We recently asked our social media followers to share about what makes these horses so special. Below, you can see some of their photos and stories. Can’t get enough? Visit Part One and Part Two for more Thriving Thoroughbreds!
Do you have a dressage Thoroughbred you’d like to share with the YourDressage community? E-mail us at yourdressage@gmail.com for your chance to be featured! Stay tuned to YourDressage through the end of November as we celebrate #ThrivingThoroughbreds, with photo galleries and exclusive stories from Thoroughbred enthusiasts across the country!
Submitted by Nicole R. – I could absolutely never fit everything Thoroughbreds mean to me in this space ❤️ Any courage I have in life, I’ve learned from a Thoroughbred. They’ve been my inspiration and my passion from a very young age, and I now work for Daily Racing Form chronicling some of their stories at the racetrack. MEANWHILE, I’m also an adult ammy competing my New Vocations graduate, One Brave Warrior. He’s the first horse that I’ve ever shown, so I am learning everything right along with him, and I’ve had to learn new kinds of courage – the courage to admit when I don’t know things, the courage to ask for help, the courage to take a step back when it’s the right thing, and yeah, the courage to help my horse down centerline when something is spooking BOTH of us! I don’t know what level we’ll ultimately make it to, but I know I’ll be a better person because of it.Submitted by Ali D. – Kevin (JC: River of Dreams, 9yo OTTB) is enjoying some time off while and relaxing while mom has a baby 💕Submitted by Suzanne R. – My thoroughbread..my heart ❤❤Submitted by Sarah B. – This is my 9yr old Bad Read Sanchez. Successful race horse to successful dressage horse. Was 2018 2nd place all breed awards Training level. Also prefect kids horse . Best boy ever!!Submitted by Jessica S. – My 2011 OTTB Boss Man Mike. He is the third OTTB I have owned. I love this breed because they are incredibly versatile & athletic. Not to mention very sweet. ❤️Submitted by Caitlin M. – This is Gabriel, (JC Mista Gabe Greeley) he was pulled from a killpen after being dumped for an injury. He isn’t your star dressage horse but what he lacks in skills he makes up with the sweetest demeanor on the planet and true love for all things living. He’s my heart horse for life!Submitted by Emma S.Submitted by Emma S. – This is my tb Warrior! He is 8 and I am 13 and we are doing first level dressage!Submitted by Emma S.Submitted by Shannon A. – This is Lizzie, She Gets To You. She raced when she was younger. When she retired from racing, she started her career as a dressage horse for an older adult amateur. Lizzie came into our barn to be resold, as she was too sensitive for the AA rider. I fell in love, and bought her for myself. She is now learning eventing and enjoys jumping. She’s teaching me so much about quirky intelligent horses, and building my education as a young trainer. When she retires from showing, she will spend her time building confidence in young pony club riders. Submitted by Shannon A. – is Cactus Cafe (Bay). Cactus raced in her younger years, and after ending up in a slaughterhouse in Canada, she started a movement responsible for the reduction in thoroughbred racehorses sent to Canadian slaughterhouses. Cactus Cafe, Ft. in the NY Times magazine, has made a huge impact in showing that thoroughbreds are not only highly versatile, but also indisposable. That many people value them, and will give them great lives post racing. Cactus competed for $10,000 in the inaugural trainers challenge at will rogers colleseum in 2013, ridden hunters, and now spends her days teaching young pros and amateurs the ropes of eventing as well as dressage. She’s a kind mare, and a barn favorite at Full Stride Equestrian. Cactus is full of love despite staring death in the face.Submitted by Sarah E. – Jacapo, the horse with a heart the size of Texas 🥰🥰Submitted by Sarah S. – My horse Sammy, show name Come Sail Away and JC registered name Sailship, and I started our partnership in 2011 just received our USDF Silver Medal with a successful debut at FEI Prix St. Georges. Photo credits: Laura Palazzolo with Lisa Michelle Dean Photography Submitted by Sarah S. – We competed successfully through Novice eventing, but ultimately decided our passion lied in dressage, and now have eyes on the USDF Gold Medal! His golden retriever personality, huge heart, and superb talent and athleticism wins him fans no matter where he goes. The sky is the limit for Thoroughbreds! Photo credits: Laura Palazzolo with Lisa Michelle Dean Photography Submitted by Allison F. – 2016 OTTB Road to Cairo. Cairo Won 2021 Dressage Training Level Champion at The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Championships in Aiken SC this year. Owner Allison Ieropoli; Rider Logan Dickson; From Blue Ridge Farm in Northridgeville OhioSubmitted by Suzannah W. – We love our OTTBs!!!! Meet Margie Cat!Submitted by Heather V. – Love our OTTB Northern Soul! Blue ribbons in. dressage 💙Submitted by Kelsey B.Submitted by Kelsey B.Submitted by Kelsey B.Submitted by Kelsey B. – From racehorse to dressage mount, competing training level in the Rolex arena in less than 10 months. Union Cat is an incredibly talented horse and an amazing ambassador for how versatile the thoroughbred truly is. At home he is schooling flying changes and lateral movements. However, dressage isn’t the only discipline he shows talent for. We have gone trail riding at ETS events, competed in mounted archery, and played around with Working equitation and Garrocha. Thoroughbreds have so much to give and are game for anything you throw at them. Union Cat competed at the 