For Florida native Stacey Emory, making a living with horses came naturally. Retraining and rehoming OTTBs became an extension of her love for Thoroughbreds.
Born in Jacksonville, Stacey inherited her mother’s passion for horses and began riding in elementary school.
She rode hunters and then jumpers for years.
After moving to Georgia at age 20, Stacey managed a large boarding, sales and lesson facility in Alpharetta, and eventually began riding eventers.
She retrained and rehomed her first OTTB in 1989 and has been doing so ever since. For many years, she was rehoming as many as 100 to 150 OTTBs per year.
Stacey moved back to Florida in 2001 and bought a 30-acre farm in the Williston area, which she named Camalou Farm in honor of her parents, Cameron and Lou.
She has worked as a vet tech for an equine veterinarian in Ocala for the past 20-plus years. Her contacts from this job have become a great resource for horses leaving the track and needing second careers.
“When I first started, I got a lot of horses from northern tracks, including Monmouth, Presque Isle Belmont, Saratoga and Churchill, but now I mostly get them via contacts from veterinary clients here in Marion County,” says Stacey, who still buys the occasional horse off the racetrack.
She doesn’t encourage people to buy a horse directly off the track unless they go with someone who is experienced and knows the right questions to ask.
“There is a full disclosure law in the state of Florida, but not everyone adheres to that. You’re supposed to disclose any previous injury or surgery you know the horse has had,” she notes.
“Yes, they’re trained to go out and run in one direction, but they’re bred to work. They’ve been working six days a week since they were 20 to 22 months old. They thrive on having a job and being doted on. They’re quite easy to teach a new job because they want to learn. There’s really nothing these horses can’t learn to do.”
Stacey Emory, Camalou Farm
When an OTTB goes on to a second career, all their experiences at the racetrack prove beneficial.
“These big tracks have concerts, parties, balloons and fireworks in the infield, so most Thoroughbreds have been exposed to more than the show horses ever will be,” she says.
Stacey says that many people have misconceptions about OTTBs, thinking they are too “hot” for amateur or youth riders, or that a horse off the track must have an injury or physical problem.
Of course, she loves to prove those breed prejudices wrong, showing how good-minded OTTBs can have incredible second careers.
She points out that most OTTBs have incredible work ethics.
“Yes, they’re trained to go out and run in one direction, but they’re bred to work. They’ve been working six days a week since they were 20 to 22 months old. They thrive on having a job and being doted on,” she says. “They’re quite easy to teach a new job because they want to learn. There’s really nothing these horses can’t learn to do.”
Stacey has sold OTTBs for many second careers—polo, hunter/jumper, eventing, dressage, trail riding and ranch work.
She finds Thoroughbreds are the most diverse breed she’s ever worked with.
“They’re all heart. They always keep trying to do things right,” she says.
Stacey typically pays anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000 a horse off the track and that doesn’t include the cost of shipping to her farm.
“A lot of people think we get them for free, but big, sound, good-moving horses aren’t free, I don’t care what track they’re coming from,” she notes.
Once a horse arrives at Camalou Farm, their race plates (shoes) are pulled, and Stacey makes sure they are up to date on deworming and vaccinations.
“One of the first things I do is x-ray feet to make sure angles are correct, and have my farrier get them right,” she says. “Some can go barefoot, and some can’t. I don’t normally put hind shoes back on them.”
If a horse has an injury, they are rehabbed and given time to heal. Others are healthy and just need a short time to unwind from life at the racetrack.
“I let the horse tell me when they’re ready to go back to work. Some are fine after a couple weeks to get on and ride a little,” says Stacy, adding that there are also horses whose minds need more time to relax.
She typically has an OTTB for four to six months before offering them for sale.
Stacey usually restarts every horse so they are going along well in a snaffle at a walk, trot and canter, but there’s much more to it than just hopping on and riding.
She says the big difference between racehorses and those trained for other disciplines is how they use their bodies.
“Racehorses aren’t working off their hind end. They don’t use their muscles the same way running on the racetrack as they will as a sport horse. It takes time for their muscles to learn a new job. They have to learn to use their hindquarters and backs because they’ve just been running and not using their bodies this way,” she explains.
Stacey posts photos and videos of her OTTBs available for sale on her website and Facebook page.
Prices usually range from $5,000 to $6,000.
Some horses sell before Stacey has done any retraining just based on their videos and conformation photos. She finds that the majority are purchased as show horse prospects for English disciplines.
Stacey has never viewed her work with OTTBs as a money-making venture. For her, the most important thing is helping horses find their next career and a good home.
“I feel like I owe something back to the industry,” she says. “I’ve been selling OTTBs for the last 30 years.”