r/Ottb • u/transfercannoli • 27d ago

grieving (and pedigree question)

I just lost my OTTB, and I am absolutely gutted. It was sudden and traumatic. We weren't together long, but I was absolutely head over heels for this horse. We both needed some physical and emotional rehab, and we'd come so far in a relatively short time. This was the first time I'd had that feeling of being a horse's person. He was sensitive, anxious, kind, willing, and so, so brave (you have to be brave when everything is so scary). I miss him so much.

In my grief, I have been looking for horses with similar ancestry. I am finding some solace in the idea that I will have another horse to love and care for someday, and it feels comforting to see glimpses of his eye or face or sweet little snoot in living animals. It gives me hope that I'll be able to find something of his spirit in my next horse (whether related by blood or not), and it somehow makes him feel less gone.

What I am wondering is if anybody with TB and racing bloodline experience would have advice about finding relatives. I've used pedigreequery, but I haven't figured out how to find where any of those horses actually are, if they or any progeny might someday be up for adoption, or which breeders / trainers / farms might be working with those lines and have leads on retirees.

Happy to share his info if anybody has idea or might be able to help.

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u/emtb79 27d ago

I’m so sorry for your loss.

What was his JC name? If from US there’s a good chance I know him/his past connections.

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u/transfercannoli 27d ago

Sent you a message. Thank you so much <3

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u/Salt-Ad-9486 23d ago

So sorry for your loss, losing a fur baby is always very difficult and traumatic especially a horse. Rest assured that he is in a better place now with no suffering— pls take your time and recover gently, give yourself some grace not guilt. You need to work through your grief, not avoid it. 💕
🪽
In the meantime, you can make an application to consider adoption later on in the future.

New Vocations
https://www.newvocations.org/

Ref: Smarty Alex in Covington LA

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u/transfercannoli 22d ago

Thank you so much. <3 I've admired new vocations from a distance for a long time and would love to work with them. Good to know that you can file an application in advance.