Classic Eventing Nation

Twin Rivers Ranch 2021 Season Preview

By on Feb 18, 2021 12:00 pm -

Avery Noblitt and Cumani at the 2020 Winter Horse Trials. Photo by TheWestEquestrian.com.

New show stabling, new cross-country obstacles, and upgraded infrastructure. These are among the ways the Baxter family made the most of the COVID-caused downtime that waylaid some — but not all — of last year’s ambitious plans for their Twin Rivers Ranch equestrian venue.

The inaugural Spring International CCI4*-L that was set for last April will now unfurl April 8-11, 2021, at the 500-acre property in central coastal California. Hosting an Adequan/USEF Youth Team Challenge concurrent with the Fall International September 23-26 is a new calendar addition.

Following up 2020’s resounding success with the first joint staging of the Dutta Corp USEA Young Event Horse and USEA Future Event Horse West Coast Championships is a major agenda highlight. Last fall, the Baxters wowed the eventing world by hosting these Championships concurrently and showcasing them as a stand-alone competition.

“The West Coast Championships were a great success in 2020, boasting record numbers across the FEH and YEH Championships,” stated the US Eventing Association. On Oct. 29-30 of this year, Twin Rivers hopes to build on that debut by welcoming, challenging and showcasing more young horses from throughout the Western United States.

“They set a real standard for what the Championships should be,” confirmed Debbie Adams, who travelled from her East Coast base to judge the 2020 Championships with Peter Gray. “I was just blown away by what a good job they did.”

Amber Levine & Leonardo Diterma at last fall’s Dutta Corp. USEA Young Horse
Championships. Photo by MGO Photography.

Permanent Show Stabling

The first competition of the year is the Winter Horse Trials, Feb. 26-28. Exhibitors will be the first to see the new, fully-covered permanent stabling with 36 12′ x 12′ stalls. Twin Rivers Ranch members get priority treatment for the new stabling. That’s in addition to year-round unlimited access to all open facilities — for two horses with the same owner. Members are exempt from non-member fees at all schooling shows, and family members and/or additional horses can be added to the Twin Rivers Ranch membership at a modest additional cost.

Membership fees help Twin Rivers with maintenance and upgrades that have helped the facility become one of the favorite venues in the Western United States. Ample space, varied terrain for cross-country and carefully maintained dressage and show jumping arenas are among its assets.

After coaching top contenders during the Winter Horse Trials last year, USET Eventing chef d’equipe Erik Duvander praised Twin Rivers’ continual upgrades. He credited the venue as a key destination for horses and riders on the top sport path.

“They are a progressive bunch,” adds Twin Rivers upper-level course designer Hugh Lochore of the Baxter family. Along with 5* eventer Andrea Baxter, organizer Connie Baxter has extensive eventing experience. Whirlwind Excavating owner Jeff Baxter happily applies his expertise and equipment to bringing Lochore’s ideas to life. “The venue has interesting topography and it’s a good canvas to play with,” Lochore explains. “It’s exciting when you put things on paper, then you have a team that is keen to get the bit between their teeth and make it happen.”

Lochore will return to Twin Rivers in March to continue work on the upper-level tracks in advance of the Spring International.

Andrea Baxter in Advanced Show Jumping at Twin Rivers. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Also new is Ride On Photo by Tayler as Twin Rivers’ show photographer for the year. This is the talented Tayler Callie Walsh, a familiar face in the eventing world and daughter of Ride On Video’s Bob and Debi Ravenscroft.

People accommodations have expanded, too. In addition to discounted rooms from sponsor Best Western Plus Black Oak and on-site RV rentals from Getaway RV Rentals, Twin Rivers has increased its total of full-power/water RV hook-ups to 37. Having resumed show hosting in July of last year, the Twin Rivers team has mastered COVID protocols to keep all exhibitors safe. Until further notice, spectators are not allowed.

Get Involved: Volunteer & Sponsor!

A generous volunteer incentive program continues through 2021. Full-day helpers receive $60 vouchers toward future competitions, half-day helpers earn $30 vouchers. Each shows’ volunteers are entered into a drawing for prize packs filled with useful goodies from Twin Rivers sponsors. Hours are tracked through the year for entry into a year-end raffle. Prizes include a Twin Rivers entry, stabling, cross-country schooling voucher and more. Sponsors already on board for the year include Best Western Plus Black Oak, Getaway RV Rentals and Auburn Labs, manufacturers of APF Pro Formula. Sponsorships are still available and more partnerships will be announced soon. (Contact Christina Gray at Gray Area Events for sponsorship opportunities: email: [email protected].

