Blogs - Jennifer Alfano

April 3, 2013

My Other Super Thoroughbred

By: Jennifer Alfano

Last fall, rider Jennifer Alfano and trainer Susie Schoellkopf decided to find an off-the-track Thoroughbred to join their string of top show hunters at SBS Farm. Jen Alfano will be blogging for the Chronicle about developing Old School, AKA “R.J.” Read Jen's first blog about R.J., "Look Out Hunter World, The OTTBs Are Coming"...

February 8, 2013

Look Out Hunter World, The OTTBs Are Coming!

By: Jennifer Alfano

Even the biggest names in the hunter business are catching the off-the-track Thoroughbred bug. Last fall, rider Jennifer Alfano and trainer Susie Schoellkopf decided to find an off-the-track Thoroughbred join their string of top show hunters at SBS Farm. Jen Alfano will be blogging for the Chronicle about the experience.

Comments

Holly
14 weeks 2 days ago

OTTBs

yes if anyone knows a good thoroughbred its Rodney, andSusie as well.This is such an exciting time for them again.Ihave always had thorobreds,my old A/o horse Chadds Ford was a TB by Our Tammy,By Tim Tam. Hisdamwas Lady Opp nt Alley Oop... I have 5 OTTBs presently..just sold a Two Punch mare as a pleasure,dressage event horse.... I am currently working with a Seattle slew grandson Pernice,reg.name who has been OT since August,and did his first horse show in Aiken in Jan. He is brave and kicking quiet.has a brain that I would like to reproduce again and again!!!!!! If you have a good eye or a trustworthy source,nda now a tab about the bloodlines you can get a wonderful j horse,and to see one respond to you and ringgit around,asmy friend said I'd truly spiritual!!!,

Turnbackthealarm
14 weeks 11 hours ago

Chadds Ford

How long ago did you own Chadds Ford? I owned a Thoroughbred named Chadds Ford in the 90's. He retired in 1997. He didn't come with papers so I am curious if it is the same horse. He was a bit over 16hh, had a blaze that looked like an upside down Christmas tree, a gorgeous long black tail and was a nice bay. He was quiet, but had a strong mind of his own. He was champion of every training level dressage show we entered. I had him at the end of his career. He was jumping high and doing fox hunting with a horrible owner. It got to the point where the horse was banned from the Monmouth County Hunt. I bought him and he was an angel, as long as I never pointed him to a jump....not even cross rails. He had a funny habit of thinking that he was "the man" wherever there was an audience. If people were hanging out in the indoor and we came in for a lesson, he puffed himself up. If mares were around, there was a show. When I retired him, I cried for days.

hardwick
14 weeks 2 days ago

Thoroughbreds

It is about time! The only drawback is people always change the name of the horse so it becomes very difficult to find the TB lines that will excel in jumpers and hunters. We use to know that a long time ago but since it has been decades we lost that nick. Yes, I do know there are TB out there with horrible names but I hope they do make sure when they reg them with usef that they do fill out parent names. We have a Yes it's true son. Beautiful horse, dead quiet. You would never know he was a TB unless you looked under is lip.

butterfieldroad
14 weeks 1 day ago

Great article!

My OTTB had his last race in October 2012. He was not as quiet as R.J. and I let him have a couple of months to just be a horse. With the help of a trainer he started his retraining in January and is now jumping 2' 6" like he was born to it. Smart? Oh heck yeah! I rode warmbloods most of my riding career but I am completely sold on Thoroughbreds. Athletic, quick, drive to work and so super smart.

Venture
14 weeks 1 day ago

Jennifer & R.J.

What a great story. I will anxiously await his progress.

Idrivetrotters
14 weeks 17 hours ago

Please do not change a TBs

Please do not change a TBs registered name, we need to keep track of them afterwards. We lose track of them so easily and it makes it harder to keep a safety net. Those Smarty Jones horses are incredibly smart and very calm, and I would love to have one.