UNDERDOG: A Thoroughbred's Place In This World

Rebecca Pemberton
May 25
5 min read

Horse gallops on a dusty field at sunset. Text: "Equine Business Magazine," "UNDERDOG," by Rebecca Pemberton. Warm, dynamic scene. — Photo by Rebecca Pemberton

“I will never buy another Thoroughbred,” was my mantra for years after getting my confidence wrecked by an overzealous off the track Thoroughbred (OTTB). I sold him for nothing after a year of setbacks, tears and injuries. Sixteen year old me did not need a Thoroughbred, especially one that was high spirited. Mistakes were made and lessons had been learned, but also the firm belief that I would never purchase another Thoroughbred settled in my brain.

Fast forward to a decade later, I had taken time off from the horse world, but had catapulted myself back into it the first chance I got. The mantra, no Thoroughbreds, is now history as I had purchased another OTTB, Liberty, and although me and her never saw eye to eye, and she eventually ended up in a home that suited her, she broke the seal on purchasing Thoroughbreds for me.

Rebecca with her first OTTB,
Storm Peace — Rebecca with her first OTTB, Storm Peace

Late one night, I sat and scrolled on social media. I came across a Texas auction lot that had horses holding for slaughter. They attempt to sell these horses before shipping them off, but alas, there are way too many horses and not enough horse owners. Thoroughbreds litter the lot, new ones coming in almost daily. Some not even six months off from the track. Most under ten years of age, and a whole life ahead of them if someone would just give them the chance.

Sadly, many will not give an OTTB a chance, a stigma follows the breed. Known to be hot headed, crazy and prone to illness and injury, many people think of them as a money pit that has no place in their world. What should be understood is that the Thoroughbred is a versatile breed. Coming in all shapes, sizes and colors, you can take your pick. A proper let down from the track and a solid restart program, and you could have one heck of a horse.

Bo’s sale barn picture. — **Bo’s sale barn picture**

As I sat there scrolling, a horse popped up from the Texas auction house. A long face with kind eyes, and a blaze that went crooked at the nose, met my gaze. I immediately clicked on his link. I could tell he was big at first glance. Standing at 16.3 hands at five years old, legs for days and the long neck that marks the conformation of the breed. The horse towered over the man holding him, his neck stretched up to be able to look at everything going on in the sale barn

By the end of the sale video, I knew that there was something special about this horse. Normally I would look, daydream a little about purchasing, and move on. Not this time, this horse was in my head,

Unfortunately, I did not have the “bail money” needed to make him mine. His comment section was busy, people wanting him, looking for funds, rescues from all over being tagged, begging them to pick him up. I decided to leave a comment that simply said, “this horse has a home with me if his bail is paid.” Within an hour, a woman contacted me, asking me if I was serious.

Lisa, who resided in Canada, had been spending her day trying to work out the logistics of buying this horse and getting him to her country. It felt like an impossible and expensive feat. Enter me, offering a home if someone paid the bill. We chatted about the logistics of everything, and what expectations were. She assured me that I would own him, and she would not come looking for him over time. She just wanted him to land somewhere safe.

The next thing I know, his bail is paid, and in my name. I was the proud owner of another Thoroughbred.

The day before Thanksgiving, I packed up my trailer and a friend, and we drove the three hours to pick him up.

We arrived, and I immediately was shocked by his poor condition that the video did not seem to indicate. His ribs and pelvic bones poked out prominently from his dull copper coat. His eyes, while kind, had a sadness behind them, suggesting he had given up.

He had scratches from being beat up by the other horses and a hoofprint size area on his abdomen that was swollen. I reached out to him, patting him on the neck, trying to tell him that he was safe now.

If you met him today, you would not believe me when I say that the first few weeks with him, I didn’t think he would perk up. His eyes remained dull, he didn’t play, and did not like to interact. It took weeks for him to simply eat from my hand.

Over time, Bo became the goofiest horse in the field. The first one to meet you at feed time and will run to you when you call his name. Over the next few months he blossomed, his bones less visible, his coat starting to shine.

The first year he was with me was filled with ups and downs, from getting on him for the first time, to dealing with an injury that almost ended any chance of him having a riding career.

I have now owned Bo for over two years. This past year, he has transitioned to my main mount. He has gone on trail rides, worked in arenas, and prepped for more events. I have dreams of getting him his first show experience under his belt, taking him to clinics and being a solid all around horse.

Sure, we have our hardships, Bo was only five when I picked him up. From being bumped around auction houses at a young age, to having almost a year off in my field, the basics were needed, and still are. His heart is gold, which funny enough his registered name is Caballo Dorado, meaning golden horse.

I do believe over the next year or two, Bo will become my steadfast main mount, who is willing to go anywhere and do whatever crazy thing my friends and I sign up for with our horses. I hope we can show the western industry as well as anyone who has sworn off Thoroughbreds that they are versatile horses; willing, strong and smart. They will test you, sure, but at the end of the day you’ll be a better horseman with a Thoroughbred in your field.