retired racehorse | Horse Racing Free Tips

What Do I Do With My Off-Track Thoroughbred? Find Out On Facebook Live!

There is a myriad of opinions about what to do with an off-the-track Thoroughbred (OTTB). Get answers now and understand what your next steps should be. Laura Kelland-May is excited to have Raina Paucar, retired professional jockey and ex-racehorse enthusiast, as a featured guest on Equestrian Skill Builders live March 27th, 9:30 a.m. Eastern to help you with your “next steps.”

Buying an OTTB is an economical option for some people. “But,” Kelland-May says, “there are some things you should know before you buy. That's why I've asked our guest Raina Paucar to join us and give insight into that special OTTB purchase.”

One topic to be discussed is considerations before the horse is purchased. Paucar will also share some behavior and conditioning insight as well as exercises that can be included in the horse's rehabilitation program.

The Equestrian Skill Builders live broadcast was developed by Kelland-May to be a resource for horse owners and riders. It can be found on The Equestrian Skill Builders Facebook page and on Kelland-May's YouTube Channel. “Interviewing equestrian professionals who can help all riders and horse owners is my goal,” says Kelland-May.

Raina Marie Paucar is a lifelong equestrian, retired professional jockey and ex-racehorse enthusiast. She is certified in equine massage, PEMF, Kinesio Tape and has experience as an equine vet assistant. In addition to the “hands on” part of her business, she works as a product and business developer, bringing new animal products to market that benefit health and well-being.

Equestrian Skill Builders LIVE is a live broadcast and viewers are encouraged to ask questions and comment on the information being discussed. This week will cover:

Adopting or purchasing an OTTB? What to consider to avoid disappointment
How to develop a successful program for your OTTB
Dynamic mobilization exercises you can include in your rehab program
Q & A session

“I am looking forward to having Raina Paucar as a special guest this week. Her depth of knowledge and understanding of horses, and in particular the Thoroughbred horse, and exercises she will share will shed some light onto what to do when you get that OTTB home and in your stable.”

Equestrian Skill Builders Live is on Facebook and YouTube. If you miss the live broadcast, Kelland-May says, “not to worry, you can catch the replay, but I encourage you to join us live.”

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Off-Track Quarter Horse Now Dancing In Dressage Ring

The versatility of a racing Quarter Horse might not be more apparent than in a royally-bred gray gelding named Feature Mason B raised for the racetrack and now busy dancing in the elegant sport of dressage with his owner Lisa Montgomery of Dallas, Texas.

The well-bred Feature Mason B was bred by Bielau Oaks of Weimar, Texas, and is sired by Feature Mr Jess, the Grade 1-winning runner who has sired the earners of almost $30 million. Of course there's the racehorses he has gotten, like legendary runners Heartswideopen ($1,885,283) and Jess You And I ($1,851,691), but also performance stars like Jess Featureme Quick, an earner of $687,155 on the racetrack and more than 37 points in the show arena.

Feature Mason B is out JA Codas Pride, a daughter of all-time leading sire and American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame member Dash For Cash, and the dam of runners such as JA Fast Lady ($146,946) and Cascada B ($51,759).

Feature Mason B made seven career starts on the racetrack, including contesting the trials of the prestigious Rainbow and All American futurities and notching a win at the historic Hialeah Park in Florida. He retired in 2013 with earnings of $3,975, and was acquired by his current owner in 2017.

Montgomery is an experienced horsewoman who was getting back into horse ownership after a hiatus due to other life demands, and found him listed with the SPCA after his then-owners had fallen on hard times.

“I have been around horses my whole life, and I'm the right kind of person to take on a project,” she said. ”He was obviously de-conditioned, but I could tell there was really good conformation under there. Then I went and met him and that was pretty much it.”

The two were instant friends, and she got the horse she calls “Theo“ back to full health.

“He is possibly the most polite horse I've ever interacted with,” she said.

The highly willing horse always tries to please his handlers, and is very smart, she said.

She remembers a cold day last winter when she put his cooler on him to keep him warm as they walked out to the arena to work. When she prepared to mount, she removed the cooler and placed it on the arena fence. He grabbed the cooler with his teeth and swung his head around, indicating he wanted it back on.