The Calendar:
Winter Horse Trials: Feb. 26-28
Fundraiser Combined Test: April 3-4
Spring International: April 8-11
Schooling One Day Horse Trials: May 23
Schooling Show: June 6
CDS Dressage: June 12-13
Summer Horse Trials: July 1-4
Area VI Adult Camp: July 30-31
CDS Dressage: Aug. 14-15
Fall International: Sept. 23-26 (Including the Adequan/USEF Youth Team Challenge)
USEA Future Event Horse & USEA Dutta Corp. Young Event Horse West Coast
Championships (and an FEH qualifier): Oct. 29-30.
Schooling Halloween Horse Trials: Oct. 31

Fast Facts:
Location: 8715 N. River Road, Paso Robles, CA. 93446; email: [email protected]
Ride Times: Available www.twinrivershorsepark.com a few days before competition begins.
Results: www.twinrivershorsepark.com
Show Photographer: Ride On Photo by Tayler
Video: Ride On Video
Volunteer: www.twinrivershorsepark.com/volunteer

Inside the Stable with the Aiken Showcase Stars: Phillip Dutton & Z

By on Feb 18, 2021 9:00 am -

In our last edition of “Inside the Stable with the Aiken Showcase Stars” we caught up with Liz Halliday-Sharp, who has won the event for the past two years running. This week we take a trip to the farm of Phillip Dutton, who was nipping at Liz’s heels at the 2020 Showcase, finishing 2nd and 3rd at the with Z and Fernhill Singapore respectively. Can he take the win in this year’s Showcase, which is fast-approaching on March 5-6?

Annie DeWitt takes us behind the scenes. Get inspired by supergroom Emma Ford’s immaculate tack room, watch Phillip and Z practicing their scales, and meet the Z Partnership’s 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Asca X Bellabouche, by Babouche VH Gehucht Z) up close and personal.

Phillip Dutton and Z at the 2020 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field. Photo by Shelby Allen.

It’s been a great honor and pleasure to spend six weeks in training with Dutton eventing at their winter hideaway in Wellington, Florida. Close to the Wellington Environmental Preserve with an abundance of hacking opportunities (and alligators — oh my!), the horses all enjoyed a rigorous — and sunny! — month of cross training in the Turf Tour hosted by The Ridge at Wellington. I’d like to extend a personal thank you to Phillip, Olivia and Evie, as well as Emma Ford and the entire team at Dutton Eventing for taking me under their wing. And to the incomparable Scott Hassler for teaching Hendrix and I how to “slalom and dance.” Having just turned 40, as an ad

ult amteur in the sport, it was the opportunity of a lifetime to learn under all of your care, belief and guidance. Click below for a behind the scenes look at the Duttons’ winter training camp and, of course, for a chat with the unforgettable equine star of this series, Z.

Phillip Dutton – Z from Annie DeWitt on Vimeo.

Best of luck to this pair in Aiken!

Phillip Dutton and Z at the 2020 Liftmaster Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Now in its third year, Liftmaster Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field is dedicated to putting on a world-class event. EN will be bringing you all the latest. Learn more about the event here.

Annie Dewitt is a writer, eventer and literary agent at The Shipman Agency. Her debut novel WHITE NIGHTS IN SPLIT TOWN CITY now appears in several languages. Annie trains at True Prospect Farm in Cochranville, PA, with Phillip Dutton and Ryan Wood. She is a passionate Retired Racehorse advocate who has volunteered at The Rosemary Horse Farm Sanctuary in the Catskills. Annie is the happy horse mother to her 5-year old OTTB Confidence Level and her current eventing partner-in-crime, Offshore Cooley. Contact: [email protected]

 

 

Thursday News & Notes

By on Feb 18, 2021 12:01 am -

Our hearts go out to our friends in Texas this week as they battle deadly winter storms that have left millions without power. Managing a farm is difficult enough when the temps dip this low, but in a state with systems not built to withstand storms of this duration, making do for humans and horses has been dangerous. With even more snow on the horizon for many, keep the people of Texas in your thoughts.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Holland Eventing at Holly Berry Farm YEH: Website

