4-star rider doubles down, buys next T’bred

Leah Lang-Gluscic attempts to grab a selfie with her new Thoroughbred Joker’s Hat as the 4-year-old insists on a snuggle!

Four-star Eventer Leah Lang-Gluscic, who often credits her $750 OTTB AP Prime for “making” her career, has welcomed another Thoroughbred into her sport horse barn.

Last week, Lang-Gluscic announced that the siren song of Thoroughbred Joker’s Hat, plus the “best canter” she’d ever ridden, compelled her to open her checkbook to buy the un-raced 4-year-old from Annie Johnson of Iowa.

“I was not in the market for another horse. In fact, I had done a major downsizing after Rolex and had sold three horses, when I got a Facebook message from Annie,” Lang-Gluscic says. “She said she had no time for the young horse she’d found last year, and since I really liked him, invited me to come take a look.”

Joker’s Hat
Barn name: Boogie
Sire: Hat Trick (JPN)
Dam: Tee Lease, by Lil E. Tee
Foal date: May 18, 2012After taking a short ride, and discovering the prospect possessed great gaits, including one of the best canters she’d ever experienced, and a Teddy bear personality to boot, Lang-Gluscic welcomed him to her Eventing family.

Joker’s Hat has lightly trained in cross-country, and she plans to take him out June 7 on a schooling day to see how he goes, she says.

Though it’s too early to say what his career path will be, Lang-Gluscic says she’s thrilled to take on the young and affectionate horse who enjoys snuggling up the very moment she goes for a Selfie of the two.

And there is a lot to grin about these days.

Lang-Gluscic was an investment banker before she decided to follow her dream to become a competitive rider, and discovered her four-star mount AP Prime through a CANTER Illinois listing. After meeting the gorgeous bay at a fairgrounds in Martinsville, Ill, she plunked down the cash and has not looked back. (Please see earlier story here: http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2013/01/15/a-banker-and-racehorse-take-a-giant-leap/).

After purchasing AP on a gut feeling five years ago, the pair completed their first four-star run at Rolex last month. (Please see that story here: http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2016/05/03/750-horse-blazes-a-four-star-future-at-rolex/).

“It was a dream come true,” Lang-Gluscic says after the Rolex run. “It doesn’t feel like I went to Rolex on a $750 horse anymore. I feel like I went to Rolex on a world-class animal.”

As for price on her latest addition, Lang-Gluscic adds, “All I can say is I got a great deal!”