Did you see Allie Conrad’s post from last week, Meet the Thoroughbreds Going to Rolex? It’s a roll call of both raced and unraced Thoroughbreds who are entered in the 2016 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, and you can bet we’ll be cheering extra loudly when they come galloping past.
Long before they were contesting four-star events, of course, many of them were being put to the test at the track. Some passed and some failed, but all clearly went on to thrive in their post-racing lives. Could one of these three OTTBs be eventing’s next superstar?
Photo via Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center.
This lovely 2011, 17-hand mare Really Really (Parading – Kwick Wick, by Lite the Fuse) is one of those “really really” rare finds — which is why she’s been designated a Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center “Legacy Horse.” Her size, her conformation, her smarts, her beauty and her athleticism all are off the chart!
This video of “Ellie” at liberty makes us swoon. She has presence to spare, a look-at-me trot and a gallop made for eating up cross-country tracks. And, not to be superficial, but that bright copper coat glistening in the sunlight? Icing on the cake.
She comes to the MMSC courtesy of a blue-blooded Thoroughbred family — Doug and Katie Cauthen — who are both involved in the Thoroughbred business (see their business here) and are lifelong horsemen. They are advocates for Thoroughbreds at any stages of their career and are long-time supporters of the MMSC. Really Really was their daughter’s favorite horse, but she has way too much scope for a young girl. But, if you’re an adopter who wants to go to the top of the world in competition, this is the horse for you.
Located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.
View Really Really on Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center.
Photo via CANTER AZ.
Don’t confuse this guy for a warmblood — this Seattle Slew grandson is all Thoroughbred! One For Nothing (Council Member – Miss July, by Country Light) is an approximately 16-hand, 2010, very striking ridgling (cryptorchid). We are told he is retiring sound after 48 starts.
Friendly and curious, this California-bred boy does exhibit a few stallion-like tendencies around mares. He shares a paddock fence with a group of geldings and he is interested in their company without displaying aggression. He was quite “up” during his photo shoot but still was handled easily by his petite owner. He has capped hocks on both back legs that do not seem to bother him and no other known injuries. We love his fancy white socks — it’s easy to imagine him flinging them forward in a trot lengthening or snapping them up over a jump!
Located north of Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Arizona, at his owner’s farm.
View One For Nothing on CANTER AZ.
Photo via Finger Lakes Finest.
Meet Mabry’s Girl (Maybry’s Boy – Luscious, by Miswaki), a 2010 mare with a powerhouse build. While at 15.3 hands she may not be the tallest drink of water in the barn, she’s very solid-bodied and will will take up a lot of leg.
She is obviously athletic, is clean-legged and her great shoulder suggests jumping ability. And WOW, can she move! Check out this floaty trot. Her trainer says she is a good horse to work with, but sometimes in the track environment she can be a bit reactive to loud clatter. He thinks that in the off the track environment she will be fine and will enjoy getting some turnout. FLF reports that she was friendly and perfectly behaved for her photo shoot, although she got excited for her jog video, wanting to strut her stuff for on a cold morning.
She is a granddaughter of Broad Brush, by Ack Ack, a sire line one sees too little of in the modern thoroughbred, and one known for producing athletic, very durable, hard-trying horses. Maybry’s Girl has been a steadily productive race horse, with six wins, seven 2nds, and eight 3rds in 48 starts, but now she’s ready to move on to a new career.
View Mabry’s Girl on Finger Lakes Finest.
