Tales From Your Hosts Episodes

Plus, Niamh shares a fascinating lesson on rider biomechanics using a mechanical horse. In this first-ever OTTB on Tap Unscripted episode, we hit record with no outline and dive straight into an OTTB buyer reality check that every rider needs to hear. We start with an honest conversation about rider self-evaluation and why choosing the right Off-Track Thoroughbred should begin with you, not the horse. From green horse readiness and riding confidence to time commitment, training support, barn ...

After a season of intense growth, big goals, and even bigger emotions, OTTB on Tap is back for Season 3. In this return episode, Niamh and Emily come up for air and reflect honestly on burnout, boundaries, and what it really looks like to fully commit to something and then choose a new way forward. Inspired by a quote from Matthew McConaughey about the clarity that comes from fully committing instead of living in the limbo of a half-assed effort, and a reminder from Taylor Swift that energy i...

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 pri...

This week on OTTB on Tap, we start by revisiting our second installment of OTTB on Tap Evaluates. Find out what the owners of Looking Ready, C Two, and Ruby Bleu thought of our evaluations, including their reactions and reflections on our conformation and pedigree assessments. The episode also features some exciting news—Niamh has officially found her OTTB prospect for the 2025 Retired Racehorse Makeover! Meet Go Green, a 2020 Thoroughbred gelding with outstanding conformation and a pedigree ...

Welcome to Season 2 of OTTB on Tap! What began as a casual idea scribbled on a bar napkin has blossomed into a thriving podcast reaching over 14,000 downloads in 29 countries. In this special re-introduction, hosts Niamh and Emily share their journey from their beginnings as OTTB fans to building a vibrant community around Thoroughbred retraining. In this episode, the co-hosts look back on their most memorable podcast moments, share fan shout-outs, and answer listener questions. From inspirin...

Get into the Halloween spirit with this entertaining episode of OTTB on Tap! Hosts Niamh and Emily team up with Madeline Conley and Cat Boiler of Bridge the Gap Equine for a lively "Myth or Fact?" game that dives into the quirkiest Thoroughbred myths. From chestnut mares to racing superstitions, the gang debunks or confirms popular beliefs about OTTBs. You’ll also hear Madeline and Cat share updates on their latest venture—a new stable in Southern New Jersey. Get ready for laughs, surprises, and...

In this episode, Niamh and Emily take listeners back to 2013, when Emily participated in her first Retired Racehorse Project Makeover—then known as the Retired Racehorse Training Project (RRTP). Emily shares her personal journey, from living in Philadelphia and rediscovering her passion for riding, to selecting and training her OTTB, Victory Money, or "Prima", for the Pimlico Showcase. She dives into Prima's pedigree and conformation, explaining why she chose her for the competition, and gives i...

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...

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, ...

Join us to catch up with Niamh and Emily about OTTBs in the big events this spring: Kentucky and Badminton. They also chat about the Kentucky Derby, William Fox-Pitt's retirement, and a sneak peek into our upcoming episode about riding OTTBs in a Lucinda Green clinic. Finally, they recap about the OTTB on Tap - Retired Racehorse Project trainers: Annika, Lauren, Julianne, and Chelsey. Supporting links to horse/riders discussed: Rachel Lawson and High Tide Joe Meyer and Harbin Meghan O’Donohue ...

Have you ever wondered if there was a shortcut to saving up to buy your dream horse? Well... maybe there is no shortcut, other than winning the lottery. But, you can buy and sell a series of horses in order to build enough capital to make that big purchase. In this episode, Scouting the Way: Niamh's Strategic Journey to Fund Her Dream Horse, our co-host, Niamh shares her path to eventually buying her dream horse. Since winning the lottery didn’t happen, Niamh strategically purchased a series o...

In today’s episode, we continue with Part 3 of Emily’s story as she tells it to co-host Niamh about training and competing her OTTB, Alexander, up to the Advanced level of eventing. While still a Young Rider, she rode him at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event in 1999. We’ll talk about the highs and lows of competing at the highest levels of eventing while also being a working student, competing on limited funds, and what it’s like to gallop on that hallowed Kentucky bluegrass. How did their firs...

Welcome back to OTTB on Tap, where we uncork the stories of off-the-track Thoroughbreds and the adventures they share with their devoted riders and trainers. In today's episode, we continue on the saga of Emily and her beloved OTTB partner, Alexander. Step back into the late 1990s and join Emily as she sets her sights on the advanced level of eventing, and in this episode, moves up with the challenges and triumphs to the intermediate level. From the pristine grounds of Essex Three-Day Event to...

Description: Join Emily and special guest Niamh in Episode 11 as they delve into the highs and lows of Niamh's first OTTB ownership experience with Riley. From the excitement of acquiring a horse to the challenges faced during their first year together, Niamh opens up about the mistakes she made and the valuable lessons learned. Emily, who played a pivotal role in Riley's journey, shares insights into the retraining process and the eventual parting ways with this special OTTB. Tune in for a cand...

In this week's episode, we talk to Emily (my cohost) and hear about her very first Classic Long Format (which just happened to be the NAYRC Championships) with her OTTB, Alex. We break down the elements of the long format and the training and preparation needed to compete in the late 90s. Emily gives us a first-hand account of what it was like getting her OTTB to his first long-format event and all the highs and lows throughout the event. We're dedicating the episode to Jimmy Wofford who coache...

This week's episode features an interview with Emily by Niamh, digging deep into the background of how she acquired her upper-level horse, back in the 1990s. Buying horses of any kind 30 years ago looked a lot different from the luxury of online shopping today. Listen in to hear about how she factored budget, availability, conformation, gut feeling, and athleticism (and a little bit of luck) into her decision making which ultimately took her to the advanced level of eventing. This episode is a 2...

In this episode, you meet the hosts of OTTB on Tap, Emily Kocubinski, and Niamh O'Connell -- two lifelong horse girls who connected over their passion for OTTBs. We tell you about how we met and our individual backstories.