Jacob’s Arch, a $100,000-earner and half brother to New York-bred Horse of the Year Naughty New Yorker, is thriving in his second career. Photo provided by Justine Watson.
By Melissa Bauer-Herzog
It isn’t often a mare can lay claim to champions in multiple disciplines, but the popular broodmare Naughty Natisha can do just that through her sons Naughty New Yorker and Jacob’s Arch.
The more well-known of the two in racing circles, Naughty New Yorker was a millionaire racehorse who also took home New York-bred Horse of the Year honors during his eight seasons on the track. His year-older half-brother Jacob’s Arch was no slouch on the track, winning five times and earning $100,345 during a 23-race career, but has become an even better dressage horse.
Jacob’s Arch’s career ended in 2008 when he fractured a knee but his story was just beginning. Breeders Dr. Bill Wilmot and Dr. Joan Taylor happily brought the then 7-year-old home to rehab and start a new career. After a few false starts when Jacob’s Arch decided the new careers weren’t the right ones for him, he was connected with Justine Watson of Lincoln University, Pa., through the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited After The Races when he was 17.
Watson admits that she was told by some people that an off-track Thoroughbred may not be the best choice for her first horse, but “Archer” was her perfect choice.
“I was looking for my first horse, I had just picked up riding a few months prior and I was leasing an off-track Thoroughbred, so I was looking around and found After the Races,” she said. “I thought he looked really cute, and he was described as a really classy guy with a good brain, so I went out and took a look at him.
“He was really in-tune with things. I took my horse friends to come look at him with me, so they rode him first and they liked him, so I got on him. Instead of being up and ready to roll, he was very kind. He listened and seemed to know I didn’t have that much experience.”
Bred by Dr. Bill Wilmot and Dr. Joan Taylor, Jacob’s Arch is now a success in dressage at age 21. Photo provided by Justine Watson.
The pair started learning about dressage and four years later are competing in Training Level and First Level with Lauren Annett. Watson’s biggest moment in the time she’s owned Jacob’s Arch came last year when they qualified for their United States Dressage Federation region’s finals and rode into the famed Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park.
“I just took up riding when I was 28 or 29 and this was our first year doing recognized,” she said. “It’s been really cool having him. I don’t know if I’d be able to do it without him, to be honest. I know we didn’t place but it’s a historic place to ride.”
That wasn’t the only accomplishment on their resume last year. During an awards ceremony Feb. 19, the pair took home six divisional championships in their local dressage organization and two reserve championships in the USDF’s All Breeds – Jockey Club category.
“It was a nice way to reflect back on our season,” she said. “I’m pretty sure we had 30-plus competitive rides this season, which is no small feat in itself, let alone our first season. We have come so far in a very small amount of time, and he still improves almost every ride. I know people get caught up in winning things, but a lot of dressage is against yourself. You’re trying to get them more through and straighter to get that 0.5-1.0 more in the transition score to bump your overall. And by getting your horse to go better, you’re preserving them. That’s the real prize for me.”
Jacob’s Arch turned 21 this year and has given no signs he’s ready to retire. Watson and Jacob’s Arch are aiming toward a return to regionals and possibly USDF finals this year. Jacob’s Arch seems as happy as ever to compete.
“He’s going to have to be the one to tell me what he wants to do,” Watson said. “He’s really happy having a job because he always shows up and is so professional. Even when he doesn’t want to do something he’ll just give an old-man groan. I’ll ride him until he says he can’t do this anymore.”
No matter what they do, they have a built-in cheering squad with his breeders.
The late Todd Yaeger, longtime manager at Wilmot and Taylor’s Stepwise Farm in Saratoga Springs, was also excited to hear about Jacob’s Arch every time he saw Watson and even took her to see the workouts and meet different people at Saratoga Race Course.
Jacob’s Arch, raised in upstate New York at Stepwise Farm in Saratoga Springs, now lives with Justine Watson in southeastern Pennsylvania. Photo provided by Justine Watson.
“I have to give a major shoutout to Bill and Joan,” Watson said. “You always hear horror stories about these horses, but I talk to Bill pretty frequently. He keeps me up on other horses they’ve bred, they really do care about their horses. I’ve gotten to do a lot of cool things [because of Jacob’s Arch]. I’ve always been into horse racing but knowing these guys, I got to meet up with Todd Yeager and when I went to Saratoga and see the morning workouts. He was always a big, big Archer fan and always wanted to know what the old man was up to.”
Watson’s job as a physician assistant in cardiac surgery keeps her busy enough that she’s not yet thinking about buying a younger horse to have ready when Jacob’s Arch retires, but said another OTTB will be at the top of her list.
“I would like to continue with OTTBs because I just love their work ethic,” she said. “They’re super-cool horses. They’re beautifully bred. The OTTB for 500 bucks may get you farther than the dressage-bred horse you spent $30,000 on. I wish more people would get on board with taking them up the levels because I think they’re very smart and very athletic horses and they’re bred for stamina and working, why not? I’m hoping I can get another Thoroughbred.”
