Laura Otten had previously owned an off-the-track Thoroughbred and always intended to return to riding and horse ownership. Over the years, she had followed several aftercare organizations, hoping to adopt another Thoroughbred someday. When the COVID-19 pandemic happened, it unexpectedly accelerated those plans. Otten began actively searching for her next horse, specifically a gelding suited for pleasure riding and low-level Eventing.

The Astral Rascal’s first canter (Tamara Zerbo photo)

“I knew I wanted a gelding and was willing to work with professional trainers and had no plans to resell, ever!” she shared.

Otten applied through Thoroughbred Retirement, Rehabilitation, and Careers (TRRAC), a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organization based in Coatesville, Pa. Interestingly, The Astral Rascal wasn’t the horse she initially applied for. Instead, TRRAC staff thoughtfully matched them based on her experience and long-term goals.

“Because of the pandemic, we were not able to visit, so the first time we met our guy was when he stepped off of the trailer!” Otten said.

The adoption process was thorough, including a detailed application, interviews, references, and veterinary checks designed to ensure the right placement. Before Rascal arrived, his breeder, owner, and racing connections shared extensive information about his personality, history, and previous knee surgery. This gave Otten a strong understanding of his background.

“I felt I had a pretty good idea of who he was and what he was capable of,” she explained.

Rascal arrived at his new home well let down from racing, which allowed Otten to focus on groundwork and handling first.

Trainer Jacqui Ross clears a jump with Rascal (Sheri Knauer photo)

“We added professionals when it was time to restart under saddle,” she recalled.

With plans to pursue Eventing, his retraining began with Dressage to establish foundational skills.

“During his first training show he danced out of the arena!” Otten exclaimed.

Gradually, poles and crossrails were introduced, helping him develop confidence and coordination. At his first off-property show, Rascal carefully walked near standards and poles, learning to navigate new environments and tasks. Over time, his balance and coordination improved, preparing him for Show Jumping.

Cross-Country training came last and required the most patience. Early outings were challenging, particularly with water obstacles.

“Rascal used to be very distracted on Cross-Country and was so unsure about water that he had to be led through by a friend at his first horse trial,” Otten shared.

With consistent training and experience, he grew comfortable across all three phases.

“In August of [last] year he competed at the novice level for the first time and was second on his dressage score of 27!” Otten said.

The Astral Rascal (Sheri Knauer photo)

Otten’s goal for Rascal is to keep him fit, sound, and happy in his work.

“Thoroughbreds are bred to work, and they need physical and mental stimulation. The neat thing is they can really go in any direction,” Otten said. “If at any point Rascal says enough is enough, we stop.”

Otten’s routine with Rascal emphasizes regular training on fundamentals. This is balanced with socializing, which includes turnout with other horses, interactions with people of all ages, and time with barn pets.

Maintaining a connection to Rascal’s racing history has become an important part of his journey. Otten built a friendship with the woman who bred, trained, and raced him, and his former connections attend competitions when possible. That relationship eventually led to the arrival of Rascal’s full brother, Harpersgonefishing, who retired from racing this past summer and joined Otten’s farm to begin retraining for Eventing. “She has become a friend and asked us to take Harper when he finished racing this past summer,” Otten said. She also captured a special moment: “Here is a picture of the brothers meeting for the first time. Harper on the left and Rascal on the right. Love them both!”

Rascal meets Harpersgonefishing (Laura Otten photo)