Horse Country

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Thoroughbred Makeover, diary, Jordon Sigmon, Maverick, OTTB, cross country, eventing, show dressage, retired racehorse, ex-racehorse, Alltech, Kentucky Horse Park, trial, Jennie Brannigan, clinic, training, equestrian, ABR

Thoroughbred Aftercare Diary: First-Show Success for Maverick

I left off last time with a lot of anticipation of things to come with Maverick, and boy have they unfolded so well since my last installment.

We’ll start with the Jennie Brannigan clinic we did. I had kind of made the decision to do that sort of last minute, as my original plan had been to do a mini-trial at Meadowlake that weekend. But when I saw this opportunity, I felt like it would be way more beneficial for the both of us in the long run.

OTTB, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, success, training, retired racehorse, ex-racehorse, Loren Schubarg, Maverick, The Big Kahuna, gelding, eventing, test, Thoroughbred, ABR

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Success Story: The Big Kahuna’s Second Act

With only four career starts, The Big Kahuna retired from racing in early 2022 with $77,870 in earnings. Foaled in March 2017, the flashy bay gelding arrived at New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program in April of that year, ready for his next chapter. New Vocations is a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredited organization that is dedicated to rehabilitating, retraining, and rehoming off-the-track Thoroughbreds.

Thoroughbred Makeover, diary, Lindsay Gilbert, Gray Magician, Imposing Ruler, OTTB, aftercare, show, competition, ex-racehorse, hunter, jumper, ABR

Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: Foundational Work Pays Off With First-Show Success

June was a big month for the dynamic duo that is Gray Magician and Imposing Ruler. Both boys tackled their first horse show last month, which also happened to be Gray’s first time off property in my program. While taking things slow is a key component of my program for Thoroughbreds coming off the track, it can be hard to put on the metaphorical blinders and focus only on my mounts. After watching others tackle first shows earlier on in the year, I’ve been fighting thoughts of feeling behind.

Salesman, OTTB, retired racehorse, aftercare, Thoroughbred Makeover, hunter jumper, horse show, canter, flatwork, jumping, fence, riding, training, Texas, ABR

Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: Salesman ‘Calm, Cool and Collected’ in Training

It’s three and a half months until the Makeover, but who’s counting, right? Ha! But in all seriousness, this year of preparation and training with Salesman has just flown by. And writing these monthly updates just keeps sneaking up on me, making the months feel even shorter.

OTTB, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Noni, Gucci, Leslie Arcuri, retirement, racehorse, aftercare, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, Virginia, ABR

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Success Story: Noni’s Journey to Love and Safety

When Leslie and Anthony Arcuri lost their beloved horse Ghazi in October, the grief was intense. Ghazi had been part of their family for 30 years and had been through life’s highest highs and lowest lows with the couple.

Gucci, a 30-year-old Thoroughbred that the Arcuris adopted in 2004 from the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) in Montpelier, Va., was grieving, too. Ghazi had been Gucci’s best friend for two decades. It quickly became clear that Gucci needed a new friend. Gucci was TRF’s first successful adoption from their Montpelier location.

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