Submitted by Jes Skudlarek: My best boy ♡ Got my Bronze Medal on Salty (2008 Canadian bred ottb) and my two Fourth Level scores for my Silver! Kristin Leigh Richards Photography
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!
This is Kahu, a 2007 Australian thoroughbred that last raced in Hong Kong before arriving in the US. I have had the pleasure of leasing him for about a year and we are preparing for our first dressage show season and will be competing in the first level. He can do it all from eventing to jumpers and dressage. He is such a gorgeous beauty! – Barbara F.Secret Addiction OTTB, Dressage horse now. Love him!❤️ – Julianne W.Truely Tyme aka True. Adopted from New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program in 2016. We currently compete at third level with the hopes of making the jump to fourth at the end of the season. – Vicki M.And then of course there’s Silver Spur! He loves to jump but tolerates my dressage training. 🤣 he was also adopted from New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program. He was sold as a yearling for $47k and as a 2-year old for $260k but just didn’t pan out at the track. We successfully competed in the 2023 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover placing 8th of over 80 horses in dressage. Dressage basics are so good for these guys! It sometimes takes them a bit to settle into the new expectations of dressage from what they are used to, but it helps their body and mind. He is such an athlete and I’m excited to get him competing in eventing this year to combine the best of both worlds! Photo by Lisa Michelle Dean Photography – Nicole D.Back to Us, 2016 gelding by Temple City out of Jivin’, by Grand Reward. I bought him as a late three year old and brought him along myself. He is a wonderful partner, humoring me in my dressage ambitions, but absolutely loves jumping and cross country. Photo by LF Emberly Photography – Melissa M.Easy Stride, 2017 gelding by Street Sense out of Cat’s Holiday, by Harlan’s Holiday. I got “Henry” after my previous partner, Awesome Bid suddenly got sick and was taken by Colitis. Henry and I still have a long way to go in our training and he can be a bit “hot,” but has come a long way. We train in both dressage and jumpers. He has been with me almost 2.5 years. – Jaime M.Cafe Con Leche, 2022 by Munnings! 2026 rrp hopeful! – Meredith D.Bonfire (JC Speightsville), 2007 OTTB Gelding. I got Bonfire off the track as a 4yo, and started him in Dressage, transitioned to Hunters where he thrived for a few years, then decided to get my USDF Bronze medal with him, before he stepped into my lesson program as a Dressage and Jumper schoolmaster. Most recently he has become a “husband horse” and he’s teaching my husband how to do Western Dressage. Photo by Calico & Chrome Creative – Josey L.Bat Mans Bull. Working in First Level. Straight off the track 3 years ago 💖 – Ruth S.Lucky Zoom(JC) my 💝horse! Fox hunting, sidesaddle and dressage. There’s something so special about an OTTB…so bold and always gives his all. We may not be fancy but judges see the love we share for each other💕 Photo by Q2 Photography – Lynn B.Standing O (2008 Medaglia d’Oro X Honeycomb Gus) at his first USDF show getting a bit wet. I’ll have ridden him for 10 years this December. He raced until he was 6, was a hunter for a while, was donated to my college where I found him & was able to “retire” him my senior year. We schooled through 3rd and 4th before being quansi-retired from a pasture injury. Best boy 🫶🏻 – Michaela E.Count’s Classic ottb , 2013 model that made it to GP. This year we are polishing and putting together grand prix , will see how she does. She loves loves dancing and is a worker bee. – Indre M.A Handsome Mint – we are in Australia but I love seeing OTT from all over the world doing so well in dressage. They are so over looked. This horse has so much try. 😍🦄 – Brigitte D.Shakedown Street (JC Sound the Bell) competing 4* eventing and PSG. