Join us for a festive and reflective episode of OTTB on Tap : "2024 Wrapped: OTTB Tales from Christmas Past and Present." This special episode is packed with untold stories from our adventures retraining and reselling OTTBs, alongside a look back at some of our favorite podcast moments from 2024. What to Expect in This Episode: Untold Tales from Our OTTB Adventures: Emily and Niamh share personal stories, like seeing an OTTB "pick their person," one OTTB's wild gallop down a hill just prior to a...
Dec 26, 2024•53 min•Season 2Ep. 6
This week on OTTB On Tap , we’re chatting with Julie Anna Prusak, an amateur rider from Texas, about her OTTB, Too Much Crown, or "Nemo" to his friends. Julie Anna earned her spot on the podcast by winning our Underdog Stories contest in the OTTB Market Facebook group, where she captured the hearts (and votes) of our community. Earlier this year, Nemo was diagnosed with kissing spine—a tough diagnosis for any horse owner. Julie Anna didn’t shy away from the challenge. She chose osteotomy surgery...
Dec 12, 2024•49 min•Season 2Ep. 5
In this episode of OTTB on Tap , we kick things off by recapping our second installment of OTTB on Tap Evaluates ! Hear the owners' reactions and insights after listening to our evaluations of Looking Ready, C Two, and Ruby Bleu. Then, we dive into the exciting news—Niamh has found her OTTB prospect for the 2025 Retired Racehorse Makeover! Meet Go Green, a 2020 gelding with a great pedigree and standout conformation, which made him the perfect choice for this journey. We break down Niamh’s crite...
Dec 05, 2024•40 min•Season 2Ep. 4
In this exciting second volume of OTTB on Tap Evaluates , Niamh and Emily review three listener-submitted OTTBs, diving deep into their Thoroughbred pedigrees, evaluating their conformation, and speculating on their suitability for equestrian disciplines like eventing, show jumping, and dressage. Whether you're curious about how specific Thoroughbred bloodlines translate into success in sport horse careers or want to learn how conformation affects a horse’s performance, this episode is packed wi...
Nov 28, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Join us for an inspiring episode of OTTB On Tap as we continue our OTTB Aftercare Series with a deep dive into Pastured Place , a 501(c)(3). Special guest Ali Rawles shares the mission and impact of this incredible organization, which is dedicated to the retirement, rehab, retraining, and rehoming of OTTBs for second careers. We explore: How Pastured Place began and the milestones they’ve achieved in rehoming and retiring thoroughbreds. Their commitment to adopter support, including lifetime ret...
Nov 21, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Welcome to Season 2 of OTTB on Tap! What started just over a year ago as an idea scribbled on the back of a bar napkin has grown into a podcast with a global community spanning 29 countries and over 14,000 downloads. In this special re-introduction episode, co-hosts Niamh and Emily take a look back at their journey from casual conversations about off-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) to creating a thriving podcast that celebrates Thoroughbred retraining and the OTTB community. Join them for behind-the...
Nov 14, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 1
OTTB on Tap Season 1 Finale! In this continuation of our two-part interview with Jessica Redman of Benchmark Sport Horses, we dive deeper into the Off-Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) market as 2024 wraps up. Building on Ep 44, Jessica reveals which OTTBs are in high demand—i s it possible for small chestnut mares be the next big trend??? We also unpack the latest buyer atmosphere, from amateurs to professionals, and explore shifting expectations in pre-purchase exams (PPEs), including the hot-button i...
Nov 07, 2024•46 min•Season 1Ep. 46
In this special Halloween-themed episode of OTTB on Tap , hosts Niamh and Emily mix things up with a fun and spooky game of "Myth or Fact?" Joining them are returning guest Madeline Conley and her business partner, Cat Boiler, from Bridge the Gap Equine. Together, they tackle popular OTTB myths, from whether Secretariat’s heart made him a champion to the legend of the "chestnut mare curse." It's a lighthearted break from the usual, with plenty of laughs and surprising truths! Plus, Madeline and ...
Oct 31, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 45
In this episode of OTTB on Tap , we welcome back Jessica Redman of Benchmark Sporthorses, one of the leading OTTB resellers in the U.S. Jessica shares her expert take on Thoroughbred bloodline trends for sport horses in 2024, offering insights into sires she’s seen produce top eventing and sport horse prospects. From popular sires to those she steers clear of, Jessica breaks down what buyers should prioritize when evaluating bloodlines. This is Part 1 of a two-part series, focusing exclusively o...
Oct 24, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 44
In this episode of OTTB on Tap , we’re rounding up all the action from the OTTB world this month! We’re revisiting the feedback from our first OTTB On Tap Evaluates episode, where we evaluated listener-submitted horses based on their conformation and pedigree. Hear how Baybuilt, Floo Powder, and Dragon Moon's owners felt about our assessments, and enjoy shout-outs from our listeners, including stories about their OTTB journeys. Next, we’ll recap the Retired Racehorse Project Makeover, spotlighti...
