TORONTO, December 22, 2025 – Twice a month, Woodbine Mohawk Park will profile a Standardbred connected to the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society (OSAS). This week’s installment belongs to Stetson Seelster, an unraced 2-year-old with regal family ties, currently in training with Bert and Susan Mollica, who train the majority of OSAS horses at their farm in Tottenham, Ontario. Susan, who will play a recurring role in this series, details the gregarious bay’s seamless transition into her family’s program and the endless possibilities that await him. “He’s adventuresome, curious and willing – a real Curious George. He’s very much, ‘Okay, I’ll do this, and oh, that’s really cool, and yeah, let’s do this.’” Fun fact #1: Stetson Seelster’s barn name is Stetson. Fun fact #2: The first foal of Stetson Seelster’s dam Shakai Hanover is Shiraz Seelster, who is the dam of Chantilly, Canada’s Horse of the Year in 2024. Stetson Seelster (ON) Foaled: January 30, 2023 Sire: All Bets Off Dam: Shakai Hanover Trainer: N/A Owner: Seelster Farms Inc. Breeder: Seelster Farms Inc. OSAS Program Status: In training Stetson Seelster and Bert Mollica What were your first impressions of Stetson Seelster? “When he first came here, he was very easy going and very well mannered. He had an, ‘I’m at a new house, this is really cool,’ attitude about him. “He arrived with Timmy [Naso Hanover] and Playsomthincountry. We put the three of them in the barn together, and there were never any issues. “I have a Standardbred, a Quarter Horse, and a mini, and they’re right in the paddock beside them. Stetson’s always playing around with my husband’s Quarter Horse, who is like the king of the farm. He kind of rules the roost, and he and Stetson started playing right away. It was so comical because the other two stayed away, where Stetson’s right up there going, ‘Hey, how’s it going?’ “He’s a very forward personality and not afraid of things.” How has he adapted to his training sessions with Bert? “Oh, instantly. He was very cooperative. Bert started with the groundwork and Stetson took an immediate interest in it. Bert saw that nothing was bothering him, so he said, ‘Let’s get the saddle on.’ That went on and it was smooth sailing after that. “He was the type that just went instantly with Bert. Like I said in our last chat, we have a friend who comes down – they’ve adopted three OSAS horses from us – and their daughter [Lexi] came and spent a few days with us, and she was riding Stetson. “He’s the type that you can get on him and just go. We never needed to worry about him spooking or freaking out over anything because he’s more the type that would just be wanting to go and see what things were.” Based on what you’ve seen so far, where do you think Stetson’s talents might shine next as far as a second career or home fit? “He could really go with pretty much any discipline. The obstacles are not a problem, so trail riding would definitely be a good fit for him. “If somebody wanted to get into English riding with him, for example, I really feel that he could learn the dressage side. Being able to tack him up and go out with a bunch of friends and go for a ride as a trail horse, he would love it. “The obstacles that we put them through here isn’t to do Extreme Cowboy, it’s so that when they go into their new career and they’ve got to cross a bridge or go through some trees and the branches brush on their sides and stuff, they’re not afraid of them. If they’ve got to go underneath something, they learn that, too. It’s just more bombproofing them for anything that they may encounter in their next career. “With Stetson, he could go any route. Most of what we try and do here is make them perfect for a trail horse, but if somebody came in and wanted to do Western gaming with him, he would learn that. “He could pretty much go any direction for what anybody wanted to do with him. He would suit a younger rider, but he could also suit an older rider that just wants to do trail riding. A young person may want to get into beginner English and do small jumps. “I can see Stetson saying, ‘Whatever you want me to do, teach me, and I’ll do it.’” Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine * Founded in 1996, OSAS is an approved charitable organization committed to assisting in the adoption and relocation of retired and non-racing Standardbred horses within Ontario. A primary mandate of the program is to showcase the versatility of the breed to horse lovers unfamiliar with harness horses. OSAS, which strives to educate and assist in the retraining and management of Standardbreds, relies heavily on volunteers and temporary foster homes to carry out its mission. Those interested in getting involved with OSAS and its cause can reach out at osashorses@gmail.com or call 905-339-6748, for more information. Share This:Share
