It’s here! The 2018 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover is upon us. Hundreds of recently retrained former racehorses are converging on the Kentucky Horse Park for the chance at being named America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred. If you’re attending as a spectator, there’s so much to do from watching the competition, to attending seminars, and of course, shopping. And yes, that includes horse shopping!
If you’re looking for newly restarted OTTB then the Thoroughbred Makeover is the place to be. Roughly half of the horses entered in the competition are also for sale and you can view them online in the ASPCA Makeover Marketplace. Sale horses are easily identifiable throughout the competition by their green competition numbers and green icons on results, entry lists, and stall cards. You can try prospects on-site in the dedicated trial arena (just make sure to stop by the Info Desk in the Covered Arena to sign a waiver!) and Hagyard Medical Institute will have vets available for pre-purchase exams. Finding the OTTB of your dreams can hardly get any more convenient!
Need a few options to get you started? Check out our three picks this week from the Thoroughbred Makeover ASPCA Makeover Marketplace:
Huckins. Photo via Friends of Ferdinand.
Huckins (KITALPHA – SUNNY SIDE UP, BY PLEASANT COLONY): 2012 16.0-hand Oklahoma-bred gelding
Huckins has a in interesting backstory: He was bred at Dream Walkin’ Farms, an Oklahoma-based breeding and racing facility owned by country music star Toby Keith. Later on he was donated to Purdue University, but the vets couldn’t find anything wrong with them so they called Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredited rescue Friends of Ferdinand, Inc. The team at FFI has found him to be a completely sound, smart, and honest gelding. They’ve taken him trail riding, roading hounds, and cross country schooling, in addition to working on dressage and jumping inside an arena. He’ll be competing in Field Hunters in the Thoroughbred Makeover this weekend, bridle tag #79.
View Huckins on Friends of Ferdinand, Inc.
View Huckins on RRP Thoroughbred Makeover.
Ziggy Fortune. Photo via Thoroughbred Makeover Marketplace.
Ziggy Fortune (FREEDOM FOUND – LOVELY FORTUNE, BY FORTUNATE PROSPECT): 2015 16.1-hand Ohio-bred mare
Sales info from the Thoroughbred Makeover Marketplace:
“Do you want a Mare’s determination and a gelding’s disposition? DUH, we all do. Meet Ziggy!
Ziggy is currently jumping 2’6-3 ft. courses and free jumped 4 ft. She has the scope and talent to be a very competitive jumper or eventer. Ziggy has shown locally in hunters, jumpers, and mini eventing derbies. She is a naturally forward ride requiring an intermediate or advanced rider to polish her off in any direction. She trail rides alone or in a group, rides bareback, loads, clips, ties.
Foaled on June 29, 2013 out of Freedom Found and Love Fortune, Ziggy was raced six times and never hit the board. She returned home to her breeder for a proper let down all of 2017 and began lunging on the Pessoa system in Jan 2018.
At only 5 years old she is sound and very sane. Clean legs, great conformation, and plenty of chrome! I do have her on UlcerGuard since her tummy can get a little ouchy with all the travel. Currently shod all the way around for show season. UTD on all vaccines, worming, teeth, and papers in hand.
She will be available to see, try and purchase at the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, Oct. 4-7 in Lexington, KY, where she is entered in Eventing and Show Jumping. Price subject to increase.”
Tiz Nya. Photo via Thoroughbred Makeover Marketplace.
Tiz Nya (TIZDEJAVU – SANDYS BIRTHDAY, BY OFFICER): 2014 16.1-hand Illinois-bred mare
Sales information from the Thoroughbred Makeover Marketplace:
“Dark bay mare with the best temperament and a brilliant mind. With impressive bloodlines, Nya is out of Sandy’s Birthday (By Officer, with over $800,000 in earnings) by Tiz DejaVu (By Tiz Now, 2009 hall of fame and $6,427,830 in winnings). Many in her blood line go on to be exceptional sport horses. This girl will be no different; she is a shockingly quick learner with an incredible work ethic.
Nya is currently doing 2’6″ jumpers with flying changes and plans for more!
Nya is an amazing show horse; she LOVES the environment–falls asleep while you memorize courses in warm up, stands while you watch your friends go, cooperates gloriously for bathing anywhere, whether it’s cross ties in a tiny wash bay or in the middle of the field. I have yet to find anything she dislikes.
Nya would make an excellent eventer (Has schooled cross country with ditches and banks and gave no cares in the world), jumper, or a dressage star.
Nya is trailer proof, even through blown tires on the highway, an easy keeper in the stall or on full turn out, gets along with friends but doesn’t obsess over them when left alone, ties in cross ties or to walls/stalls, stands for farrier, vet, etc, and is supportive of delicious cold corona (See instagram #tiznya).
After working with so many different horses over the years, I can’t say enough about Nya’s brain. Anytime she’s challenged with something new, she works through it without getting the least bit anxious. Once she comes up with the right answer, it sticks for good. Her confidence has built so quickly, I’m certain this girl is going to keep excelling rapidly. She’s sensitive but loves to work and when doing so, she focuses like a bullet. This makes jump courses a blast, no fear or hesitation in the show ring, just a happy, trusting horse.
I got Nya for the purpose of flipping and selling to pay for training on my 2-year-old, but was beyond pleasantly surprised by how wonderful she is. Nya is only for sale because I’m starting an intense nursing program during which I will have no income and be unable to ride. I’m only willing to sell to the right match. Price will be negotiable if I find that person.”
