The Tenacious Thoroughbred! Throughout the month of May, we are featuring Thoroughbreds and Thoroughbred crosses.
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!
A rider located in Region 6 shares the ups and downs of life with her Thoroughbred, Tucker Too, who was everything she didn’t know she needed in a partner!
By Amy Wong
My name is Amy Wong, and Tucker – “Tucker Too” affectionately, or “Go Gus Go” to The Jockey Club – is my 20-year-old Off-Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) who is absolutely convinced he’s still four. Tucker is a former Upper Level event horse turned dressage king. He is also one of those once-in-a-lifetime heart horses you don’t even realize you’re searching for until they’re suddenly in your life.
My partnership with Tucker came about absolutely by a happy accident. I wasn’t looking for him at all. After some significant health challenges, I wasn’t even sure what my future in riding would look like.
My trainer, Anni Grandia, had previously brought Tucker up the levels in eventing. At the time, he was in the barn doing lesson horse duties after it was discovered he needed to retire from jumping due to his classic, slightly questionable Thoroughbred conformation, and his unwavering desire to keep going despite it.
I had some health challenges that had completely changed my riding, and ultimately my path in life. Prior to Tucker, I had a warmblood, but after a surgery to address some of my challenges, I physically couldn’t ride him anymore. He was simply too wide, and in many ways, we had outgrown each other.
Anni put me on Tucker for my very first ride back post-surgery, and that was it. There was an instant spark. Something about him lit that horse crazy little girl inside of me back on fire.
What started as a half-lease quickly turned into a full lease, and then came the realization that I couldn’t continue my horse journey without him. We were meant to be together. That’s when he became mine.
Tucker gave me a way back. He met me exactly where I was, without judgment. Every ride felt like rediscovering something I thought I had lost. He didn’t just bring me back to riding; he made me want to come back.
He quickly became my constant, my shoulder to cry on, and my motivation to keep pushing forward – taking back control of my health one step at a time. He has an incredible way of knowing exactly what I need, even when I don’t.
Never did I think, as a primarily event rider, that I’d end up buying a Thoroughbred who had retired from the sport I loved most… and that he would make me fall completely in love with dressage.
Without question, our greatest accomplishment wasn’t a ribbon, though; it was our return.
About two years into our partnership, Tucker suffered a deep digital flexor tendon injury. It was devastating, requiring nearly two full years of rehabilitation. It was two years of blood, sweat, tears, and unwavering support from my incredible vet and trainer.
There were so many moments of uncertainty. Would we ride again? Compete again? Or would our partnership have to change?
When we finally trotted down centerline together last year for the first time after those two years, it was everything. That moment represented resilience, trust, and belief. Not just his, but mine, too.
Tucker has changed me in every possible way. He’s been my constant through it all, lighting my soul on fire when I need inspiration, and grounding me on the hardest days. There’s something incredibly special about a horse who just knows you – and he does. There’s absolutely nothing I wouldn’t do for him. Tucker is not an easy horse (he may be barely 16 hands, but he has the presence and opinions of one who is much, much bigger), and he’s picky when choosing his people. I’m incredibly lucky he chose me. He nickers the second he sees me, like I’m the best part of his day… though realistically, I’m just his personal treat dispenser.
He’s taught me patience, humility, and how to truly listen. But more than that, he’s taught me how to believe again, especially on the days that I struggle to believe in myself. That lesson extends far beyond the barn. Tucker has shown me that life doesn’t always go as planned, but there is so much beauty in the redirection, and in the small victories along the way.
Despite Tucker’s “dressage king” status, he is an absolute dirtball. He lives for anything wet, muddy, and gross, and his favorite pastime is standing out in the pouring Pacific Northwest (PNW) rain, getting himself (and his blanket) as filthy as humanly possible. It’s impossible not to laugh at him.
He is the perfect mix of heart, grit, and complete goofiness.
Today, we are working toward my USDF Bronze Medal together, a goal I never would have imagined for myself years ago. But perhaps more meaningful than the goal itself is how we are getting there: one ride at a time, one small victory at a time.
Because when you’ve had everything taken away, you learn quickly that nothing is guaranteed. Every day I get to swing a leg over Tucker’s back and settle into his saddle is a gift. Every quiet moment at the barn is a blessing. And those small, seemingly insignificant moments have become the ones I value most.
Thoroughbreds are so often overlooked in the dressage world, but they have so much to give. Keep an open mind. Thoroughbreds bring heart, intelligence, and a work ethic that’s hard to match. They may not always come packaged to look like a traditional dressage horse, but they will give you everything they have, and more. Tucker is proof that with the right partnership, they can truly thrive.
Our journey hasn’t been conventional – for either of us – but that’s what makes it so meaningful.
