These pictures are fantastic! Y’all are making me want to buy a TB!
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Your pictures are gorgeous!
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I was lucky enough to have several cool thoroughbreds in my life over the years- but one will stand out forever in my heart. I was really lucky in my early 20s- I worked as an assistant trainer for a guy who specialized in starting youngsters and rehabbing problem horses. One of the customers had a small scale thoroughbred breeding and racing program. When his horses retired from the track he kept them for life- they’d either be bred or restarted and then eventually retired to his farm to live out their days.
I was lucky enough that he shared with me- a 1998 big, grey gelding who will always hold a place in my heart. Rob’s Pegasus “Robbie” won a little less than $40,000 on the track (he was just too damn smart). He won two races his first year and then just got too smart- and over time he earned some screws in his hind leg and I think a front ankle and I believe was banned from the tracks in FL for stopping, dropping a shoulder and turning around… he had quite the reputation- and he was a biter and cribber. I was lucky enough to get him as a restart project when he retired from racing…
He was super smart, humbling, a fantastic mover and just about the most fun horse I ever rode! When he was good he was golden- when he was bad, he was bad. But he certainly taught me more about riding than another other horse in my life- you weren’t going to muscle him around, you had to outsmart him and convince him that following us around was a good idea. He was huge bodied, big footed and super sound. We showed him hunter under saddle and some lower level dressage for several years. I still try to go visit him in the summer at least once a year. He’ll be 27 this year and his owner still takes excellent care of him.
The first photo was last year when I went to visit- he’s old and arthritic and his top line is gone, but he still has that look of the eagles in his eye.
When he was good he was the best ride in the world!
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I LOVE this thread!!!
I’m so fortunate to have ridden and owned some amazing Thoroughbreds over the years. I think I’d fall off the page if I mentioned them all, but here are three close to my heart. 
Holden. My best buddy! 1st photo by me, 2nd by Spotted Vision Photography (used w/ permission)
https://www.pedigreequery.com/midnight+tucker
Boomer - (RIP) My big troublemaker.
https://www.pedigreequery.com/snake+river5
Spooky - (RIP) Photo 1 features the dog in my avatar - these two were the best boys and had their own special partnership - really, I was the third wheel… 
. The second photo is by Joan Davis of Flatlands Photo (used w/ permission)
https://www.pedigreequery.com/watrals+nat+star
Not sure if Spooky or Holden would be winning any beauty contests, but Boo could take my breath away sometimes when he moved out in the pasture.
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Holden’s dapples! 
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Same. They take after their owners, they say hahahaha
56" jump girth, 84" blankie
At just 16.2
@stormyday absolutely hilarious, thankfully she was tied both times 
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Added to my post so it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle
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I guessed right on the girth!
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I’m very fortunate to have wonderful photographers at the barn I board at. Our BO took the top photo of him on a hill a few years ago, and the second one in the winter forest is a fellow boarder who asked me to volunteer for a photoshoot last week. I had the first photo made into a canvas - it’s one of my favourites!
Some action photos from the last couple years too (photos have been purchased):
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hahahaha I was like “maybe I mentioned it in another thread somewhere they found??” but nice guess!
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I love these kind of threads! Celebrating why we do what we do! And why we love horses!
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Thank you to all for the pedigrees. I’ve been checking them out, so very interesting.
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I wish I could say all thanks to my superb care, but he came from the track that way.
I think the donut surplus helps… (SO left this bag in the barn for Holden )
IMG_6618
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I love the grease spots on the paper bag. That means the donuts are extra good and make even more dapples!
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TBs will always be my favorite breed.
I don’t have many photos left of my horses. Most were lost in the purge that occurred after my parents passed away and sold the ranch. But I do have this one, of me showing Winterman (show name Turning Point). I don’t know his TB breeding. His papers got lost while he was shopped around for a while, but he was tattooed. No one wanted him despite his multi-discipline competitive record because he was 15 (oh, the horrors!). So my trainer friend and I got him for a song. He never took a lame step. Was never on any meds. He loved to show, was easy to prep… but wouldn’t tolerate being lied to, that’s for sure! 
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The one. The only. JUSTICE RAMBO!!! aka Ferdinand. After a couple of years without a horse, combined with my mother passing away, I was in a deep, deep funk which miraculously disappeared as soon as I rode. Long story short, I asked a friend to find an OTTB for me, and she found Ferdinand. He wasn’t what I expected because he’s big for me, stout, and early on was a bit fractious, but as time went by he became the mellow dude he is today.
We’ve mostly spent our time dressaging with some jumping thrown in for good measure, but at 19 (him) and 63, we’re happiest with trailriding and camping. I never thought I would drop all my competitive goals, but I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to just spend time with my horse and friends without any agenda other than enjoying the company. It’s one of the greatest blessings in my life.
Anyhoodles, a couple of pics of El Jefe.
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I love this thread! Love seeing everyone’s beautiful horses. This here is Snuggs, jockey club name Snugg Express. He’ll be 20 this year, I’ve had him since he was 8. He has done a little bit of everything. Unfortunately he received a career ending injury at the age of 18.
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Some ancient TB lines, from an era when TBs still had a toe hold in the show ring. Ironically, he carried too much suspension at the trot for some judges, but if we weren’t in front of the old-school daisy-cutter types we typically won the hack. Show name Classified, barn name Casey or KC, because we found him in Kansas City.
Honestly, he was a touch speshul. Had a fairly good peek at the jumps and hated a solid white jump most of all (?!). One frosty cold winter morning he spooked at his own foggy breath, which just caused him to snort and spook again He was super sensitive under saddle and really taught me to sit chilly… we could jump a full 3’6" course with a roll of tape poised on my head (my trainer’s favorite equitation game, back when helmets were velvet with a button and had a wee bit of stick)
From show horse to camp counselor horse, trail rides through Griffith Park and to the beach, he begrudgingly put up with all of it. Had a bit of a stop but zero buck or rear. His most dangerous trait was an extended trot that could send you flying if you weren’t prepared
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My super pony, Rusty - unregistered, but full TB per the previous owners
A previous horse, and my first OTTB, Captain, JC BB Bullett
And the current OTTB, JC Special Permit
I’ve had several other TBs over the years - some off the track and some not. Jewel was one that was very much my horse, although she had an unfortunate injury early in her career and was retired to broodmare status (truly freak pasture accident) - but if we’re going for a beauty contest I’m definitely going to throw her in 
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