OTTB on Tap

In this episode of OTTB on Tap, Niamh flies solo with UK-based OTTB confidence coach, rider, and social media favorite Lloyd Crabb for a funny, practical, and refreshingly honest conversation about retraining off-track Thoroughbreds, rebuilding rider confidence, and knowing when to throw the rulebook out the window. Lloyd shares how he came to riding later in life, why he believes Thoroughbreds ar...

n this episode of OTTB on Tap, we’re joined by newly minted 5* rider Alex Conrad, fresh off his incredible Kentucky debut with his OTTB superstar, Malibu Preacher. What we expected was a great conversation about eventing, Kentucky, and producing an off-track Thoroughbred to the top of the sport. What we got was something even more special: a genuinely heartwarming, thoughtful, and unexpectedly emo...

What happens when you stop playing it safe and finally choose the horses? In this episode of OTTB on Tap, we sit down with Courtenay Brown, who went from a stable remote career to riding racehorses full time. Her path is anything but linear, and it will hit home for anyone who has ever felt stuck in a job while dreaming about being at the barn. Courtenay shares how she grew up around racehorses, s...

In Part 2 with returning guest Chelsey O’Brien, we catch up on what life looks like after the Retired Racehorse Project and what she’s working on next. Chelsey introduces her 2026 prospect, Rustler, aka Rusty, a stakes-winning OTTB owned by Pastured Place. He’s a very different ride from the horses she’s brought along for the Makeover in previous years, and this one is pushing her in new ways as a...

Chelsey O’Brien returns to OTTB on Tap for a long-awaited catch-up, and this one starts with the real story behind her 2025 Retired Racehorse Project Makeover experience. Chelsey, a Northern Virginia trainer who rides for Pastured Place, is known for restarting off-track Thoroughbreds across multiple disciplines. In this episode, she walks us through what it actually takes to bring not one, but tw...

In this episode of OTTB on Tap , we catch up with Stephanie Parkot for a recap of her journey to the 2025 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover with her Off Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) , Sterling Honor. Stephanie went into the RRP Thoroughbred Makeover with a clear goal. She wanted to finish in the Top 10 in Competitive Trail . Not only did she set that goal, she achieved it. Stephanie sha...

What happens when you take an off-the-track Thoroughbred (OTTB) into the hunter ring and stop treating it like an “alternate” to a warmblood? In this episode of OTTB on Tap , Niamh flies solo for our first truly hunter/jumper-focused OTTB episode with Pennsylvania pro Madison Barnett of MB Equine (USEA event rider + hunter/jumper trainer) and standout junior rider Caden Nolt . Madison breaks down...

Plus, Niamh shares a fascinating lesson on rider biomechanics using a mechanical horse. In this first-ever OTTB on Tap Unscripted episode, we hit record with no outline and dive straight into an OTTB buyer reality check that every rider needs to hear. We start with an honest conversation about rider self-evaluation and why choosing the right Off-Track Thoroughbred should begin with you, not the ho...

After a season of intense growth, big goals, and even bigger emotions, OTTB on Tap is back for Season 3. In this return episode, Niamh and Emily come up for air and reflect honestly on burnout, boundaries, and what it really looks like to fully commit to something and then choose a new way forward. Inspired by a quote from Matthew McConaughey about the clarity that comes from fully committing inst...

In this RRP Trainer Chronicles update from OTTB on Tap, we sit down again with dressage trainer Harley Whittaker of HW Dressage in Kirkwood, Pennsylvania to hear the latest on her 2025 RRP Makeover partner, Juancho (“Jack”) . Harley shares the ups and downs of Jack’s first dressage show experience, why she’s choosing to keep him in dressage as his primary discipline, and what kind of home she sees...

In this installment of RRP Trainer Chronicles , an OTTB on Tap Original Series , we catch up with returning trainer Chelsey O’Brien as her 2025 RRP Makeover journey takes shape. This year, Chelsey is retraining two very different OTTBs—each with their own story and style. ✨ Peppy ( JC name: The Pepsodent Show ) has stepped into the hunter ring, showing the elegance Thoroughbreds can bring to the...

We’re back with Stephanie Parkot for round two of her RRP Trainer Chronicles journey—and wow, what a summer she and her OTTB Sterling Honor (by Honor Code, from New Vocations) have had. From tackling a Mounted Police Clinic with her son to braving the atmosphere of the Erie County Fair Hunter/Jumper Show , Stephanie shares the highs, the challenges, and the big takeaways as she and Sterling prepar...

