In Part 2 of our candid conversation with Shannon Riley of Infinity Sport Horse, we go beyond the arena to talk about the challenges many riders face but few openly discuss—body image, online criticism, and the mental health toll of working in the equestrian world. Shannon shares what led her to speak out, how she’s learned to protect her peace, and why creating a healthier, more inclusive space matters for the next generation of professionals.

But it’s not all heavy—Shannon also dives into her practical approach to retraining Off-Track Thoroughbreds. She shares how she transitions OTTBs from track to sport, her go-to groundwork and under-saddle exercises, and how she gauges a horse’s potential as a confidence-builder or upper-level competitor. Whether you’re a rider, trainer, or OTTB fan, her tips are grounded, real-world, and designed to meet horses where they are.

We also explore what mentorship looks like in her program and why she believes her greatest success stories are the riders she’s helped launch into their own careers.

If you’ve ever struggled with confidence in the saddle—or wanted to build a barn culture that values growth over perfection—this episode is for you.

👉 Missed Part 1? Be sure to go back and listen to S2 E31, where Shannon shares her early journey with OTTBs, how she built Infinity Sport Horse, and the personal turning points that shaped her career.

Photo Credit: Liz Crawley Photography 2025

In this episode of OTTB on Tap, we sit down with Shannon Riley of Infinity Sport Horse for Part 1 of a powerful two-part conversation. Based in Aiken, South Carolina, Shannon is a professional eventer, OTTB trainer, and resale specialist known for her thoughtful, honest approach to developing sporthorse prospects.

Shannon shares how her early love of horses—and her first Thoroughbred—set her on a path that would eventually lead to the founding of her training and sales business. From formative experiences with mentors and milestone competitions to the devastating personal loss that pushed her to rebuild her life in Aiken, Shannon reflects on the moments that shaped her as a rider and horsewoman.

She also opens up about her early struggles with imposter syndrome—something both Niamh and Emily can relate to—and the advice she’d give to anyone battling self-doubt while building a career in horses.

We explore Shannon’s deep connection to Off-Track Thoroughbreds: why she’s drawn to retraining OTTBs, what makes them such versatile athletes, and how she evaluates prospects for resale or upper-level competition. Plus, get a behind-the-scenes look at how she runs Infinity Sport Horse and what green flags she looks for when selecting a Thoroughbred for sport.

Whether you’re a first-time OTTB owner, a resale-focused rider, or someone building a training program from the ground up, this episode offers inspiration, real talk, and actionable insight.

👉 Stay tuned for Part 2, where Shannon opens up about rider fitness, body image, online criticism, and how she’s mentoring the next generation of equestrian professionals.

Photo Credit: Liz Crawley Photography 2024

Farrier Jason Hillman CF, based in Chester County, PA, joins OTTB on Tap to tackle one of the most debated topics in Thoroughbred aftercare: hoof health. Jason shares insight into Thoroughbred feet, OTTB hoof care, and the real factors that impact long-term soundness, drawing from his experience working with a large Thoroughbred client base and retraining his own OTTBs.

In addition to being a trusted farrier in the Mid-Atlantic, Jason is also an event rider. He competes his supermare Cruisewithbrandon and is preparing his warhorse gelding Kingsville for the 2025 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover, where he’ll compete as a team with his mother, June Hillman—a past guest on the podcast and lifelong Thoroughbred advocate.

From radiographs and shoeing cycles to common concerns like thin soles, weak walls, and negative palmar angles, Jason breaks down what matters most when managing OTTB hooves. We also explore modern tools like glue-ons, frog support, wedges, and flat pads—plus when to use them (and when not to).

You’ll hear:

• What to expect post-track and how to set your horse up for success
• Tips for high/low syndrome, moisture management, and fly season
• Why farrier-owner communication is essential—and how to build it
• Listener-submitted questions on PPEs, bell boots, and hoof hacks

Whether you're retraining your first OTTB or working with seasoned sport horses, this episode offers real-world hoof care advice from someone who lives it in and out of the saddle.

Virginia-based trainer Chelsey O’Brien returns to OTTB on Tap as she gears up for the 2025 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover—this time with two OTTBs and twice the determination. Representing the nonprofit Pastured Place, Chelsey introduces us to The Pepsodent Show (“Peppy”), a charismatic 5-year-old gelding by VE Day. With a name that throws it back to the golden age of radio—The Pepsodent Show was a wildly popular 1930s–40s comedy series hosted by Bob Hope, not unlike today’s podcasts—Peppy brings brains, athleticism, and a big personality to the table.

