Submitted by Allison Sandifer: "Uptoheavnnbakagain" 19 years young and currently competing at Prix St. Georges. He was the 2025 Jockey Club All-Breeds Fourth Level Winner! I love the All Breeds Program! This little 15.1 horse has been with me since his last race at Penn National Racetrack when I found him off a CANTER advertisement, he was just 3 then. Before his dressage career started in 2020, he was an outstanding eventer, and he continues enjoying small gallops and long hacks.
We recently asked our social media followers to share a photo of their favorite Thorughbred or Thoroughbred cross, and tell us a little about them, for a chance to be featured on YourDressage, and we are so excited to share all the photos we received highlighting this versatile breed! If you have a tenacious Thoroughbred you’d like to share, send us an email at yourdressage@usdf.org.
Did you know… Dressage riders who compete with a member of this speedy breed are eligible for special awards through the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards program, as The Jockey Club is a participating organization!
Romeo and I this past weekend in Pomona had our first level debut where we came away with two blue ribbons despite the pouring rain! I got Romeo for $1 almost 3 years ago as part of a neglect case and have since managed to bring him up through the levels of dressage we are now actively pursuing our USDF bronze medal! – Lauren C.Benchmark Sargon, a 2021 TB cross I’ve had the pleasure of bringing along since he was born. He competed his first starter event last fall and has helped out my coach as an IEA hunt seat mount. We are hoping to qualify for T3 USDF Regionals this year! – Carley H.This is Fastidious, the little TB that just wanted to dance. We evented through Prelim and he told me he’d rather learn new dance moves than jump bigger jumps. So we did. He was TIP Reserve 2nd-4th in ‘22 and Champion in ‘23. We got my Silver together last summer and I tragically lost him in a pasture accident in August, the same day as our last canter down the centerline. Erin Gilmore Photography – Hannah S.My own mare, Sprinkles! We had barely started the switch from jumpers to dressage before her early retirement, now loving life as a spoiled pasture puff who occasionally comes out to show off her party tricks 😎♥️ – Victoria M.My sweet little western TB Reno ❤ he’s my fist ever horse and I started doing western with him cause I was a very green rider with a fresh OTTB. Years later I’m doing bit-less and bridleless and he prefers his western w/j/l over anything fast – Brooke H.This is my heart horse and best buddy Tucker- the one who brought me back to riding when I didn’t think I’d find my way again. Through every high and low, especially my own health battles, he’s been my constant… quietly believing in me even when I couldn’t believe in myself. A former eventer turned dressage king, Tucker didn’t just adapt—he rose, with that same determination and heart that makes him so incredibly special. He has the biggest heart, the kind you don’t come across twice in a lifetime. And I’m endlessly grateful he’s chosen me as his person! – Amy W.Beauty is a Beast aka Bogart by Beauty in the Pulpit x Chatty Galore 2019 Gelding. We are just beginning our Dressage journey at Training level. He is a curious busy boy who keeps us smiling 😊 – Christine S.The Capt.’s Reddie – the horse that made me fall in love with dressage! We were both green and young and learned together. He had the greatest heart and always gave 110% – Augusta V.This is My Friend Linus, 2015 model who’s currently schooling Training/1st level. He raced for 6 years before I got him and needed a little extra time to figure out the non-racing life. Right now we’re just schooling at home and enjoying the journey! – Adrienne B.My two Thoroughbreds. Left- Carter 2008 (Endorsed Bullion) We achieved our scores for our Bronze together before I lost him to DSLD in 2019. And on the right- Bentley a 2010 OTTB (JC: Hotter N Blazes). He and I are playing with Intro and Training Level this year. 