Paradise Farm H.T.: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Volunteer

Rocking Horse Winter II Advanced H.T.: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Volunteer

Thursday Reading List:

One in six women in the U.S. are sexual assault victims, and those statistics exist even within the walls of our sport. As this author says, that part of their lives doesn’t “disappear” when they put breeches on. I have been proud to see many in our sport step forward to offer words of support when our fellow equestrians speak out, and though it may feel like a small gesture, solidarity can go a long way. [Opinion: When You Speak Out Against Toxic Horse World Behavior, You’re Helping More Than You Know]

We’re looking forward to our first extra “perk” for EN Patrons: a live Q&A with Sarah Carlan, MSW tackling the topic of mental wellness as it pertains to our riding. It’s not too late to sign up to become a Patron; upon sign-up, you’ll receive an invite to our private Facebook group just for Patrons and will have access to the Q&A at 6 p.m. EST this evening. The video will also be made available to Patrons after conclusion. Learn more about EN’s brand-new Patreon here.

The flying change is often the stickiest part of an upper level dressage test. There are a few key elements of your training that must be in place before moving onto teaching flying changes to ensure success. [Checklist: Is Your Dressage Horse Ready To Learn Flying Changes?]

Add this to your video playlist today: Judging the Young Event Horse’s Gaits

Hot on Horse Nation: Candy Hearts From Your Horse

Thursday Video: Look ma no hands

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Spooky Season at Holly Hill

By on Feb 17, 2021 6:30 pm -

There are two things I need from a good YouTube binge: the chance to snoop around an event or a barn I’ve never been to, and truly ludicrous outfits. This beautifully-shot video from October’s Holly Hill Horse Trials in Louisiana ticks both those boxes, with competitors taking to the cross-country course in an extraordinary array of Halloween costumes. And honestly? I love it. Sign me up for this year’s costume contest; I’ll be putting in a bid to borrow cute-as-a-button Fallon as a catch-ride and trying to sweet-talk my way into getting a Gator Bayou Pony Club pin, because honestly, Pony Clubs here in England have considerably less cool names.

(Also, can we talk about how beautifully produced this video is? Five-stars of the world, take note!)

Go Holly Hill — and Go Eventing!

Need to preserve healthy joints?

Ask your vet about JointWise™.

JointWise:

  • Maintains a balanced immune response within the joint, decreasing damaging inflammation and the development of osteoarthritis.
  • Preserves fluid motion and flexibility.
  • Supplies the building blocks necessary to support normal cartilage growth and the regeneration of damaged tissues.
  • Sustains ample high-quality synovial fluid, which lubricates and nourishes the joints.

For more information, visit KPPvet.com.

Want to Blog Your Way to the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover?

By on Feb 17, 2021 1:30 pm -

Photo courtesy of Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover.

Want to chronicle your journey to this year’s Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover? The Nation Media (Eventing Nation, Horse Nation, Jumper Nation) family of websites is inviting bloggers to bring readers behind the scenes on the road to the Makeover.

If you are a blogger (or would like to become one) and would like to share your pieces with Nation Media, here’s a loose look at what we’re looking for:

  • Strong writing with a penchant for creative storytelling and an ability to engage the relevant audience.
  • Ability to share one blog post per month.
  • Must be unafraid to present not only what goes well, but also the challenges that may be encountered during the journey to the Makeover.

What’s in it for you?

  • Exposure to thousands of loyal readers on whichever platform suits your discipline best
  • Your byline and dedicated author page on each blog
  • Promotion of your work on our social media platforms
  • Links back to your blog or website in each blog

Some of our RRP bloggers have even gone on to become part of the Nation Media writing team, which is to say we’ve really enjoyed meeting more writers through this process each year. We want to share your journey with more horse lovers just like yourself. To express interest in sharing your blogs, please see the below contact information for each Nation Media platform. To read examples of past RRP blogs, click here.