Chelsey is also retraining her personal mare, Fuzzy Wuzzy, a powerful 4-year-old by Palace, for the barrels and possibly ranch work. In this candid episode, she walks us through how she juggles training two very different OTTBs, her role as a Pastured Place ambassador, and what it means to advocate for Thoroughbred aftercare as both a horsewoman and a mom.

From groundwork and restart strategies to hauling, first shows, and building mental fitness, Chelsey shares thoughtful advice for anyone bringing along an off-track Thoroughbred. She also reflects on how organizations like Pastured Place and The Western Thoroughbred are changing the landscape—making OTTBs more visible and accessible in both English and Western disciplines.

This episode is part of the RRP Trainer Chronicles, an OTTB on Tap Original Series spotlighting the trainers and Thoroughbreds preparing for the Retired Racehorse Project Makeover. Whether you're considering an OTTB for barrel racing, competitive trail, eventing, or the Thoroughbred Makeover, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical takeaways from a trainer who's all heart—and all in.

OTTB on Tap is 100% independently produced by two horse girls who love Thoroughbreds and great storytelling. If you enjoy the show, you can support us through Buy Me a Coffee at buymeacoffee.com/ottbontap. Every bit helps us keep the mics on and the stories flowing. 🐎💛

In this RRP Trainer Chronicles episode of OTTB on Tap, we sit down with adult amateur eventer, longtime Thoroughbred advocate, and sporthorse breeder Amanda Chance, who’s making her Retired Racehorse Project Makeover debut in 2025 with a true warhorse—an off-track Thoroughbred with over 50 starts (he raced a whopping 100 times!)

Known for her candid blog and podcast Breed.Ride.Event., Amanda brings a unique perspective to the OTTB world—combining her eye for conformation with real-world experience restarting Thoroughbreds for second careers in eventing and sporthorse disciplines. She shares what it’s like retraining a seasoned racehorse, how her breeding background shapes her OTTB evaluations, and why she believes more adult amateurs should take the leap into Makeover territory.

We talk about selecting her RRP partner, how his extensive racing career impacts his retraining, and the mental and physical adjustments involved in transitioning a veteran OTTB. Amanda also offers advice for first-time RRP trainers, her favorite sporthorse traits in Thoroughbreds, and how she keeps the journey fun, even when progress stalls.

Whether you're a fellow OTTB owner, eventing enthusiast, adult amateur, or curious about the Thoroughbred Makeover, Amanda’s story is one you won’t want to miss.

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of substance use and mentions of suicide. If these topics are sensitive for you, please listen with care. Resources and support links are included at the end of the episode description.

Ramon Moya didn’t grow up in the saddle—but the first time he sat on a Thoroughbred at 18, everything changed. Now a graded stakes-placed jockey and viral content creator, Ramon has made a name for himself both on the racetrack and online, where his point-of-view body-cam rides and honest behind-the-scenes footage are drawing thousands of new eyes to the world of horse racing.

In this candid, heartfelt interview, Ramon shares what it’s like to ride at speed, cut weight to make race conditions, and build trust with each individual horse he works with. He also opens up about his battle with addiction, getting clean, and his mission to educate others about the realities—and the beauty—of life on the track.

Ramon's passion for Thoroughbreds on and off the track shines through and even though he grinds it out with daily 4am wake up calls, he feels he never works a day in his life while riding.

Whether you’re in it for the Thoroughbreds, the grit, or the humanity, this is an episode that lingers long after listening.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please know you’re not alone.

• National Helpline for Substance Use Disorders (SAMHSA): 1-800-662-HELP (4357) — Free, confidential help 24/7.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988 — 24/7 support for anyone in distress.
• PDJF (Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund): pdjf.org — Support for jockeys, including mental health and addiction recovery services.
• The Jockeys' Guild: jockeysguild.com — Advocacy and wellness support for active and retired jockeys.

Welcome back to RRP Trainer Chronicles, an OTTB on Tap Original Series following the riders and retrainers headed to the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover. In this episode, we’re talking dressage, Thoroughbreds, and that all-important seat with Harley Whittaker of HW Dressage in Kirkwood, Pennsylvania.

Harley didn’t grow up in a horsey family, but she’s built a thriving training business rooted in thoughtful, individualized care—and a belief that OTTBs absolutely belong in the dressage ring. She introduces us to her Makeover partner Juancho (aka “Jack”), shares what she looks for in a dressage prospect, and walks us through the early days of training a horse fresh off the track.

