Buying an OTTB straight off of the track yourself and retraining them a new career can be an incredibly rewarding experience if you have the time, resources and experience to do so. But there are other ways to partner with OTTBs in their ex-racing lives, including taking the reins of a Thoroughbred who has already out there making their way in the eventing world.
For this week’s edition of OTTB Wishlist, we’re taking a departure from our usual MO of featuring Thoroughbreds just recently off the track or still very green in their secondary careers. Instead, we’re skipping ahead a few months or even years to spotlight OTTBs available for sale that have already gotten a jump start on eventing.
Here are three OTTBs that are startbox ready, via EN’s classifieds site Sport Horse Nation. We’ve included the ad copy provided; click the links for videos, pricing and more information.
Photo courtesy of Bonnie Watkins via Sport Horse Nation.
Cash Me In (Royal Academy – Weekend Retreat, by Cox’s Ridge) is a 13-year-old, 15.2 h chestnut OTTB gelding. Currently competing at Training level with the ability, scope, and brain go Preliminary easily.
He is a bold jumper on cross country, delicate but forward in stadium, and uses a rubber snaffle in all three phases. Bold to jumps but sensitive and responsive to rider’s aids.
LOTS OF FUN TO JUMP — LOVES CROSS COUNTRY!
Best suited for an experienced, confident rider. Perfect for an accomplished AA or YR looking to advance through the levels. He is a wonderful teacher!
Good ground manners (loads, ties, clips, stands for farrier, etc.), is an easy keeper, and gets along well with other horses. Easy guy to have in your barn! Excellent on trails in front or back, unflappable on hacks, does gates. Always sound.
Notable pedigree: Sired by Royal Academy (grandsire Nijinsky II by Northern Dancer). Nijinsky II and Norther Dancer are referenced in the May/June 2016 edition of the USEA Eventing magazine, “Looking Closer at Pedigrees of the Rolex Top 20.”
Rider is a working mother who is making room to start another project horse. My loss, is your gain!
Located in Kentucky.
View Cash Me In on Sport Horse Nation.
Photo courtesy of Angela Richard via Sport Horse Nation.
Wiseher (Brahms – Word to the Wise, by Diesis) is a 2006 OTTB mare. “Wise” is 16’1″-hands and an absolute pleasure both on the ground and under saddle. No mareish tendencies, she is on group turnout and good with either mares or geldings. Ride her daily or twice a week and she doesn’t change … nothing phases this mare she comes to work everyday.
Very pretty mover who is a packer at Pre-Training/Novice with talent to go Prelim/CCI*. Wise loves to show and is always in the top after dressage, then we get to the fun stuff! Only for sale as my personal and professional obligations are preventing me from riding and competing. Excellent home a must. Come see her — your expectations will be exceeded!
Located in Erin, Ontario.
View Wiseher on Sport Horse Nation.
Photo via Sport Horse Nation.
Nehow (Massive Drama – Belmont Harbor, by Always Fair) is a 5-year-old 15.2-hand OTTB mare. Retired sound with clean, tight legs. Has been let down from the track and restarted correctly.
Ready to go Beginner Novice tomorrow! Get her before she starts racking up show miles and her price increases. This one will be competitive.
Nehow has a great brain. Very calm, and none of your typical TB silliness. Hacks out alone on the buckle, clips, trailers, stands in the cross ties, etc. She just wants to do her job and will make a great packer with some more miles. She’s a forward ride and sensitive to the aids, so not for a beginner, but could be a perfect first project for a confident rider working with a trainer that wants a horse to move through the levels with.
I rode part time at the barn she raced out of and she was everyone’s favorite. Always well behaved even with no turn out and in full race training. She was the only one that would walk to and from the track flat-footed on the buckle, and was always a complete saint on the ground.
Her flatwork is lovely and supple. She’s schooling leg yeilds, does transitions from your seat, and is stretching over her topline and learning to come onto the bit.
Consistently schooling 2’6 and occasionally higher with gridwork and combinations. She’s a cross country machine! Just went out for the first time and schooled BN with some Novice. No stops, spooks, or second glances! Cantered right over the ditch the first time. This mare is brave, bold and very smart. She will take you far!
Recently did her first combined training at BN and had a wonderful dressage and stadium round. Then schooled the Novice xc and didn’t bat an eye at anything.
Located in Georgia.
View Nehow on Sport Horse Nation.
