Episodes

Join us for another installment of our OTTB on Tap - Retired Racehorse collaboration! In this episode, we chat with Lauren Garrett-Bond about her OTTB mare, Tizbit. Lauren grew up down the street from Pimlico Racetrack in Maryland and would watch the horses work on the track daily. Her love of Thoroughbreds never diminished, and now she is retraining her mare for the ‘24 RRP Makeover this October. With a Masters degree in behavior, Lauren brings us an intuitive and holistic approach to transitio...

Welcome to the first installment of our OTTB on Tap - Retired Racehorse Project collaboration! On today’s show, we have Annika Greaney-Stanger who has two OTTBs that she is retraining for the 2024 RRP Makeover in some varied disciplines including Ranch Work, Barrels, Trail and maybe some Western Dressage. Both horses are former broodmares and racehorses. Tizso Majestic, “Tessa” a 2013 mare (Majestic Warrior - Piazza Grande, by Hennessy and Egoli a 2016 mare (Quality Road - Somasach, by Johannesb...

Join us for Episode 19, where we chat candidly with Heather Gillette, 5-star event rider, graduate 'A' Pony Clubber from Spring Valley Hounds PC in NJ, USEF Licensed Eventing Dressage Judge and Technical Delegate, Co-Chairperson of the USEA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and Co-Founder of Strides for Equality Equestrians. Not only is Heather a very experienced eventing competitor, as her career has spanned both the long- and short-formats of three day eventing, she just may be one ...

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...

William Fox-Pitt needs no introduction to Eventing fans: The British 3-Day Event Rider’s many awards include multiple Olympic, World Equestrian Games, and European Championship medals. In 2011, he became the first rider to win five different five-star events, having won the Burghley Horse Trials a record six times, Rolex Kentucky three times, Pau twice, the Badminton Horse Trials twice, and the Luhmühlen Horse Trials once. A serious fall in 2015 left him in a coma for two weeks, but he came back...

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...

Episode 14 of OTTB on Tap is out now, and we're thrilled to introduce our latest series: "OTTB on Tap: RRP Trainer Chronicles – Where the Journey to Greatness Begins." In this episode, we're diving into the world of the Retired Racehorse Project Makeover 2024! Get ready to meet our four exceptional OTTB trainers: Annika Greaney-Stanger, Julianne Pangal, Chelsey O'Brien, and Lauren Garrett-Bond. Each trainer brings their unique expertise to the table as they prepare their OTTBs for the ultimat...

What's in a price? Let’s talk about the taboo topic of pricing an OTTB. Join us as we dive deep into the world of Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) and the often misunderstood practice of buying from resellers. Hosted by Niamh and Emily from OTTB on Tap, this episode features a candid conversation with Jessica Redman, founder of Benchmark Sporthorses, as we dissect the intricacies of determining the fair market value of OTTBs. ***spoiler alert, Niamh also gets to fulfill her long-held dream...

Join us on this episode of OTTB on Tap as we delve into the world of post-track transitions with Alisa Pitt from ALP Equine, an equine bodyworker specializing in Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs).In this insightful interview, Alisa shares her expertise on guiding OTTBs through their crucial first year off the racetrack. We explore the importance of evaluating an OTTB's needs right upon arrival, focusing on essential aspects such as overall comfort, hoof care, emotional well-being, dental care,...

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 chat with Bonnie McRae, founder of 501(c)3 non-profit organization After The Races, a rehabilitation and rehoming program in Elkton, MD. We get to know Bonnie and her fascinating background, we learn about how and why she started After The Races, and get down to business discussing their current capital campaign to save their farm. They are currently at risk of losing the farm that they've called home for the last 6 years. We're excited to share the story of After The ...

In this week's episode, We delve into the journey or Emily Daignault-Salvaggio, a former exercise rider at the track who transitioned into the world of showjumping. Discover how her experiences, including competing at the Retired Racehorse Project have uniquely shaped her perspective on buying horses. Gain insight into the intricacies of her selection process, as she draws from her track background to make informed decisions. Join us for an engaging discussion on the profound impact of Emily's e...

In this week's episode, we sit down again with Jessica Redman of Benchmark Sporthorses to pick her brain about how evaluates and assesses horses upon arrival and her process for a successful first ride. She gives us a firsthand behind-the-scenes look at her operation and shares some industry tips and tricks for setting your OTTB up for success.

In this week's episode, we use answers from a poll we took in our Facebook group OTTB Market where we asked Resellers, "What is one thing you wish buyers knew about OTTBs" -- we break down the answers into themes and discuss the responses and share some of our experiences, thoughts and opinions as well.

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...

In this week's episode, we join forces with Jessica Redman from Benchmark Sporthorses and discuss how to become a reputable buyer through the eyes of one of the most prolific resellers in the US. We go over some of the characteristics that resellers in a busy program would like to see from buyers, general etiquette, and things you can do to gain their trust and respect throughout the buying process. Jessica reveals some industry tips for making the sales process smooth for everyone involved and ...

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...

This episode is a walk-through of a buyer's guide we created to help navigate the process and information when you're searching for an OTTB.

In this episode, we discuss answers given in our Facebook group OTTB Market. We asked the members to share with us what they wished they knew before they got their first OTTB. Emily and Niamh discuss the answers and share their experiences.

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.