We would very much like to share your success stories and pictures with your Off Track Thoroughbred. Please send your submission to wendie@oregontoba.com
I just wanted to share with you my wonderful 9 year old off track
thoroughbred gelding "Forever Bee". He raced at Portland Meadows back
in 2004-2005. He is an amazing horse. I bought him last year about a month
after my other 6 year old thoroughbred passed away from colic. He was able to
fill that empty space and mend my heart back together. He just loves to do
everything from trail riding to western riding, and of course, his favorite -
hunter under saddle! Now he is becoming a hunter/jumper! He has the
quietest temperament ever and gorgeous movements. He is
also my 4-H horse. I also took him to numerous horse shows last year and
although it was his first year in the show ring he brought back over 50
ribbons, a trophy, and he went on to qualify to compete at the California State
Fair and ended up taking 5th place overall! Judges are always commenting on what
a lovely horse he is. I love him to pieces and he is my best friend for life.
Here
are a few more photos you may enjoy seeing of us. He dressed up as a zebra for
the Sacramento County Fair last year! Great horse :) Holly
Image:
FLASH
I got my OTTB Flash, last year. Hes appx 13 y/o and the
BEST riding horse ever. He is great for anyone to ride walk, trot, and
canter. Absolutely not hyper, spooky of anything, herd bound or barn sour!
We primarily ride out on the trails and even my beginner 8y/o daughter can
ride him. Thats the first horse shes ever ridden by herself at the trot. You
can do anything with this boy! Dead calm and gentle and we love him! Just
because they've raced, it doesn't mean these guys dont have a future doing
something else... :)
Kelley
Angel on Flash
Angel Riding
Girls on Flash
Katie and HotRod
HOTROD
Well, 6 months later, and look at what a beautiful boy Hot Rod has become!!!
We went to our first show last Saturday, it was a big Oregon Dressage
Society approved dressage show, and I could not be happier with how Hot Rod
did!!! He was the youngest horse entered in the show, and we did training
level test one, up against some VERY well trained and expensive horses....Hot
Rod and I ended up 5th overall for the day, with a high score for the youngest
horse in ODS so far this year!!! He was so wonderful, the judge even came
up after we rode our test and said we had the most beautiful 'partnership' she
had seen all day....I was so proud of him!!! Steven wasn't able to go
with me, so I couldn't get many pictures, but I managed to take a few to send
out :) He looks so beautiful!
Hot Rod came along at a time when I needed him most,
he is my angel. I still miss my Lance everyday, but Hot Rod has helped me
daily, and without him, I would have given up on horse's entirely. For
him, I will be forever grateful, and it's because of you I have such a special
horse in my life....thank you!
Thank you both for bringing Hot Rod into my life, he is so very loved, and we
are on our way to major success!!!
~Katie and Hot Rod
Seth with Candace's Granddaughter
Seth
Attached is a picture of my 7 yr. old granddaughter
being lunged on our (at the time) 20 year old OTTB, Seth. We have
had Seth since he retired from racing at age six, due to a suspensory
injury. We gave him a year off to recover and then retrained him as a
dressage horse. He has been trained to approximately second level in
dressage. We don't compete, but find that the basic "obedience"
of dressage makes for a better riding horse. Seth is a joy to have and
has often acted as a babysitter for other horses and children at our
farm. He is sensitive, smart, and has wonderful gaits. Our
experience with him has led us to adopt another OTTB. Again, we got a
real gem.
Candace
Apollo at Eden Farm
Apollo and Drifter
I ended up with two OTTB's last
year. I used to be the manager at sanctuary one, and when I left there I could
not leave them behind, so I adopted them. Both have tattoos, but are illegible,
so I have no history on them other then the fact that the head ACO in Jackson
County took them from a hoarder. They were both a body score of 1 and near
death when we got them. Now they are great and I would not give them up for the
world. I have one boarded at Eden farms with Linda Davis, as he is a very hard
keeper and needs the extra feed and attention she provides there, and the other
is in a pasture situation in eagle point. I am looking to move them both to the
Roseburg area where I live now so I can be closer to them and they can be
together again.
Thanks for
what you do. Julie
Drifter helps himself to a snack!
More stories to come.................... Check back often.
Oregon Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association, Inc. P.O. Box 17248 ~ Portland, OR 97217-0248 Office: 503.285.0658 ~ Fax: 503.285.0659 info@oregontoba.com
