your off-track Thoroughbred, this episode offers an inside look into the techniques, teamwork, and mindset needed to succeed.

A quick reminder to visit our website, www.ottbontap.com for more information and to sign up for our newsletter to never miss an episode and be the first to learn about bonus content, prize giveaways and more!

If you missed Part 1 of Madeline's Camp Windurra experience, please listen to Ep 37: Earning a Seat at the Table: Madeline Conley and her OTTB Take On Camp Windurra

We hope you enjoy Part 2 of Madeline’s Camp Windurra experience!

In this episode of OTTB on Tap, we sit down with Madeline Conley, an active duty member of the US Air Force and co-owner of Bridge the Gap Equine, an OTTB resale and equine wellness business in Southern New Jersey.

Madeline shares her recent experience at the inaugural Camp Windurra - an eventing training camp hosted by Olympic Eventer Boyd Martin. Throughout the episode, she discusses the training sessions led by fellow Olympic equestrians: Dressage rider Anna Buffini and show jumper Peter Wylde; renowned dressage rider and trainer Silva Martin, and of course, Boyd himself.

We explore her path from military life back to the horse world, the challenges and rewards of working with her OTTB, Pepe and Heywood, also known as "Pete," and the insights gained from the camp. Madeline also provides practical advice for those considering attending future training camps and offers a look into the dedication required to succeed in eventing.

Tune in next week for Part 2 of their epic OTTB eventing adventure!

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In this episode of OTTB on Tap, we talk with event rider Caitlin Reamy as part of our OTTB Underdog Series. Caitlin shares the journey of her young Thoroughbred, El Patrone, who she restarted in the fall of 2021. Though he had a previous injury from racing - a surgically repaired condylar fracture - Caitlin and El Patrone have quickly progressed through the eventing levels, recently completing a 2-star long event.

Caitlin discusses her background in the equestrian world, including her time at Ryan Wood's Woodstock Eventing and how she found El Patrone, or "Patrick" as he is known in the barn. We explore his breeding, what makes him an underdog, recovery from injury, and why OTTBs (and horses in general) don't necessarily need a 'perfect vetting' or perfect x-rays to be sound and successful - even at the upper levels of their sport.

Caitlin also introduces her new venture, Team Patrone—a subscription service offering fans an inside look at the world of owning and competing with an upper-level OTTB event horse, without the risk and upfront costs of ownership.

In this episode, Caitlin provides insight into the training methods used to bring Patrick back to competition, shares some stories from their time together, and talks about her vision for the future of this partnership.

This episode covers the challenges and successes of working with a Thoroughbred recovering from a condylar fracture and offers a look into Caitlin’s approach to retraining and competing with her very first OTTB restart. We hope you join us for the ride!

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New to OTTBs or curious about some of the terminology used? Check out our new OTTB Glossary - we include both racetrack terms, common OTTB injuries, and also some helpful products for OTTB owners.

In this episode of OTTB on Tap, we reconnect with Lauren Garrett-Bond to see how her giant, chestnut off-track Thoroughbred mare, Tizbit, is progressing on the road to the 2024 Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) Makeover. Joining Lauren is her trainer, Sabrina Morris, an expert in OTTB training with years of experience turning retired racehorses into versatile sport horses.

Sabrina shares her unique insights into training Thoroughbreds, from her days at the racetrack to running Another Round Farm, a facility dedicated to training and rehabbing OTTBs. She has plenty of helpful tips and stories about working with fresh off the track OTTBs, especially those quirky, challenging types that Sabrina loves to train.

Lauren updates us on Tizbit’s latest milestones, the ups and downs of preparing for the Makeover, and how she and Sabrina are navigating the mental and physical demands of getting an OTTB ready for competition. Whether you’re looking for advice on training your own retired racehorse or just love hearing success stories from the OTTB community, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

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Just catching up? Check out our full RRP Trainer Chronicles series here.

In this episode of OTTB on Tap, Niamh and Emily catch up with Annika Greaney, one of the trainers we’ve been following as she prepares her two OTTB ex-broodmares for the Retired Racehorse Project’s Makeover in October. Annika shares how she’s been adapting her training approach to fit the unique needs of Tizso Majestic (Tessa) and Egoli, and why she’s focusing on slow, steady progress.

We’ll hear about Tessa’s fun adventure at ranch camp, Egoli’s impressive success in barrel racing, and how Annika’s experience training mustangs fits into the mix. Plus, Annika offers some great tips for handling the pressure of preparing for a big event like the Makeover.

Don’t miss Annika’s thoughts on what makes working with OTTBs (and young horses in general) so rewarding—and be sure to listen for some of her favorite training tips and stories.

Join Niamh and Emily on this episode of OTTB On Tap as we chat about Thoroughbreds in the Olympics. We spotlight Bold Venture, an Australian OTTB who made a dramatic entrance at the 2024 Olympics, and Regal Realm, Lucinda Green's remarkable partner with a wild backstory from the Australian outback to Olympic silver. Hear William Fox-Pitt and Lucinda Green discuss their favorite TBs from their past - in their own words - exploring the exceptional Thoroughbreds that propelled them to the top.

Discover the incredible journeys and quirky personalities of these Olympic Thoroughbreds and several more!

Plus, an exciting announcement about our upcoming Patreon channel!

What happens when an army officer who has never ridden a horse (but has jumped out of planes) marries an event rider? He starts eventing, of course! In the first installment of our newest series, “OTTB Underdog Stories,” we explore how Brian Roberts began riding just over three years ago, taking on an OTTB with a tricky reputation. Now a successful training level eventing pair, Brian and his OTTB, Bombino, are a fixture at Area 2 events. We discuss his journey, from his first trip to the tack shop for a “riding starter kit” to learning about Bombino’s signature move at their first event. We also delve into how the most talented horses can also be the quirkiest. Through it all, the partnership of Brian and Bombino shines through.

We appreciate Brian’s fresh perspective on horses, his experience starting a challenging new sport later in life, and his humorous outlook on life. We hope you will join us for this fun episode!

Special Guest June Hillman shares the legacy of Castle Rock Farm, her partnership with Thoroughbred aftercare organization Turning for Home, and so much more in this episode!

June is no stranger to Thoroughbreds - she is part of their entire lifecycle, from conception to foal, racehorse to OTTB restart. She has been the manager of Castle Rock Farm in West Chester, PA since 1995 and has handled TB stallions such as Patton, Harry the Hat, Partner's Hero, Power by Far, Awad, Alyten, and Rimrod. The farm breeds and raises about 10-15 baby racehorses each year nowadays, and June handles them from the moment they are born, helping to shape them into what she affectionately calls "Good Citizens." This is especially helpful when they return after their racing careers and June transitions them into their new homes as sporthorses.

She is also partnered with Turning for Home, a racehorse retirement program based out of Pennsylvania's Parx Racetrack. Through TFH, June rehabilitates, retrains, and rehomes many OTTBs each year. She prides herself in taking the time to learn about each horse as an individual, and carefully place them in appropriate homes.

In this episode, we also talk about how no horse is perfect, and often those with blemishes, old injuries, or the need for a little maintenance gets them passed over by potential new homes. We highlight a current OTTB that June is retraining, "Angel" or Angeli Blu, a 2019 bay TB gelding by Air Force Blue (War Front/Danzig) out of the Irish TB Cabin (Galileo/Sadler's Wells). Angel is the type of horse that you just want to ride every day!

June can be contacted through her Facebook page, where she also posts her horses for sale. You can find about Angel in his ad here. (Shameless plug by host Emily, who adores this horse!)

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