Eventing Nation

Audience: Eventing enthusiasts

Request: 1 blog entry/month, 800-1500 words (this is, of course, just a guideline), with photos

To apply: Send a 300 word writing sample/blog about why you entered the Thoroughbred Makeover to Editor Sally at: [email protected] with the subject line “RRP HN Blogger”

Horse Nation

Audience: Horse lovers in all disciplines

Request: 1 blog entry/month, 800-1500 words (this is, of course, just a guideline), with photos

To apply: Send a 300 word writing sample/blog about why you entered the Thoroughbred Makeover to Editor DeAnn at: [email protected] with the subject line “RRP HN Blogger”

Jumper Nation

Audience: Hunter/Jumper enthusiasts

Request: 1 blog entry/month, 800-1500 words (this is, of course, just a guideline), with photos

To apply: Send a 300 word writing sample/blog about why you entered the Thoroughbred Makeover to Editor Ema at: [email protected] with the subject “RRP JN Blogger”

All applications are due by Wednesday, February 24 at midnight EST. Good luck!

US Equestrian Announces 2021 Eventing Emerging Athlete Program List

By on Feb 17, 2021 10:08 am -

Alex Baugh and Mr Candyman. Photo by Shelby Allen.

US Equestrian is pleased to announce the athletes selected for the 2021 USEF Eventing Emerging Athlete Program. Eventers age 25 and under are eligible for the program, which identifies and supports athlete/horse combinations that have shown the potential to develop into future U.S. team candidates.

Participants in the Emerging Athlete Program have the opportunity to work with U.S. Eventing Development and Emerging Coach Leslie Law in honing their skills in competition as well as their knowledge of the pathway to high performance.

“We had a very strong group of applicants for this year’s Emerging Athlete Program, which became all the more clear when I evaluated the athletes in person at the assessment sessions,” said Law. “The quality of the horses and athletes for the Emerging Athlete Program continues to improve each year, and I am very excited about working with this group in a mentorship and coaching capacity.”

Athletes are selected for the Emerging Athlete Program based on their application, which includes their results at the CCI3*-L level. Applicants who have not yet achieved an MER at a CCI3*-L may be talent spotted into the program by the Performance Advisory Team. For this year’s program, applicants were evaluated at assessment sessions in January at Stable View in Aiken, S.C.; the Florida Horse Park in Ocala, Fla.; and at Kingsway Farm/Next Level Eventing in Temecula, Calif.

The following athletes have been selected to participate in the 2021 USEF Eventing Emerging Athlete Program, in alphabetical order:

  • Charlotte Babbitt (South Lake Tahoe, Calif.)
  • Alexandra Baugh (Lexington, Ky.)
  • Amanda Beale Clement (Phoenixville, Pa.)
  • Sophie Click (Snoqualmie, Wash.)
  • Katherine Delaney* (Rockville, Va.)
  • Cornelia Dorr (Manchester By The Sea, Mass.)
  • Mia Farley (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
  • Savannah Gwin* (San Clemente, Calif.)
  • Gabrielle Hutchison (Cleveland, N.C.)
  • Katie Lichten (South Hamilton, Mass.)
  • Benjamin Noonan (Ballwin, Mo.)
  • Meg Pellegrini (Wayne, Pa.)
  • Alyssa Phillips (Fort Worth, Texas)
  • Kaylawna Smith-Cook (Temecula, Calif.)
  • Megan Sykes (Midland, Texas)
  • Madison Temkin (Sebastapol, Calif.)
    *Denotes athlete was talent spotted onto the list

To learn more about the Eventing Pathway Program, please contact Christina Vaughn, Director of Eventing Programs and Program Support, at [email protected] or Jenni Autry, Managing Director of Eventing, at [email protected].

Zara Buren Memorial Award Recipient Announced

By on Feb 17, 2021 9:00 am -

Zara Buren and Make My Day. Photo by Christina D Equine Photos.

The Ontario Eventing Association, in partnership with the Zara Buren Memorial Foundation, has announced the recipient of the inaugural Zara Buren Memorial Award.

Fourteen-year-old Zara tragically lost her life on September 21st of last year, while saving her beloved horse, Monkey, who had become trapped in a marshy bog. Zara is remembered for her kindness, drive for excellence, passionate love of animals and dedication to her horse and the sport of eventing.

The Zara Buren Memorial Foundation was established with the focus on helping youth with the desire, talent, and work ethic to pursue their passion. The Memorial Foundation will support the Zara Buren Memorial Award to be given annually through the Ontario Eventing Association to a junior rider who exhibits a passion for eventing, sportsmanship and a commitment to their horse. Zara was a talented rider with an intense dedication to training and learning, always putting her horse first.

A total of 18 applicants applied for this award. The selection committee was comprised of members of the Ontario Eventing Association Board of Directors as well as Zara’s family.

