Beauty Update- February 2022

Formerly known as Wave Jumper, this four year old filly was in the Wasabi Ventures Stables barn from 2019 until her retirement in 2021. She has now found her forever home with Samantha, who has written the following update.

Looking for a horse to call her own

I submitted an application to After the Races in late October in an effort to look at a horse listed on the site. I left the horse industry in 2013 as a barn manager of many years. Thoroughbreds, but specifically the off the track projects, were always my favorite. I helped with many projects but could never call them my own. Once my application was submitted, I followed up with ATR intently until my application was approved. I didn’t even think to look anywhere else– because fate has a way of doing that.

Almost immediately after getting approval, I saw two new horses step off the trailer at ATR. Wave Jumper was one of them. Initially, I thought, WOW that is one beautiful horse, but then proceeded to talk myself out of her, because I had it in my mind that a “fresh” off the track horse would be so much more problematic than I could handle.

Within days, my mom dropped everything to go with me and look at the new prospects. The other new retiree was already adopted leaving Wave Jumper. She was placed in the round pen at ATR for the first time. She had so much movement and poise, yet overwhelming softness in her eye. Needless to say, I was in love. She had it all.

Bringing Beauty home

I barely slept that night, and returned the next day to bring her home. When thinking of a name, I just kept thinking of her beauty. So, her barn name became Beauty. She was turned out immediately with a run-in. I stocked up on alfalfa/orchard hay and started her on alfalfa pellets. My mom provided her mineral “K.I.S Trace” and Basic Equine Health for ulcers. We pulled her shoes a week later, and she has been living a very relaxed life since. Her farrier comments each trim how great her hooves are.

While she is enjoying much time off, she reminds me daily that she is still very athletic while maintaining her kindness. This spring, we will begin dressage training. I may attempt jumping eventually, but I see so much dressage potential in her that I plan to focus on that. Most of all, she brings so much healing to someone who was not sure if she would ever work with an OTTB horse again.

As a mom of two, she has molded into our family and the daily routine. My 15 month old gets the biggest smile in Beauty’s presence and automatically pets her very gently. My 4 year old proudly tells everyone about her and how happy she makes mom. Everything just came naturally and continues to come naturally. While we have had some minor transitioning woes, she has been the most self-preserving OTTB that I have had the joy of working with. Best of all, I can finally call her my own and safe to say she is part of the family.

To read more OTTB updates, please click here.