Wow, where has this month gone?! With spring shows in full swing and our eyes on summer schedules, the calendar has been jam-packed as of late, and you know what they say, “time flies when you’re having fun!”

For Teddy Spaghetti, it’s been a month of new experiences, well-deserved rest, and getting back to the basics. For Natty Bumppo, it’s been another month of getting to know each other and weighing our future options.

Teddy Spaghetti, left with big brother In The Air (Courtesy of Caitlan Brooks)

Since we last checked in with Teddy Spaghetti, post-horse show, he has officially completed his first paper chase as well. Once again lucky to have his big brother, a 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover graduate, to show him the ropes, Teddy loved getting to go out and about around Tranquility Manor Farm. The beautiful six-mile course provided us with plenty of never seen before sights and challenges, and I’m pleased to report that Teddy did not bat an eye at any of them.

While new water crossings, open fields, narrow wooded trails, painted logs, hedges, colored coops, tires, and even corrugated pipes couldn’t slow us down, it was without a doubt his lack of concern for traffic that I found most impressive. It is wonderful to be able to go at your own pace and only jump what you want, but it is not uncommon for other teams with other goals to need to pass you or be in your sight line on the next hill over. In my experience, that can cause anxiety in even the most experienced and laid back off-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs), who remember, spent their early days learning to run together in groups and hoping to be the one doing the passing.

But even when his big brother got a little antsy, Teddy took it all in stride. He loved watching the other horses do their thing, only further confirming his appreciation for group activities and hopeful prowess as a future field hunter.

After finishing out May on a high note, it was time for the barn to switch gears and focus on our more seasoned competitors, who headed down to the Upperville Colt & Horse Show and the Loudoun Benefit Horse Show to represent the breed in both the Take2 Thoroughbred Hunter and Jumper Divisions, as well as the wonderful Thoroughbred Development classes.

When planning to spend the better part of two weeks away, it is always a daunting task to figure out what those left behind should do. Do they need to keep working or can they afford to have a break? Luckily, in Teddy’s case it was a no brainer. Perfectly lazy at heart and having already accomplished so much, we knew he would love to have a chance to relax and lie around … and that he did. Quite literally in fact!

Teddy Spaghetti enjoying a vacation. (Courtesy of Caitlan Brooks)

So now that we know Teddy is well-rested and checking all the boxes away from the farm, it is time to get back to the basics at home. While it is always important to progress toward certain milestones, in my opinion, it is even more important to take the time to go back and reaffirm what you have already taught them. Specifically in Teddy’s case, our horse show and paper chase demonstrated that yes, he can mentally handle hack classes, piece together a course, and bravely handle life and activity outside the ring. But could he steer better, use himself more effectively, and jump tidier? Absolutely, and that comes from going back to our flat work. In fact, that is where you’ll find us this next month as his kids are out of school and we gear up toward another local show and our very first away show at the end of July.

As for Natty Bumppo, he’s settling in wonderfully and loving getting back into a program of sorts, but will he be able to make the Thoroughbred Makeover? I honestly don’t know yet.

I love Natty Bumppo’s personality and willingness to connect and look for approval, but unfortunately some old health issues may prove to be more limiting than we had once hoped, or at least limiting in the time frame he would have to progress between now and October.

However, the great thing about the timing of his racing career, albeit brief, is that he is also eligible for the 2026 Thoroughbred Makeover. Therefore, I am diligently using all the groundwork tools at my disposal, as well as ponying to continue to expose him to new experiences, while staying under the required 15 training rides allowed should we decide to wait until next year instead.

Another wonderful thing about him coming from a local breeder and friend is that we have full access to his history. Now that we are home from our away shows, I look forward to working with our veterinarian to decide what’s next. If we think he is physically limited and should be aimed toward a lower-level second career, that may have us considering new and non-jumping disciplines at the makeover. If it instead proves to be something that a little more time and strengthening would put behind us, we may be looking to delay restarting him all together. Either way, he is a joy to have around, and I very much look forward to helping him find his best path forward, so as always, stay tuned!

The Jockey Club supports many aftercare initiatives including the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the only accrediting body in aftercare, and Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), which encourages the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon completion of careers. View all of the initiatives supported by The Jockey Club.