Meet Our Caravan (Van)
Overview
Our Caravan, known as Van, brings a very different kind of foundation to Horse Husband Stables.
He did not start the farm. He was not homebred. He did not transition into breeding.
What he brought instead was experience. Durability. Professionalism. And the kind of presence that only comes from a long and highly respected racing career.
Van is part of The Originals because he represents the full arc of a Thoroughbred’s life. From stakes winner and nationally ranked war horse to structured mentor in retirement, his story shows that excellence does not end when the racing silks come off.
Vital Stats
Registered Name: Our Caravan
Barn Name: Van
Foaled: March 31, 2011
Color / Sex: Bay gelding
Sire: Daaher
Dam: Alwaan (by Elusive Quality)
Foaled In: Kentucky
Racing Record: 68 starts, $669,036 earned
Career Highlights:
Calder Derby winner, 2014
Ranked 19th nationally by wins, 2017
Current Status: Originals Current Resident
Van is part of The Originals, a lifetime membership tier within Foal to Forever designed for those who want to be closest to the foundation of the program — with exclusive, behind-the-scenes access across all classes.
If you’d like to follow Van’s continued role in shaping the next generation — and step inside the long-term decisions that guide these horses — join The Originals.
For $25, you’ll have lifetime access to the heart of the program.
After clicking, you’ll create a quick account (about 30 seconds) and then complete secure checkout.
Membership includes access to a protected member area, which is why login is required.
A Champion on the Track
Van raced from age two through twelve, making 68 starts and earning $669,036. He won 29 races, finished second 11 times, and third 10 times. Fifty of his 68 starts were in the money.
He was not simply durable. He was competitive at a high level.
In 2014, Van captured the Calder Derby, establishing himself as a legitimate stakes performer. He proved capable not only of consistency but of stepping up on important days.
In 2017, he ranked 19th nationally by number of wins across North America, placing him among the Top 100 ranked horses by wins that season. That ranking was not about hype. It reflected a horse who showed up, again and again, and delivered.
As a five year old, he ran five triple digit speed figures in six starts. As a twelve year old, he strung together seven consecutive victories, with only two of those being claiming races.
He passed through the sales ring only once, as a yearling at Saratoga, where he sold for $190,000. From there, he built a long, respected, and fan-supported career that lasted until June 2023.
At Finger Lakes, he was known as a war horse. A champion. A horse with a following.
When he retired, faces from around the track came to say goodbye. Messages arrived asking that peppermints be brought home to him. His trainer described him as family. His exercise rider called him a champion.
He did not leave racing quietly.
He left respected.
Transitioning to Retirement
After his final start in June 2023, Van retired to a trusted friend of Horse Husband Stables for letdown and transition. During that time, he began informally stepping into a babysitter role for younger horses.
In 2024, he officially joined Horse Husband Stables as a prospective babysitter for the Class of 2024 colts.
At first, it was not a perfect match.
Van is big, athletic, and expressive. When Paycasso and Caesar were still weanlings, he was simply too much horse. He played bigger. He moved bigger. He carried the energy of a professional athlete who had broken from the gate nearly seventy times.
So the team adjusted.
They waited until the colts were older.
What Is a Babysitter Gelding
A babysitter gelding is not simply a calm companion. His role is strategic.
Young colts, especially those left intact for growth and development reasons, require structure during their yearling phase. Between twelve and fourteen months of age, testosterone begins to influence behavior. Confidence increases. Testing begins.
An older gelding provides correction without escalation.
He reinforces boundaries.
He teaches spatial awareness.
He establishes herd hierarchy clearly and efficiently.
Because he is a gelding, there is no breeding risk. Because he is experienced, his corrections are fair and proportionate.
Van’s primary role is to guide the Horse Husband Stables colts through their yearling phase until they ship to begin race training. He bridges the gap between babyhood and professionalism.
He also played a key role in helping Stowaway Lass (a filly from Mareworthy Charities) transition during her time growing up alongside the Class of 2024 colts before she returned to the mare herd.
Van is not a soft babysitter.
He is a teacher.
Stories like Van’s are part of the behind-the-scenes education Foal to Forever members receive throughout the year. Membership includes access to detailed updates, member events and contests, and live cameras during foaling season coverage across all classes.
Join The Originals to follow along. For $25, you’ll have lifetime access to the heart of the program.
After clicking, you’ll create a quick account (about 30 seconds) and then complete secure checkout.
Membership includes access to a protected member area, which is why login is required.
Finding His Role
Once Paycasso and Caesar matured into that yearling stage, Van became exactly what they needed.
He could play hard enough to build fitness.
He could chase when necessary to clarify hierarchy.
He could share a feed bucket when appropriate.
He helped reveal Paycasso’s dominant tendencies. He allowed Caesar to develop confidence. He provided structured interaction without unnecessary intensity.
His role will likely expand again as Thirteen and CK reach that same developmental phase. Timing matters, and Van has proven that he thrives when matched with horses ready for his level of engagement.
Personality
Despite his résumé, Van is something of a goofball. He can be dramatic about minor inconveniences and, at times, more baby than the babies.
He is expressive, athletic, and socially intelligent. He understands herd dynamics clearly and rarely needs to assert himself loudly. His authority is natural, not forced.
For a horse who raced nearly seventy times, there is no hardness to him.
Only experience.
Foal to Forever Commitment
Van’s retirement is active and intentional. He is documented, protected, and given a role that suits both his mind and body.
Foal to Forever is not only about foals. It is about continuity. It is about honoring the full lifecycle of a Thoroughbred.
Van represents that beautifully.
Where He Is Now
Van lives at Horse Husband Stables as a current resident and active mentor to the yearling colts. His racing career is behind him, but his influence continues daily in the pasture.
He once ran to win.
Now he teaches others how to compete.
And both roles matter.
Van arriving in Kentucky
Van shortly after arriving in Kentucky; he LOVES peppermints
Van meeting the Class of 2024 (Lord Paycasso and Emperor Caesarion)
Want to follow Van and the rest of The Originals?
Join The Originals lifetime membership.
One payment. Lifetime access.
The Originals offer a cost effective way to join Foal to Forever through horses whose stories are foundational to Horse Husband Stables. Members receive lifetime access to The Originals member area along with shared benefits available to all classes including live foaling cameras each season, monthly live updates, events, and voting contests. This membership is designed as an accessible entry point into the Foal to Forever experience.