Oct 17, 2024•59 min•Season 1Ep. 43
In this debut episode of our new series, OTTB on Tap Evaluates , Niamh and Emily dive into the conformation and pedigree of listener-submitted Thoroughbreds. In Volume 1 , we take a closer look at three Off-Track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs): Baybuilt, Floo Powder, and Dragon Moon. Using only conformation photos and their Jockey Club pedigrees, we analyze their physical structure, racing lineage, and discuss what their conformation could suggest about their future in equestrian disciplines. Along the w...
Oct 10, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 42
In this episode of OTTB on Tap , co-hosts Niamh and Emily dive into Emily’s first experience at the 2013 Retired Racehorse Project Makeover. Back when it was known as the Retired Racehorse Training Project (RRTP), Emily reflects on the unique challenges of transitioning from city life in Philadelphia to preparing her OTTB, Victory Money (aka "Prima"), for the Pimlico Showcase. Emily also shares how she selected Prima based on her pedigree, movement, and conformation, and why she believed Prima w...
Oct 01, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Join us for the latest episode of the RRP Trainer Chronicles , where hosts Niamh and Emily sit down with Julianne Pangal and Ashley Olin to check in on their OTTB, Brooklawn (aka Rye), fresh off a successful run at the American Eventing Championships (AEC). Get an inside look at their journey as they share Rye’s training progress, key moments from the AEC, and how they’re preparing him for the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) Thoroughbred Makeover. Though he has excelled at eventing, they describ...
Sep 24, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 40
In this episode of OTTB on Tap , we catch up with RRP Trainer Chelsey O’Brien as she prepares off-track Thoroughbred, Unbeknownst To Me (UBie), for the 2024 Retired Racehorse Project Makeover. UBie is owned by Pastured Place, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving the needs of Thoroughbreds. Chelsey shares insights into UBie’s training for Western disciplines, including barrel racing and ranch work, emphasizing the importance of "creating value in the undervalued" OTTBs like him. She also discusses the c...
Sep 17, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 39
In Part 2 of Madeline's Camp Windurra experience, we follow Madeline and her OTTB, Pepe and Heywood or "Pete" as they wrap up their final days at Boyd Martin’s Camp Windurra. On Day 4, Madeline worked closely with Olympic-level trainers, including another cross country school with Boyd and dressage with Silva Martin, honing her dressage skills and focusing on precision, rhythm, and connection with her OTTB. By Day 5, Madeline and her Thoroughbred faced a mock horse trial, tackling a challenging ...
Sep 10, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 38
In this episode of OTTB on Tap, we sit down with Madeline Conley, an active duty member of the US Air Force and co-owner of Bridge the Gap Equine, an OTTB resale and equine wellness business in Southern New Jersey. Madeline shares her recent experience at the inaugural Camp Windurra - an eventing training camp hosted by Olympic Eventer Boyd Martin. Throughout the episode, she discusses the training sessions led by fellow Olympic equestrians: Dressage rider Anna Buffini and show jumper Peter Wyld...
Sep 03, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 37
In this episode of OTTB on Tap, we talk with event rider Caitlin Reamy as part of our OTTB Underdog Series. Caitlin shares the journey of her young Thoroughbred, El Patrone, who she restarted in the fall of 2021. Though he had a previous injury from racing - a surgically repaired condylar fracture - Caitlin and El Patrone have quickly progressed through the eventing levels, recently completing a 2-star long event. Caitlin discusses her background in the equestrian world, including her time at Ry...
Aug 27, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 36
In this episode of OTTB on Tap, we reconnect with Lauren Garrett-Bond to see how her giant, chestnut off-track Thoroughbred mare, Tizbit, is progressing on the road to the 2024 Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) Makeover. Joining Lauren is her trainer, Sabrina Morris, an expert in OTTB training with years of experience turning retired racehorses into versatile sport horses. Sabrina shares her unique insights into training Thoroughbreds, from her days at the racetrack to running Another Round Farm, ...
Aug 20, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 35
In this episode of OTTB on Tap, Niamh and Emily catch up with Annika Greaney, one of the trainers we’ve been following as she prepares her two OTTB ex-broodmares for the Retired Racehorse Project’s Makeover in October. Annika shares how she’s been adapting her training approach to fit the unique needs of Tizso Majestic (Tessa) and Egoli, and why she’s focusing on slow, steady progress. We’ll hear about Tessa’s fun adventure at ranch camp, Egoli’s impressive success in barrel racing, and how Anni...
Aug 13, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Join Niamh and Emily on this episode of OTTB On Tap as we chat about Thoroughbreds in the Olympics. We spotlight Bold Venture, an Australian OTTB who made a dramatic entrance at the 2024 Olympics, and Regal Realm, Lucinda Green's remarkable partner with a wild backstory from the Australian outback to Olympic silver. Hear William Fox-Pitt and Lucinda Green discuss their favorite TBs from their past - in their own words - exploring the exceptional Thoroughbreds that propelled them to the top. Disc...
