About Retired Racehorse
Retired Racehorse Blog began in January 2010 as a training diary project. Written by Natalie Keller Reinert, it followed the reschooling of an OTTB, Final Call, from the first trial ride at an Ocala training center to his first hunter pace and eventual sale as a fox-hunting prospect, six months later. The blog then followed Reinert’s experience as an exercise rider and all-around barn help at a racing stable at Aqueduct Racetrack, in Queens, NY. Now it is devoted to bridging the gap between the racetrack and the show barn, dispelling myths about OTTBs, and promoting off-track Thoroughbreds as the true American sporthorse.
You can contribute to Retired Racehorse, too! Guest blog posts and story ideas should be sent to natalie@nataliekreinert.com. We are always looking for views and news on any topic that relates to the Thoroughbred racing and sporthorse worlds.
Contributors:
Natalie Keller Reinert—Editor
Natalie Keller Reinert
Natalie Keller Reinert is the founder and editor of Retired Racehorse Blog. She has spent more than twenty years in the horse business, competing through preliminary on her OTTB Amarillo Elbert, working in sporthorse and Thoroughbred breeding, managing barns in every industry from hunter/jumper to racing, and working as an exercise rider at the racetrack and at Ocala training centers.
In 2011, Reinert began writing full-time and released her debut novella, The Head and Not The Heart, a story set in the horse-racing business, to outstanding reviews. In 2013, she released the follow-up, Other People’s Horses. Books in every format are available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and iTunes.
Reinert lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her family. Her personal site is nataliekreinert.com. You may contact her at natalie@nataliekreinert.com.
Katherine Abel—Contributor
Katherine Abel
Katherine Abel is an equine veterinary technician at an equine hospital. She has been riding and showing horses since childhood, and is the owner of two mares, including OTTB Bon Appeal. Her interests include eventing, dressage, and endurance. Abel contributes to The Red Mare Diaries to Retired Racehorse Blog.
Her personal site is Backyard Sporthorse.
My throughbred! Well having been out of horses for many years I decide it was time to get back in the saddle. I looked at many horses but fell in love with one “Enryb”, an OTTB! I have had him now for over a year and from the moment I first hopped on his back, I knew he was the one, he felt safe, he was responsive and listened to me. What I did not expect was his behaviour on the ground. It has been a long road but one I am still so glad I took. From the first day upon moving yards. He had a complete breakdown. He begain to weave and crib. He paced the paddock fence line all night and day. I can remember thinking. OMG what have I let myself in for.
He was so amazing in other ways, so I just had to believe in him. You could ride him anywhere, he was never fazed by any form of traffic. Perfect to load, float or truck. Great for the farrier etc etc.
But you walk up to him in the paddock and he would lunge at you and take a lump out of you. He was so unpredictable and unfriendly, I really did not know what to do.
But that was then and after a very long journey, including dentist, vet and equine therapist, I know have a totally amazing boy, who canters to the gate when he sees my car pull up.
He had a long racing career and was not retired until he was 9 years old and I have been informed he raced in Australia to.
He will now spend the rest of days with me, being ridden a little bit by either myself or my daughter. He is a hard keeper (magical thoroughbreds!) so I am always looking for food tips for weight gain and maintenance.
Just thought I would like to share my story with you.
Thanks
Lyn Swan