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The Thoroughbred Club – Meet OTTB Doc Oliver

Doc Oliver is a great story of a 21 year old horse who is still going strong.

Anita Bridge got him in 2008 when he was rising 11 – obviously not straight off the track but we do know he racked up 17 starts in his racing career with two 3rds.

When Doc arrived, no reputation was known but it was not long before his naughty ways were relayed and a few stories started coming out that he used to dump his rider at the first fence, bolt around the course and stand outside the arena and rear.

However he took Anita through her juniors, young riders then from D Grade to A/B Grade pony club in 18 months. A couple of years ago he jumped 1.50m in a puissance.

Over the years Doc has had a few major injuries including a bowed tendon and joint infection. But nothing would hold him back – he always bounces back better then ever.

No matter how old he gets he still has all of his quirks especially his love for playing with his ball.

Doc doesn’t like water and has been eliminated when there was a small puddle on the landing side of a fence because he would have to get his hoof wet!!!! But he loves the hose and going to the beach.

He will still go to a show and decide that he doesn’t like a particular ride, a ride that he would have seen many times before. Anything then around that ride needs to be stopped at or run away from.

Doc amuses Anita with his “thing” about hats.  He just loves to pull them off your head and run off with them.

But best of all these days is Doc excels as a lead pony with the young ones around home.

Young off the track filly

This is one much loved  quirky thoroughbred.

The Thoroughbred Club – Meet OTTB Maxcee

Meet our off the track thoroughbred for this week – a gorgeous mare named Maxcee who is by Carbonfibre and out of Bismax.

Maxcee was born and trained in Ipswich Qld and was bought by Anita Bridge in 2010 when Maxcee was retired by the breeder/trainer who Anita was riding track work for.

While not the easiest to ride as she is very highly strung, Maxcee took to jumping like a fish to water.  Three months off the track and she was competing at 1.10m. 

Maxcee absolutely loves the water and nothing more invigorating for her than a swim. 

WARNING – You can’t clean her stable with her in it as you be squashed against a wall by and rump demanding for a scratch, a trait she has had all her life. 

A couple of years ago, Maxcee was in need of a good break and was sent to an imported Warmblood stallion called Cera Cassiago in 2016. She became an amazing mum producing a beautiful grey filly. 

Her first competition back after being weaned from her filly, she stepped straight back out at 1.15m jumping clean.

Maxcee now competes under the name of Genuine Princess and Anita plans to compete in her first World Cup qualifier at Caboolture this July/August.

Wishing both Anita and Maxcee a continued fabulous life together.