Why not an ottb

[redandwhite]

I have always had a thoroughbred to some extent. I adore them. They’re all different but share some great qualities.

My current tb mare is literally perfect for me because if you leave her for two weeks and then get on she’s foot perfect. As an adult ammy, with a busy job and medical conditions, she is a godsend because I sometimes only ride 2-3 days a week (trying to get it up to four times a week) and she does. not. care.

hoping to show her in the hack classes and low(low, low) level hunters next summer. Her old owners did only dressage with her which has given her a lovely foundation.

god i love her so much.

I also do all the top thoroughbred prizes for my area’s shows. I love seeing a good thoroughbred get rewarded. i did coolers and director’s chairs last year, and some plated leather lead ropes. this year im considering backpacks or halters. PM me prize ideas!!

[Posting_Trot]

This site provides a great, short history of the development of TBs as “stayers”:

“Real Stayers”

[sami-joe]

They still breed stayers in Europe, the UK, and Ireland. While it’s a brutal race, I always watch the Czechian Velka Pardubice, 34 furlongs over multiple obstacles including banks, plowed fields, and blind water jumps. Some people call it the Czechian Grand National. To me, it’s more like two Grand Nationals, one big group run on Rolex x-c day, plus a short section of the Tevis Cup.

This year, for the first time in the race’s 134-year history, winners finished in a dead heat between France’s Sexy Lord and Czechia’s Godfrey. Talent, a 13 y.o. local hero gelding who has run it five previous years, winning once, came in fifth.

I’m sure the racing experts here know all about it, and opinions run hot about this race because of its off the charts difficulty and frequent falls. Every time I see it, I cannot help thinking it’s what thoroughbreds were made to do.

Editing to add: only two falls, phew, and my TB heartthrob Blushing Groom shows up as the winning Czechian horse’s g-grandsire.

Dead-heat finish between SEXY LORD and GODFREY in the 134. Velká Pardubická!

[Dr_Doolittle]

Wow!

What’s incredible about this is that one horse lost his jockey early, but continued around the course with his “herd/pack” and finished what - 5th? Then another horse (a grey) lost his jock about 2/3rds of the way around and continued as well - finishing mid-pack. I know this often happens in steeplechase (and flat racing), but because this wasn’t a case of just “running around an oval track” because there were a number of opportunities for this horse to divert from the rest of the “pack” - or just peter out - yet he didn’t.

Obviously there is a “sticking with the herd” mentality at work, but IMO the athleticism and heart of a TB are what compel them to keep running and jumping even without a rider aboard telling them to.

[2DogsFarm]

Thanks for that link.
What an amazing race to watch

[millerra]

Why little old adult amateur rider me goes cross country jumping on her trusty OTTB is because he has “the will to keep running and jumping even without a rider aboard telling them” what to do. Literally my job is to set the pace and steer. He goes “got it”. At that point my job is to sit still and hang on.

[i tried to put your words in quotes but failed]

[sami-joe]

If you’re feeling brave, search YT for more annual runs. There are many years posted, and you’ll see multiple loose horses making the circuits, sometimes wreaking pure havoc.

Though a vanishingly small number of Velká Pardubicka jockeys are women, they do exist. Lata Brandisová is the only woman to pilot a winner, back in 1937 when the race was arguably far more dangerous.

[sami-joe]

My pleasure. If you’re a fan of horse-related YT rabbit holes, you might like the Czechian Jockey Club’s account. They have pony races all summer and an amusing all-Haflinger sprint.

SL - 28. 10. 2024 - Dostih osobností Velké pardubické

[Aussie_2020]

That didn’t seem like a fair start. I didn’t realize they were done as they kept galloping. I was thinking I’d seen paint dry faster.

[sami-joe]

Lol. The pony races are terrifying.
Not the actual races, they’re okay, except the kids seem to be having out-of-body experiences. The starts are death defying for the grooms/parents leading the firecrackers disguised as small equids.

[2DogsFarm]

Sent that Haffie race(?) to Haflinger-owning friends.
I bet the pony racers could run laps around the Hafs

[2DogsFarm]

OMG!
The Human Starting Gate for the Smalls!
Leadline races?

BR - 5. 10. 2024 - Pony Liga

[jvanrens]

This is always fun! ETA my daughter was second in this race.

3.1K views · 11 reactions | Flamboro Downs Mini Horse Race | By Pari Mutuel...

[sami-joe]

Lol. I hadn’t seen the leadline sprint. Good on those parents.

[sami-joe]

I should preface every post with:

Please forgive the threadjack.

[Bristol_Bay]

I think I read a book about her.

[sami-joe]

“Unbreakable,” by Richard Askwith. I just found it on eBay.

[2DogsFarm]

There’s a Pony Racing track not far from me. Actual Racingbred ponies, but they do allow us Wannabes to race if we want ( separately from the Pros )
It’s been a while since I’ve been run away with in a cart…
This guy has the speed:

[jvanrens]

You need a racebike! My daughter sold her pony and all her harness and racebike a few years back. A mini racebike is the cutest thing ever, especially in purple.

[2DogsFarm]

Definitely!
Especially since I redid my Easy Entry, replacing the bench seat with this:

Comfy on trails, not very aerodynamic for racing