OTTB Spotlight – Riley

January 3, 2015 Lauren Mauldin Comments 12 comments

Time for our favorite off the track feature! Even though Life of Riley is on a bit of a hiatus at the moment, her adorable OTTB still gets a feature today. Let’s learn more about Riley 🙂

What is his registered name?
Women No Easy, 2009 Chestnut Gelding.

(I HAD to give him an Irish name since, I’m an irish citizen and he was foaled on St. Patrick’s Day!)

Lineage?
He’s an AP Indy Grandbaby, by Golden Missile out of Bonnie Dares.

Did your OTTB race?
No, he was race trained and registered but never raced. He has a large scar on his upper foreleg that probably has something to do with that?!

What do you do with him now?
We do a little bit of everything, but our focus is eventing (we made it out to only three events this summer but came in 2nd in two of them). He’s pretty game for everything we’ve done so far and he’s a very enthusiastic jumper. My plan is to get him out with the hounds over the winter and to a few dressage/jumper shows (and paper chases) and to pick back up with eventing in the spring.

If your OTTB was a musician, who would he be?
Ha! Without a doubt… Bob Marley. It was really, really hard not to give him a Rastafarian name. The first time I took him out on a paper chase (2nd ride) he bopped along on a loose rein with his lower lip flapping in the breeze, airplane ears and bouncing his head along like he was wearing headphones. He’s a chilled out dude for sure.

Your OTTB is on a desert horsey island. He can bring three items – what are they?
Nature’s Valley Honey & Oat granola bars, his best friend Brody, and me!

Your OTTB is deathly afraid of …
He likes to pretend that he’s afraid of cows, but he’s actually super afraid of the measuring stick.

Your OTTB is really brave about …
Almost everything else, he’s a curious individual that can usually be coaxed into trying anything once and acts as a good leader for the babies. I will say he’s the bravest horse in the barn about hot-shoeing.

If your OTTB could change one thing about his environment or training, what would it be?
That we had an indoor for the winter. He thinks doing work in the snow is ridiculous.

How would your OTTB introduce himself to a new herd of horses?
“Oh hey guys, what’s going on… you guys wanna share my hay… I know this cool spot where we can flirt with the mares, let’s go”

(He’s the guy that shows up with a case of beer to every party… the guy that you know who can hang with the bros, get down with the ladies and everyone in between. He’s good with parents and you’d trust him with your little sister.)

And finally, my OTTB makes me proud everyday because …
He’s a perfect match for me. He has a sense of humor and he’s always able to make me feel like a million bucks. He keeps me on my toes and we are growing together, blossoming in the show ring and beyond. I am honored everyday I saddle him up and swing my leg over. I have a feeling we’re going to do great things together!