February 13, 2025
Jamie Ingalls readily admits that she never imagined ending up with an off-the-track Thoroughbred. Involved with horses since age three, the now 49-year-old had spent her life riding Quarter Horses and the various disciplines associated with the breed.
“I fell in love with horses after my introduction to them,” she said. “At 16, I picked up a job exercising, grooming, feeding, mucking stalls at a Western Pleasure and Halter Quarter Horse barn, which then introduced me to the bling! I liked the English [style] and jumping, but man, I loved the glitter and the butt of a Quarter Horse. But I would do any discipline if it meant I could be in the saddle.”
When the opportunity arose to dive into horse ownership after years of leasing agreements, Ingalls admittedly needed a bit of persuading to take a leap of faith on a Thoroughbred.
Explaining her initial foray into the world of Thoroughbred, she said, “A very good friend of mine, Nicole, had quite a handful of ReRun horses at her farm–all good, level-headed and nice horses.”
Established in 1996, ReRun, located in East Greenbush, NY, offers rehab, retraining and adoption for horses retiring within the state of New York. Founder Lisa Molloy heads the non-profit organization.
“It’s the most beautiful, clean barn I’d ever seen of that magnitude,” Ingalls said. “The adoption contract made me comfortable that, if I just simply couldn’t handle it, the horse would remain in great hands.”
Still, Ingalls hesitated. “Honestly, I initially thought, ‘No thank you.’ I didn’t want the stigma that seems to be associated with many OTTBs,” she admitted. “I’m older now, and I don’t have that kind of energy. But every time I saw a listing of Lisa’s horses I thought, ‘Well, the price point meets what I can offer, I have a great friend with these horses.’ It was worth considering.”
Through ReRun’s website, Ingalls was led to a New York-bred son of Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker. A $130,000 Fasig-Tipon Kentucky Yearling Sale purchase in 2021, the gelding had a series of workouts at Belmont Park in the spring of 2023, but a minor knee injury prevented him from racing. Global Star was retired to ReRun through the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association’s TAKE THE LEAD Program. Ingalls officially adopted him in August of 2023.
“Initially, I saw just a picture of him, and I thought, ‘What a hip, and a little head. How on earth is this animal an OTTB? He is a Quarter Horse, the ad has to be wrong, right?’ But I would scroll down and there was his description,” she said.
When she finally met him in person, it was love at first sight. “I literally went full blown tears when his stall door opened, the most beautiful animal, and he belonged to me!” Ingalls said. “I thought, ‘How am I so lucky to own this gorgeous boy? He’s really mine!’ No way could I ever buy this horse with his lineage on a budget like mine, yet somehow, through the graces of ReRun, I adopted this well put-together horse!”
She nicknamed the dark bay ‘Chesney’ after country star Kenny Chesney and came up with an appropriate show name as well. “His show name is ‘Don’t Happen Twice,’ a Kenny Chesney song title. I bet you can read between the lines of why he inherited that name.”
Explaining Chesney’s progress since bringing him home, Ingalls said, “He is so chill, almost lazy at times. But he’s fun, and has so much personality. He can be goofy, like an overgrown toddler at times, but he is the perfect ‘Chesney.’
She added, “He will literally do anything I ask of him. He lets me band his mane and put a Western halter on him. He loves the showmanship, just loves it! If I ask, ‘You want to do Western Pleasure today?’ Cool! ‘How about Hunters today?’ Awesome! ‘Let’s enter a class with 20+ horses we know nothing about.’ Okay! He’s so easy.”
Reflecting on her initial resistance to adopting a Thoroughbred, Ingalls admits, “I had to eat crow about my [misconceptions] about OTTBs. Where have I been? There is nothing this boy won’t do for me. He has such heart. There isn’t another out there that can top my feelings for him.”
What Would Global Star Say?
My favorite food is/my least favorite food is: My favorite food is literally anything I can grab in my mouth while walking by. I love all food, even things that my human lady says isn’t food. So, I don’t really understand the question.
But if I had to pick, I’d probably say that nice green flaky alfalfa slabs that leaves those delicious little sprinkles on the ground. That entertains me for hours–getting every single fleck. Also, peppermints. I love Mom to crackle the wrapper in the field. It proves to her that I was once considered a racehorse.
My least favorite is whatever that mess is that they put in Cody’s tail to make me not want to chew it. That stuff is the DEVIL. Why is it so bad? I mean, he literally lets me do it, so it’s not bothering him!
Who is your best animal buddy? My very best friend is one of my pasture mates, Cody. We play all day, every day and enjoy making our parents gasp at our antics!
My favorite toy that I can’t live without is: Well, Mom and the barn folks tell me I have an infatuation with Cody’s tail, or any tail that any of my friends will let me taste.
What freaks you out? I’m not a huge fan of long rides in the metal can that takes me to overnight shows. I don’t like backing up [exiting the trailer]–it scares me, I start shaking real bad, but if I’m allowed to turn around and walk off, I’m a much happier boy. My lady understands me and tells me it’s okay. She’s always saying we pick and choose our battles. She lets me have this one because, really, better to walk off than to hurt myself and risk the chance of not being able to strut my stuff in front of the people.
If I was human, what actor would play me in the movie of my life? VINCE VAUGHN, NO QUESTION!!!