We chat about visualization, confidence-building, ulcer prevention, and why pulling back is not the answer. Whether you’re new to OTTBs, curious about dressage, or just here to root for a great horse and rider team—you’ll love this candid and inspiring conversation.

In this first full trainer episode of our 2025 RRP Trainer Chronicles series, we’re joined by Stephanie Parkot, a dedicated adult amateur and mom of three from Corfu, New York, who’s making her Thoroughbred Makeover debut with a gelding she calls “the right horse at the right time.”

Stephanie’s Makeover partner is Sterling Honor, a striking son of Honor Code, adopted through New Vocations. Together, they’re preparing to compete in Competitive Trail and Dressage—and doing it all while balancing barn time with the demands of family life. Stephanie shares what drew her to off-track Thoroughbreds in the first place, the emotional rollercoaster of returning a previous adoption, and how she found the confidence to try again.

She talks candidly about the realities of retraining a Thoroughbred in the dead of a New York winter, the importance of tailoring your program to your lifestyle, and how she’s approaching the 2025 RRP Makeover with a mindset centered not on perfection, but on partnership and progress. One of her guiding philosophies? “Flexible consistency”—knowing when to adjust your expectations without losing sight of the goal. Another? Not waiting for the perfect moment.

Whether you’re a fellow adult amateur retraining an OTTB, curious about the Thoroughbred Makeover process, or simply looking for honest insight into what this journey really looks like behind the scenes, Stephanie’s story is one of heart, resilience, and horse-first horsemanship.

What does it take for a 15.1-hand off-track Thoroughbred to storm around the 2024 Kentucky Three-Day Event and win the crowd’s heart? In this episode of OTTB On Tap, we sit down with eventer Ali Kuhn to hear the incredible story of Little Hail, her pink-wearing OTTB who went from years in a pasture to galloping across one of the sport’s biggest 4★ stages.

Ali opens up about her journey as an OTTB retrainer, how a fateful call from John and Dorothy Crowell changed the course of her career, and what it was like bringing Little Hail back into work after a two-year turnout. We talk about Malibu Moon and Quiet American as influential Thoroughbred sires, how she built a partnership based on patience and trust, and the moment she realized this unassuming gelding had something truly special.

Plus, we dive into the story behind the Pink Pony Club—a joyful celebration of Thoroughbred talent, bold fashion, and doing things your own way in a sport often dominated by warmbloods. From retraining OTTBs for upper-level eventing to competing alongside top names at Kentucky, Ali’s story is a must-listen for anyone who believes in the heart and grit of the Thoroughbred.

Whether you're an aspiring eventer, a diehard OTTB fan, or just need a dose of inspiration, this conversation will stick with you.

Meet the 2025 Retired Racehorse Makeover trainers we'll be following all season long! In this special kickoff episode of OTTB on Tap's original series, RRP Trainer Chronicles, we introduce you to four standout horsewomen—each with a different background, training philosophy, and off-track Thoroughbred (OTTB) partner. You'll get a first look at their plans for the 2025 RRP, how they came to love OTTBs, and the unique paths that brought them to this moment.

Our featured trainers include:

• Stephanie Parkot (NY) – A full-time mom with a deep love for Thoroughbreds, Stephanie is showing that it is possible to raise a family while training nice OTTBs on your own.
• Harley Whittaker (PA) – A dedicated dressage trainer with a passion for proving that off-track Thoroughbreds deserve a place in the sandbox just as much as any purpose-bred sport horse.
• Amanda Chance (FL) – An adult amateur eventer and sporthorse breeder making her first RRP appearance. Amanda is bringing along a true warhorse with literally 100 starts and hopes to spotlight the potential of these seasoned campaigners.
• Chelsey O’Brien (VA) – A returning fan favorite and ambassador for the nonprofit Pastured Place, Chelsey is taking on the Makeover with two horses this year—one from the organization and one of her own.

From competitive trail to dressage to barrel racing to eventing, these trainers represent the incredible versatility and heart of Thoroughbreds after racing. Over the next few months, we’ll be checking in with each of them for full-length episodes—but this one gives you a chance to meet the people and horses behind the stories.

Whether you're prepping for your first Makeover, cheering on friends, or dreaming of your future OTTB, this episode offers inspiration, insight, and four new journeys you’ll definitely want to follow.