Tucson Magic

Dark Bay or Brown Gelding by Majesterian out of Royal Millinery by Regal and Royal
Born: April 20, 2002
Race Record: 11 Starts, 1 win, 4 thirds, $6,009
Owner: R.J. Racing, Trainer: Eddie Tellez

Owner: Annette Gaynes
Annette Gaynes started riding at age six, showed Quarter horses in 4-H, and first took dressage lessons while in college, eventually connecting with a woman specializing in eventing and lower level dressage. Today, Annette and Tucson Magic are learning the art of dressage together.

According to Annette, “Tucson was actually earning his keep as a low level claimer when he left the track at three. His owner and trainer knew he was a nice horse who could be very successful off the track, and they intentionally found him a horse show home. He hadn't yet learned to fully untangle his long legs, and most race accounts show him having a slow start and catching up toward the end of the race to end up in the top four spots. He likely could have continued to improve with age, but he just seemed very well suited for a post-track career.”

Tucson Magic found a new home with a young woman looking for an eventing horse. He settled in well, and was in a show competing in walk-trot the week after he left the track, impressing everyone with his good behavior. Tucson competed in hunter and dressage shows, eventing horse trials and three-day-events through his 7-year-old year before he would need to find a new home. Annette was attending a horse trial with her new trainer, saw Tucson, and “thought he was the most beautiful horse I had ever seen. I later found out he was for sale, but heard how high energy he was and thought he needed a competitive upper-level eventing home. The woman who owned him watched me in lessons, and suggested to my trainer that I should try him out. She just had a feeling we would be a good match from watching me ride, and my trainer loved the idea and agreed.”

“I have always heard that the Thoroughbred mind is the best mind you can get in a horse, but more than a year after getting Tucson, I'm still learning what that means. Tucson is as high energy and sensitive as the OTTB stereotype gets, and he is also as hard-working and eager to please as the OTTB stereotype gets. I may have to correct him when he does something wrong, but a simple "good boy" when he gets something correct is the biggest part of our training. Once he learns what is correct for something, he gets it right every single time. I absolutely love how forward Tucson is, because he is still always responsive to me, and easily comes back to slower speeds if I want. ”

“Tucson's doing well in the dressage phase of eventing without ever having really focused on getting the relaxation he needs through his body. We are still working on getting relaxation at horse shows, and have gotten (deserved) low scores as he is learning to relax more away from home, since neither his race career nor eventing required the kind of relaxation I want now. Our work at home is amazing, though, and we are improving at horse shows so I have no doubt we will continue to improve our work in the future. In the near-term we are working on trying to maintain relaxation away from home everywhere we go, whether on trail rides, schooling at other facilities, lessons at my trainer's barn, or any other outings we might make.”
“The most amazing thing to me is watching Tucson practice out on his own. He used to just gallop in turnout, but as our work got more difficult he started repeating training sequences. He has a leg yield/shoulder in/haunches in routine he will do up and down fence lines, and he practices lengthening his trot without speeding up across diagonals, returning to a full energy, balanced collected trot on corners and short sides.”

Annette’s advice for someone considering an off-the-track Thoroughbred? “Just like the adoption/purchase of any horse, I would recommend anyone considering adopting an OTTB to get knowledgeable help if they are not extremely experienced themselves. My trainer knew I was a quiet, calm rider and would do very well on a higher energy horse. Some riders need more of a "kick ride" and you can definitely get those off the track as well. Racehorses are bred to be athletic, adjustable, and to try hard. Beyond that, they have many variations in build and personalities. A mellow OTTB who has been ridden around the trainer or owner's farm in a western saddle can be great for someone wanting a fun trail horse. Some have great long, flat strides perfect for hunters, and some are as uphill as Tucson and show a great potential for dressage/eventing. Some of the best horses in the world are OTTBs, and most of the best warmbloods in the world have the Thoroughbred in their bloodlines to thank for their athleticism. There is no question my OTTB is my horse of a lifetime, and I'm grateful we happened to be in the right place at the right time to find each other. Thoroughbreds can be some of the smartest, kindest horses you ever meet. My high-energy, super sensitive horse babysat my mom during her first ride in 15 years, first time on a horse over 16 hands, and first time in an English saddle. He may show spunk with me, but if anything is wrong (I get vertigo, sometimes while riding) he will gradually slow down to a slow-motion walk and head toward the nearest adult on the ground so they can help me.”

What’s next for Annette and Tucson? “I would like to get to Grand Prix level with Tucson. I'm sure Tucson has the ability to do it - the question is more whether or not I can learn enough to do it! If we don't make it there, that's ok - my biggest goal is to keep Tucson healthy, happy and sound.”

Photos by Dianne White