In Part 2 of our candid conversation with Shannon Riley of Infinity Sport Horse , we go beyond the arena to talk about the challenges many riders face but few openly discuss—body image, online criticism, and the mental health toll of working in the equestrian world. Shannon shares what led her to speak out, how she’s learned to protect her peace, and why creating a healthier, more inclusive space...

In this episode of OTTB on Tap , we sit down with Shannon Riley of Infinity Sport Horse for Part 1 of a powerful two-part conversation. Based in Aiken, South Carolina, Shannon is a professional eventer, OTTB trainer, and resale specialist known for her thoughtful, honest approach to developing sporthorse prospects. Shannon shares how her early love of horses—and her first Thoroughbred—set her on a...

Virginia-based trainer Chelsey O’Brien returns to OTTB on Tap as she gears up for the 2025 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover—this time with two OTTBs and twice the determination. Representing the nonprofit Pastured Place , Chelsey introduces us to The Pepsodent Show (“Peppy”), a charismatic 5-year-old gelding by VE Day. With a name that throws it back to the golden age of radio— The...

In this RRP Trainer Chronicles episode of OTTB on Tap , we sit down with adult amateur eventer, longtime Thoroughbred advocate, and sporthorse breeder Amanda Chance , who’s making her Retired Racehorse Project Makeover debut in 2025 with a true warhorse—an off-track Thoroughbred with over 50 starts (he raced a whopping 100 times!) Known for her candid blog and podcast Breed. Ride. Event. , Amanda...

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of substance use and mentions of suicide. If these topics are sensitive for you, please listen with care. Resources and support links are included at the end of the episode description. Ramon Moya didn’t grow up in the saddle—but the first time he sat on a Thoroughbred at 18, everything changed. Now a graded stakes-placed jockey and viral content c...

Welcome back to RRP Trainer Chronicles , an OTTB on Tap Original Series following the riders and retrainers headed to the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover. In this episode, we’re talking dressage, Thoroughbreds, and that all-important seat with Harley Whittaker of HW Dressage in Kirkwood, Pennsylvania. Harley didn’t grow up in a horsey family, but she’s built a thriving training business rooted in thoug...

In this first full trainer episode of our 2025 RRP Trainer Chronicles series, we’re joined by Stephanie Parkot, a dedicated adult amateur and mom of three from Corfu, New York, who’s making her Thoroughbred Makeover debut with a gelding she calls “the right horse at the right time.” Stephanie’s Makeover partner is Sterling Honor, a striking son of Honor Code, adopted through New Vocations. Togethe...

What does it take for a 15.1-hand off-track Thoroughbred to storm around the 2024 Kentucky Three-Day Event and win the crowd’s heart? In this episode of OTTB On Tap , we sit down with eventer Ali Kuhn to hear the incredible story of Little Hail, her pink-wearing OTTB who went from years in a pasture to galloping across one of the sport’s biggest 4★ stages. Ali opens up about her journey as an OTTB...

Meet the 2025 Retired Racehorse Makeover trainers we'll be following all season long! In this special kickoff episode of OTTB on Tap's original series, RRP Trainer Chronicles, we introduce you to four standout horsewomen—each with a different background, training philosophy, and off-track Thoroughbred (OTTB) partner. You'll get a first look at their plans for the 2025 RRP, how they came to love OT...

We’re back with another OTTB Training Diaries update following Niamh’s journey retraining her off-track Thoroughbred, Go Green (Oscar), for the 2025 Retired Racehorse Project Makeover. In this sneak peek of our April recap, we talk about the ups and downs of bringing along a sensitive young Thoroughbred—starting with Niamh’s creative fundraiser for the RRP, some minor training setbacks, and the re...

🎉 BONUS EPISODE — In celebration of reaching 25,000 listens , we’re unlocking this previously Supercast-only episode of OTTB on Tap Evaluates: Vol 4 for everyone ! This episode is part of our exclusive Supercast series where we evaluate listener-submitted OTTBs using just a conformation photo and Jockey Club name to explore pedigree, structure, and sport potential. If you've been curious about wh...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Aubrey Graham of Kivu Sporthorses , we take a deeper dive into her practical approach to training off-track Thoroughbreds. Aubrey breaks down how to do less to get more—a mindset that emphasizes thoughtful observation, strategic timing, and letting the horse lead. From early groundwork to first jumps, she shares exercises, common mistakes, and how to build a trai...

In this episode of OTTB on Tap , we sit down with Aubrey Graham of Kivu Sporthorses to explore the foundation behind her OTTB training philosophy. From her academic background in anthropology to her transition into the world of off-track Thoroughbreds, Aubrey shares how she became a trusted voice in the industry through her popular Thoroughbred Logic series. We talk about her role as a "middleman"...