2020/2021 RRP mega makeover in the 2021 class. We competed in Dressage and Freestyle. He placed 16th overall in Freestyle and 5th place amateur in freestyle.Submitted by Taylor S. – This guy changed my life for the better. Without him I honestly don’t think life would be.Submitted by Taylor S. – RamboSubmitted by Vicki M. – Truely Tyme (JC name Truely Quick). He’s been the toughest challenge of my riding career but he’s making me a better rider through all of it. I have brought him along mostly myself. He has less then 20 pro rides on him. In the past two years I’ve been the only one to sit on him. He is a confirmed second level horse. We competed and held our own at region 8 championships this year. Now we are working on cleaning up our changes so we can be a confirmed 3rd level horse.Submitted by Nick Peronace Dressage Supporters – Did somebody mention Thoroughbreds?!?!? Carpathia is a 4th level dressage horse that was schooling FEI level when I sold her. Difficult to keep weight on and sensitive to the touch during canter work, but extremely intelligent, loyal, loving and a hard focus on the task at hand. She tried her heart out no matter what was asked of her. Carpathia was a lot of fun to work with!Submitted by Jean F. – Moneigh Moproblems, 7yr old OTTB competed at the 2020/21 Mega-Thoroughbred Makeover in Freestyle and Dressage, but is also a full-time lead trail horse in VA.Submitted by Kara K. – JC Alphabeara. Didn’t attend TB Makeover but hope to start showing training level in 2022.Submitted by Kasey M. – Steve’s Vision. His last race was May 23 and he is loving his new career as a dressage horse!!Submitted by Karen M. – Tactical Point by Point in Time out for an evening training ride at GMHA in Vermont for their fall dressage show. I have two other Thoroughbreds that are competing in dressage, as well. This breed is amazing.Submitted by Courtney S. – Hailing from the Unbridled and Seattle Slew lines comes Unbridled Fool, lovingly known as Atlas around the barn. Atlas is loving, smart, athletic, and versatile! He is a real looker and often gets compliments from the judges on how handsome he is. Atlas tries his heart out in everything he does and I could not have asked for a better horse under saddle or on the ground. His manners are impeccable! He is an exemplary member of the wonderful Thoroughbred Breed!Submitted by Michael G.Submitted by Jackie S. – I have primarily ridden thoroughbreds most of my life, in the beginning because that’s what I could afford. Now, because they are my preference! I got Superman as a 7 year old off the track, and he was the first of many I got through Rockin G Equine Sanctuary. He took a bit to come out in his personality, and was set in his ways at after many years of racing! Submitted by Jackie S. – We spent the first year gearing towards eventing, but I quickly decided jumping wasn’t his favorite. We participated in the 2017 TB Makeover, where we finished 11th in dressage. I decided he wasn’t on the market to sell after realizing what talent he has. We have made our way to 4th level and working on the FEI movements. I love so much his work ethic, and try hard attitude. He’s confident when he goes in the ring, and sometimes tries so hard I think he’s 3 moves ahead of me! He is very much a business man, and is all about his work, but on a good day he’ll spend five minutes cuddling with me after his ride! Thoroughbreds will always be my favorite to ride. They are happy to have a job, want to desperately please, and are just a joy to be around!Submitted by Amanda M. – My TB x Cleveland baySubmitted by Lacy J. – Gizmo 🐎Submitted by Macenna F. – My OTTB is the sweetest. He’s the fastest learner and dressage really helps to calm his anxiety.Submitted by Sarah A. – My TB of a different color. Jinx is all thoroughbred and Buckskin to boot.Submitted by Robyn L. Submitted by Robyn L. – My awesome ottb London ❤️Submitted by Rachel L. – My OTTB 💖Submitted by Katie H. – “Midnight Asun” is my 2012 OTTB that I compete in Dressage. We are showing Training and are schooling 1st level at home. Midnight is my heart horse and my best friend. I really love the thoroughbred breed. I am very partial to the Thoroughbreds and this is the only breed I will ride/own now.Submitted by Katie H. – One more picture of my 2012 OTTB heart horse Midnight Asun! The Thoroughbreds have so much heart and will do anything for their riders. They usually all have a great personality and a great work ethic. If you want a breed that will always try their best and be there for you, ride a Thoroughbred!Submitted by Katie H. – “Corn On the Code” is my 2011 OTTB. Code is training and will be showing Training level next year. Code is such a sweet boy and really loves Dressage. I didn’t ride Code much the first year I had him due to an injury, but he has healed and is so much fun to ride. He is such a willing partner and very easy to train. I love the Thoroughbred breed and a judge advocate for the breed. I will continue to adopt, rehab, retraining and compete the Thoroughbreds and will never chose another breed to ride and compete!Submitted by Carley S. – JC: Theopieofmyeye. Came off the track at the end of 2017 and finished out this show season at 3rd level 🥰Submitted by @nlb0923 – My 13 year old OTTB today 🥰Submitted by @nlb0923Submitted by Brandy L. – Love ottbsSubmitted by Rylee L. – My 10 yr. OTTB SUM Superstar and I had a great first experience at the Region 2 Finals. Submitted by Rylee L. – We finished in 4th in the training level JR/YR division and are now in line for Finals!!Submitted by Rylee L.
[…] you can see some of their photos and stories. Can’t get enough? Visit Part One, Two, and Three for more Thriving […]