Within the fall of 2020, Elizabeth McDougald had no plans to undertake a horse when she visited Horse and Hound Rescue Basis in Guthrie, Okla. She was there to select up a horse for one in every of her college students, however with so many promising horses on the facility, she determined to search for a undertaking horse for herself. Horse and Hound, an accredited Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance group, focuses on retraining ex-racehorses and discovering them new careers.
Elizabeth is a coach at Glenridge Farm, a Hunter/Jumper barn in Elgin, Okla., based by her mother and father. Rising up, she labored with and retrained off-the-track Thoroughbreds, so discovering a undertaking horse was not a brand new activity. One of many founders of Horse and Hound, Nelda Kettles, launched her to Wilky G, a “small, plain darkish bay, quiet, unassuming 3-year-old gelding.” Though Wilky G was removed from the tall, uphill, leggy kind Elizabeth sometimes educated for Hunter/Jumper competitions, one thing about his sort demeanor drew her in. Initially, she thought he may make a very good path or western horse for somebody down the road.
Wilky G was foaled in 2017 in Oklahoma and raced seven occasions in Oklahoma and Texas, incomes $8,509 over his two-year racing profession. After retiring in June 2020, he was donated to Horse and Hound Rescue Basis, the place he stayed till Elizabeth determined to take him house that fall.
Regardless of not becoming Elizabeth’s regular profile for a jumper, Wilky G rapidly proved her instincts proper. “He had a kindness to him that drew me in,” Elizabeth defined. As soon as house, Wilky G took to retraining with ease. “He was undoubtedly the little engine that might,” she remarked. He confirmed a pure aptitude for leaping and appeared to like it, stunning Elizabeth, who had initially thought he’d be a short-term undertaking. “I spotted I used to be having plenty of enjoyable with the horse I believed I’d practice and promote,” she stated.
Wilky G quickly turned the barn’s “Jack-of-all-trades.” He might be ridden bridleless, was a reliable path horse, excelled as an intermediate lesson horse, and even shone within the Jumper ring at rated reveals. “I’ve had numerous OTTBs, however he’s actually the kindest of the bunch,” Elizabeth famous.
Elizabeth and Wilky G most just lately competed within the Take2 Thoroughbred Jumper division within the spring of 2024. “He defies each younger OTTB stereotype,” she stated, praising his calm and easygoing nature. His quiet demeanor even allowed him for use as a lead-line mount at a horse present, and he usually carries youngsters in classes at house.
“The horse that was meant to be a short-term undertaking doing something however leaping is now a barn favourite,” Elizabeth wrote. Wilky G continues to thrive below Elizabeth’s care, delighting each her and her college students in classes and at reveals. “He’s doing fabulous,” she stated, including that Wilky G will possible stay at her barn for a very long time to come back.
The Jockey Membership helps many aftercare initiatives together with the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the one accrediting physique in aftercare, and Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), which inspires the retraining of Thoroughbreds into different disciplines upon completion of careers. View the entire initiatives supported by The Jockey Membership.