🩷🦄x2! – Sue M.Miss P. 2010 model. Just moving up to 4th. Took her from off the track and learned dressage together Susan J. Stickle Photo – Jillian B.Quiet Favorite (aka The Swamp Fox)! Dead sexy in the dressage ring! – Jessica R.Red (JC Red Phase, shown as Raphael) 2002 from CANTER at Great Lakes Downs in MI. We showed through Grand Prix and we earned all our rider awards together and retired on a 68 at GP freestyle last fall. Best horse ever! Franke Photo Design – Becky S.Tiger’s Tip — my little scratch and dent, comeback kid. I got him from the Secretariat Center as a 3 coming 4 year old, and competed in the Retired Racehorse project in 2019. Since then he’s competing in the sports of eventing and dressage, having had two surgeries and long rehabs along the way, coming back stronger and better than ever each time and continuing to excel in both jumping and dressage. This year he will compete in 2nd level dressage with sights set to move up to 3rd! Last year he was 3rd in the All-Breeds program. People often don’t think he’s a thoroughbred, but proud to say he is!! – Megan T.My mare, Some Caan Job helped me get my last scores for my USDF Gold medal in 2024. She has been the All breeds Grand Prix champion the last 2 years and has won numerous TIPS awards. In 2025 we were 18th in the country for any breed for the amateur Grand Prix. Turnaround Tony was my OTTB before Annie. We went up to Grand Prix as well. These horses give you all of their heart and are a price many more of us can afford! Tara Jelenic Photo – Jenny S.Closeau has taken me to Regional Championships at First Level and First Level Freestyle. This year we are hoping to debut at Third Level. He pours his whole heart into whatever he does, and he has made me fall in love with the breed. ❤️ I adopted him from the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program facility in Ohio. – Kimberley R.Hot Tin Roof switched from hunters to dressage after I had elbow surgery in 2024. In his first year he qualified for regionals at 1st, 1st MFS, and 2nd, placing in our MFS, winning the USDF All Breeds at 1st level and earning strong placings in USDF year end awards. He earned me my Bronze medal in our second year showing dressage! I often get asked what breed he is and I love sharing that he’s an OTTB 🩷 – Kara C.My most handsome fella Creme Brulee (AKA Aksel in Danish – father of peace). He became mine three years ago. He is a Canadian Thoroughbred with one previous owner. Going to try our minds at training level this season. He is pure kindness. – Margaret A.This is EF Five, but I call him Twister. He retired from racing in 2017 after 8 years on the track and 54 races with $223k under his belt. We have done a bit of everything together and are almost finished with our Bronze medal (2 more scores!!) He also loves eventing and we are focusing on that this summer, while we perfect our flying changes. Kristin Selden Photography – Jenny F.Fencer 2020 OTTB, started as a turning 3yo in his next career. Last year he went to his first real shows and got amazing dressage scores. His path is for eventing, but I believe he will be able to do just dressage as well. – Christina K.This is Vintage Print and I competing in Intro dressage last fall after I adopted him from New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program in the fall of 2024! “Vinny” is by Curlin and out of Molly Morgan, raced 18 times before retiring. He’s got the BEST brain and tries hard every day! We’re excited to move up to Training level this year and can’t wait for our show season to start in May! – Betsy BurauMixmaker has gotten me my bronze medal this last fall. He’s got so much talent in the dressage arena, you’d think he was bred for it! – Nicole D.Goodtime Boy aka Logan, 2009 gelding, Stonesider x Babyifurgoodtogo. My War Horse ReRun Thoroughbred Adoption grad. We mainly do the hunters, but started dabbling in dressage and combined testing in 2024 (we wanted more color & sparkles 🤭🦄). I’ve had him for over 10 years and he’s such a good boy with so much heart ❤️! – Cameron S.My 2016 OTTB Rogue Nation who got me into dressage and took me to my first rated shows. Sadly I unexpectedly lost him this past fall after many years together. 😞 – Ashley N.Mugrosito (Aka Moogie) 2015 OTTB has been my partner for 6 years now and together we have worked our way up to 3rd level dressage and we will hopefully finish getting my scores for my bronze medal this summer. We went to USDF finals in 2022 at training level and earned the Jockey Club Award there. He absolutely loves dancing in the sandbox. Diana Hadsall Photo – Jennie S.