Aug 06, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 33
What happens when an army officer who has never ridden a horse (but has jumped out of planes) marries an event rider? He starts eventing, of course! In the first installment of our newest series, “OTTB Underdog Stories,” we explore how Brian Roberts began riding just over three years ago, taking on an OTTB with a tricky reputation. Now a successful training level eventing pair, Brian and his OTTB, Bombino, are a fixture at Area 2 events. We discuss his journey, from his first trip to the tack sh...
Jul 23, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Special Guest June Hillman shares the legacy of Castle Rock Farm, her partnership with Thoroughbred aftercare organization Turning for Home, and so much more in this episode! June is no stranger to Thoroughbreds - she is part of their entire lifecycle, from conception to foal, racehorse to OTTB restart. She has been the manager of Castle Rock Farm in West Chester, PA since 1995 and has handled TB stallions such as Patton, Harry the Hat, Partner's Hero, Power by Far, Awad, Alyten, and Rimrod. The...
Jul 16, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Join us for a bit of a mashup episode! We bring back Taylor Cusack, who was a guest on Ep 17: OTTB on Tap Clinic Recap: Riding OTTBs with Olympian William Fox-Pitt with her charismatic OTTB, CV’s Eventing Rebellion, or “Darcy” as he is known to his friends. Taylor has been hitting all the clinic high notes this year, by adding Lucinda Green to her resume. We get her take on Lucinda’s famous ‘Ready for Trouble’ position and how it has helped her center her riding, even though she still has a stra...
Jul 09, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Buckle up for a positively fun episode with special guest Kathy Goodman! In Horse Before the Course, OTTB on Tap speaks with Kathy about 4 seemingly separate, yet intertwined topics: Pressure Proof Clinics that challenge your “mental RAM” and teach ways to tap into your inner super power and perform under pressure USDF “L” Judging Program - how learning to judge dressage has transformed Kathy as a rider and trainer (spoiler alert: learn tips straight from the judge’s mouth!) RRP Makeover: Kathy ...
Jul 02, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 29
OTTB on Tap had the good fortune of attending a Pressure Proof clinic at the After the Races facility in Elkton, MD on June 15. Taught by Kathy Goodman, Niamh jumped at the opportunity to catch ride one of the adoptable ATR horses, Some is Nine. “Nine” is a 6 year old Thoroughbred mare by Super Ninety Nine out of an Awesome Again mare. She came to After The Races in partnership with Beyond The Wire. In this episode, we find out about Niamh and Emily’s impressions of the Pressure Proof training s...
Jun 25, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 28
It only takes a moment of meeting Merrilyn Ratliff and listening to her sing the praises of her OTTB, Koda Bear, to realize how strong their partnership is. We had the great fortune of watching Merrilyn and Koda Bear while auditing the Lucinda Green clinic at Loch Moy Farm, home of the Maryland Horse Trials on April 29-30, 2024. In this episode, which is Part 1 of 2 of our clinic coverage, we’ll recap Merrilyn’s past and present experiences riding with the six-time Badminton winner, 1982 World C...
Jun 18, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 27
*** The full episode starts at the 3:55 mark, we were having such a great recap of Devon Arena Eventing before we started and wanted to share it with everyone!*** In 2017, Kirsten Schuitema accompanied a friend who wanted to try a couple of OTTBs that our hosts, Emily and Niamh, had sourced from the track and had been bringing along. Little did Kirsten know that she would meet her future upper level partner, One Sly Fox, or “Tango” as he is known in the barn, that day. Back then, Tango was owned...
Jun 11, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Join us for another installment of our OTTB on Tap - Retired Racehorse collaboration! In this episode, we chat with Virginia-based trainer, Chelsey O’Brien, about her 2024 RRP Makeover horse, Unbeknownst to Me, or “UBie” as he is known in the barn. UBie raced 15 times and earned a little over $71,000 as a racehorse. He’s owned and sponsored for the RRP Makeover by Pastured Place, a 501(c)(3) providing retirement, rehabilitation, retraining, and rehoming to Thoroughbreds. In this episode, Chelsey...
Jun 04, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Can an amateur rider with a full time job still have time to train a fresh off the track OTTB? Julianne Pangal certainly can, and does, as her own website, OTTB Makeover, demonstrates. For the 2024 RRP Makeover, Julianne has teamed up with longtime friend, Ashley Olin, to train and compete her horse, Brooklawn. Both Julianne and Ashley have versatile backgrounds in foxhunting, hunter/jumpers, and eventing, and are taking a unique approach to decide what “Rye” will compete in at the Makeover. Lea...
May 28, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Take a trip down memory lane with Niamh and Emily as we discuss 4 memorable OTTBs from our past. We discuss Thoroughbred pedigrees, conformation, temperament, and more, along with the horses’ back stories, why we chose them, and what made them special to us. Maybe even a couple were “the one that got away” to us! Included in this episode are: Kiwi Gal, a 2009 chestnut TB mare by Stormello out of Mikey’s Gal, by Montbrook. She had 13 starts, 2 wins, and about $59k earnings. Bridge of Flowers, a 2...
May 21, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 23