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography – Melanie S.This is my boy, Good Mistake. He is the best boy ever! I adopted him from New Vocations in ’24. He was just what I needed for the second half of my riding career. We are taking things slow and having fun. I love him to the moon and back. – Kallie N.This is Castle Dreams and I’ve had her since she was 4. She has overcome her kissing spine through surgery and I hope to move up the levels with her! She has taught me to be a better, more consistent rider and is a dream to ride. – Ares-Athena W.Laird is a Holsteiner TB cross. His mom was a Seattle Slew granddaughter! He is the best boy! ❤️ Photo by Diana Hadsall Photography – Heather L.This is 2019 (JC: Diamond Head) Aka Diamond. I’ve had her since she was 2 and she is my forever heart horse!!! I got talked into taking a dressage lesson a few years ago and I never looked back. I’d say I’m slightly obsessed lol!! I feel very blessed to have Diamond as my partner in this journey. She is a little horse with a BIG heart and any time in the saddle is time well spent. I can’t imagine doing this on any other horse. I feel like I get bragging rights when I say I do dressage on Thoroughbred. We were meant to be together #TifaneyDiamond💎 – Tifaney C.Knockemdown. Seven year old gelding By American Pharoah. Doing his first recognized 2nd level test this Saturday! Photo by Lisa Michelle Dean Photography – Alison O.Me and my OTTB! We got her injured off the track, rehabbed her, and she’s the best horse ever! Photo by bnb Photography – Molly P.My 7yr ottb “Cattitude”. We have just recently started playing in the dressage ring – Jessica H.Photo credit to Patrick King. He’s helping my former stakes horse, Coltandmississippi, develop into my next dressage partner. Sincere thanks to Cam’s race connections for putting him into the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance program. – Anne Z.Would love to add my guy to Tenacious TBs. His story is a pretty cool one! Susan Lang photo – Jordan C.Morning Bisou (2019) We have competed in Intro/Training so far and are starting to play with western dressage this year! – Melissa G.This is my 2010 thoroughbred Dakota Mac at a dressage show last year! My hopes and dreams to achieve a bronze medal with him 🤍🤍 – Shaundra B.My D’Ario, 17 yo💜Medaglia d’Oro X Rose Tiara – Sara G.This is Tequila Logic, barn name “Ava”, my 4 year old OTTB whom I bought in July straight off the track as a 3 year old. I am bringing her along slowly and very deliberately with the help of my coach Sean Cunningham. We’re hoping to begin her show career this summer with the 4 year old and materiale tests. She is sassy, funny, brave, and a complete love bug. 💗💗💗 – Karen S.My boy Upbeat has been rocking the Dressage work this year! He went to his first ever show in September showing training level and was super! Working on first level now! – Lily D.Jimmie Echo, 2003 OTTB. Took my to Novice level eventing and 3rd level dressage/Bronze medal. Now living the fully retired life! – Samantha S.This is Prince (JC: Prince Oscar) and he’s a 5 year old OTTB that was adopted from ReRun. I am an adult amateur that has been leasing this cutie for over a year now. We showed Intro last summer and achieved a 70% in one of our tests! – Olivia B.This is my Thoroughbred/Quarter Horse cross Rupert! We are currently schooling 2nd level! He is 7 now and I’ve had him since he was 4. We do mostly Dressage but throw in other things as well, trail riding, beach trips, whatever! – Kristin S.This is Diablo! My 8yr old OTTB. We are showing at Intro because of some fear I have where he is schooling 2nd. He is ready to fly. I’m the one holding us back but hopefully I can make cantering boring and qualify for Regionals at Training level 🙂 I have only owned my boy a year. Have to get his papers transferred so we can try for All Breeds! – Heather S.Here is my (now 23) 21 year old reformed H/J thoroughbred. We made it all the way to 4th level, schooling PSG. Absolute unicorn! Most sane TB I’ve ever met! And does it! I’ve had the honor to ride this unicorn for 19 years now 🦄💕 Photo by Meg McGuire Photography – Jerica V.Banana (JC Heavy is the Crown)! We have focused on dressage the last few years, though this year we are pivoting to focus on eventing and fox hunting. He really shines in the sandbox! Photo by Anna Marie Photography – Lauren D.Temerity 2019 OTTB who came to the ERAF – Equine Rescue and Adoption Foundation that I work at through TAA. After 1 1/2 year rehab I adopted her and started her under saddle. We are working on dressage and have competed at a fun dressage show at introductory level. Hope to eventually make it to recognized shows and work through the levels. Photo by Robin C Doniger – Donna G.