“So I had to put it back on until he'd warmed up a little bit,” she said with a laugh. “That's a prime example of his communication skills.”

They board at a dressage barn in the Dallas, Texas, area, and Montgomery does most of the riding with the help of regular lessons with an instructor. They are currently competing at Training and First Level.

“I appreciate his Quarter Horse brain and his 150 percent work ethic,” Montgomery said. “We have a great time.”

In addition to their work in the dressage ring, Montgomery takes him trail riding, dabbles in jumping and just finds ways to enjoy him, and encourages others to not overlook a horse that might seem imperfect from the outside, but are perfect on the inside.

“I've never ridden another horse that has made me feel more safe,” Montgomery said. “We have a lot of fun. It's a great time and I have a wonderful friend.”

This story, which is part of the Second Career Stars series, originally appeared on the American Quarter Horse News website and is republished here with permission. Second Career Stars is an ongoing series on retired racing American Quarter Horses in new careers. If you know of a horse that should be featured, write to acaudill@aqha.org. AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHARacing on Twitter, “like” Q-Racing on Facebook, and visit www.aqha.com/racing.

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Study: Australian Thoroughbreds Retired Sound Easier To Rehome

After a outcry of public concern regarding the fate of Thoroughbred racehorses when their racing careers were over, a study team was created to assess the incidence, risk factors and outcome for retiring racehorses in Australia.

Drs. Kylie Crawford, Anna Finnane, Ristan Greer, Clive Phillips, Solomon Woldeyohannes, Nigel Perkins and Benjamin Ahern investigated how many horses were retired from racing at the Brisbane Racing Club in Australia over a 13-month period. The team invited all license trainers at the track with three or more horses in work to participate: 27 of the 40 eligible trainers agreed to take part in the study.

It was determined that a median of 544 racehorses were in training each week, with 110 horses retired during the study; 56 of these horses were retired involuntarily because of things like musculoskeletal injuries, cardiac conditions, respiratory concerns or behavior issues. Of these problems, musculoskeletal issues were the most common, afflicting 40 of the 110 horses. The remaining horses were retired voluntarily.

The study team found that 108 of the 110 horses that were retired were repurposed–nearly 46 percent were used as performance horses in their next career. Two of the study horses could not be located. Horses that were retired without injury were 2.28 times more likely to find a performance-horse home.

At a 14-month follow up, it was discovered that four of the horses had been euthanized and one was sent to an abattoir after aggravating an old injury. No horses were euthanized or sent to the abattoir by their racing owner or trainer upon their retirement.

The team notes that long-term outcomes for the horses were not completed. They conclude there is insufficient control over the long-term welfare of retired racehorses.

Read the full study here.

Multiple Graded Stakes Winner Imperative Thriving In New Career As Dressage Horse

Multiple graded stakes winner Imperative is succeeding in a new career as a sport horse. According to a tweet this week from the National Thoroughbred Welfare Organization (NTWO), the 10-year-old gelding retired and joined the organization's retraining program in August 2019 after a seventh-place finish in that year's Grade 1 Whitney. The earner of over $3 million was shown looking graceful in the dressage ring.

Imperative had a place guaranteed for him at Old Friends, but owner Ron Paolucci said in a press release at the time that the gelding was still healthy and sound and wanted a job so he opted to send him along to a new career.

The 10-year-old gelding is a son of Bernardini out of Call Her. Imperative had 50 starts and placed in 19 of them. He is a two-time winner of the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic and has placed second or third in the G1 Gold Cup, G1 Pacific Classic, G2 San Antonio, G2 San Pasqual, and G3 Native Diver.

At the time of his retirement, Anthony Qartarolo conditioned the horse for Paolucci and Imaginary Stables.

Imperative was bred in Kentucky at Darley's Glencrest Farm. He was consigned by Four Star Sales at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2011 and bought by John Fergusson for $325,000.

Remember Imperative? Retired to NTWO, here he is in his new life as a show horse. He looks wonderful! pic.twitter.com/qTOjuARXuR

— NTWO (@NTWOorg) December 26, 2020

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