n this episode of OTTB on Tap, we sit down with Ashley Steele Norris, founder of Sunbriar Equestrian, to explore her inspiring journey in the OTTB world. Ashley shares how her childhood surrounded by horses, her time working under legendary eventer Jane Sleeper, and her passion for Thoroughbreds shaped her career. From training sensitive OTTBs to competing at the upper levels of eventing, Ashley brings valuable insights for anyone involved with Thoroughbreds.

We spotlight two remarkable horses: Best Things InLife, a versatile OTTB who transitioned from the racetrack to eventing success, and Kicken Kris, a million-dollar earner turned resilient retraining project. Ashley discusses their unique journeys, the challenges they overcame, and the lessons they’ve taught her about adaptability, patience, and the heart of a Thoroughbred.

This episode is packed with stories of resilience, transformation, and Ashley’s commitment to showcasing the potential of Thoroughbreds in second careers. Don’t miss her tips on creating strong horse-rider partnerships and her vision for the future of Sunbriar Equestrian.

Connect with Sunbriar Equestrian: Website: sunbriarequestrian.com Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @SunbriarEquestrian

Listen, subscribe, and leave us a 5-star review! Cheers to the incredible potential of Thoroughbreds in second careers!

👉 Want more OTTB content? Starting Feb 6th, we will have two episodes per month on Supercast! Join Backstretch Access for our OTTB on Tap Evaluates series, or go all in with OTTB on Tap Insiders for exclusive training updates on Go Green’s journey to the RRP Makeover. Click the Membership tab on our website or visit OTTBonTap.Supercast.com to sign up and never miss an episode!

In this episode of OTTB on Tap Evaluates, we dive into the pedigrees, conformation, and potential of three listener-submitted Thoroughbreds: Flowers Apriority, Cowboy Swagger, and Mr. Cellular. Join Niamh and Emily as they analyze each horse’s unique racing background, bloodlines, and suitability for sport horse careers.

From standout sires like Grand Slam and Gone West in Flowers Apriority’s lineage, to Kentucky Derby winner Grindstone’s influence on Cowboy Swagger, and the athletic versatility passed down to Mr. Cellular by Nyquist and Kitten’s Joy, this episode is packed with expert insights and fascinating history.

We also touch on key evaluation tips, such as analyzing conformation photos and understanding how pedigree impacts athleticism and temperament. As always, our assessments are based on our experience and research—perfect for anyone curious about Thoroughbred breeding or retraining.

Key topics include:

• Flowers Apriority’s Louisiana-bred racing career and her Grand Slam/Forty Niner lineage.
• Cowboy Swagger’s connection to Grindstone, Unbridled, and Forty Niner, and his compact, athletic conformation.
• Mr. Cellular’s standout breeding from Nyquist and Kitten’s Joy, and what it means for his second career.

Want to see the photos and details? Check out the corresponding episode page on www.ottbontap.com. Don’t forget to submit your OTTB for future episodes and sign up for our newsletter for bonus content and updates.

Listen in for a fun, educational deep dive into OTTB evaluation—and don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review if you enjoyed the show!

References:

Staff, BloodHorse. “Major Stallion Grand Slam Dies.” BloodHorse.com, 2 June 2016, www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/130740/major-stallion-grand-slam-dies.

BloodHorse. “The Legacy of Gone West.” BloodHorse.com, 1 June 2016, www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/109542/the-legacy-of-gone-west.

Wikipedia contributors. “Forty Niner (Horse).” Wikipedia, 11 Oct. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty_Niner_(horse).

Angst, Frank. “Kentucky Derby Winner Grindstone Dies at 29.” BloodHorse.com, 23 Mar. 2022, www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/257553/kentucky-derby-winner-grindstone-dies-at-29.

Baquero - Horse. 6 June 1998, www.horseracingnation.com/horse/Baquero.

“Nyquist (Horse).” American Classic Pedigrees, www.americanclassicpedigrees.com/nyquist.html.

In this recurring series from OTTB on Tap, we dive into the first chapter of Go Green’s (aka Oscar) journey as an OTTB transitioning from the track to his second career. Co-host Emily interviews Niamh about Oscar’s December training highlights, milestones, and personality quirks.

From groundwork basics to learning to lunge, tackling cross-ties, and his first off-property adventures, Niamh shares how she’s setting a solid foundation for success on the road to the Retired Racehorse Project Makeover. You’ll also hear about his health and nutrition plan, emotional regulation exercises, and some real-life moments that show off his personality.

Don’t miss this exciting kickoff to our OTTB Training Diaries series, where we’ll follow Oscar’s progress month by month. Want more exclusive updates and bonus content? Join our exclusive Supercast tier, OTTB on Tap Insiders, to hear next month’s episode and get insider access to bonus videos and exclusive content! Sign up here: https://ottbontap.supercast.com/

NOTE: we fixed the sign up page, so if you tried before but couldn't sign up, please try again!

For those interested in the TRT Method, which Niamh references a few times in the podcast (and is a devoted user of!), check it out here: https://trtmethod.plugandpay.nl/r?id=sXxSFrKo

Lastly (lots of links today!) we referenced some FREE BONUS training videos for this episode! You can catch them on our website or on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8DELSuO5Gst0-Oru0qf4Gz5cSd9JpL51