Said Zara’s parents, Sabrina Haque and Robert Buren, “Sabrina and I were impressed by the number and strength of applications received for the first Zara Buren Memorial Award. The kindness, dedication, discipline, and work ethic exhibited by all of the young riders reminds us of our dear Zara and gives us confidence that the sport of eventing in Ontario has a strong future.

This year, in addition to the primary award and in response to the number of strong candidates, the Zara Buren Memorial Foundation is proud to support four additional athletes with Grants of Distinction. We are excited to watch you all flourish as you continue your eventing journey.

Thank you to the Ontario Eventing Association for creating the Zara Buren Memorial Award and for leading the process, and to all the applicants and their coaches, parents, and references. We hope that the traits that this award recognizes will continue to grow amongst all riders, and the memories of Zara will carry on for everyone who was lucky enough to know her, and those who continue to #rideforzara.”

Avery Brennan and Havana. Photo by C Denault.

The Ontario Eventing Association is pleased to announce Avery Brennan, an eventer from the Ottawa area, as the recipient of the inaugural award, a $6,000 dollar grant as well as a cooler and bonnet in burgundy, Zara’s show colours.

Said Olympian and Pan AM Medalist, WEG Medalist Selena O’Hanlon, Canadian Equestrian Team member in Eventing, who coaches Avery, “I am thrilled for Avery and for the eventing community with this choice: Avery shows excellent sportsmanship in every aspect of this sport. He’s a very kind and thoughtful person, a dedicated horseman and animal lover, all super attributes in such a talented young rider. Knowing Zara, I think she would be proud of Avery. Thank you so much to everyone involved. Her memory will live on and we will strive to be ‘more like Zara’ in every aspect of life.”

The four Grants of Distinction recipients are, whom each will receive a grant of $1,000 dollars, in alphabetical order:

  • Matthew Heinzle
  • Olivia MacLeod
  • Ava Lema Nilsson
  • Alexandra Wickett

Congratulations once again to all applicants and grant recipients.

[Zara Buren Memorial Award Recipient]

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on Feb 17, 2021 12:01 am -

“If you’re wondering the kind of person who can become a powerhouse polo player seemingly on a whim (on top of his day job), that person is Dale (Johnson).” A recent article on my Apple News feed caught my eye, and soon enough I was all the way down the polo rabbit hole learning all about Dale Johnson. I’ll let this teaser from The Kitchn (let’s be honest, I live for any and all food-related content) reel you in: “On a trip to Buenos Aires just over three years ago, 32-year-old Dale Johnson casually spotted a pair of polo boots on display in a store. “Those shoes are badass, I gotta get into that,” he thought, and months later he joined a clinic. Now, at age 35, Dale is a nationally competitive polo player who, along with his horse, Sunny, is taking the sport by storm.”

Read more over on The Kitchn here. Dale is also featured among the mentors working with the Optimum Youth Equestrian Scholarship, whose mission is to provide opportunities for youth from marginalized communities to become involved or stay involved in horse sports through financial awards and mentorship.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Holland Eventing at Holly Berry Farm YEH: Website

Paradise Farm H.T.: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Volunteer

Rocking Horse Winter II Advanced H.T.: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Volunteer

Wednesday Reading List:

Let’s continue this conversation. In support of the all-star panelists for the upcoming Community Conversations series on US Equestrian, we plan to tune in and encourage our readers to participate and to submit questions for the panel featuring Dr. Anastasia Curwood, Kareem Rosser, and Caitlin Gooch.

If you’re a podcast fan, you might be missing out on the fun over at Heels Down Happy Hour. Five-star eventer Jessica Payne is one of the three hosts making up this fun show, and CBC Therapeutic Horseback Riding‘s Brittney Chambers was the most recent guest host. Learn all about how Brittney gave up her stable corporate career to pursue service of others through horses here.

Don’t miss out on our mental wellness Q&A with Sarah Carlan, exclusively available for EN Patreons! We can’t wait to sit down and chat it out with Sarah, who recently penned this column about balancing it all. Sign up to become a Patreon and receive your invite to the session on Thursday, February 18 at 6 p.m. EST.

Turns out, barrel racing and dressage share more than a few commonalities. Would you take a barrel horse for a spin? Perhaps we’ve found a new way to improve our seat, eh?

Near Leesburg, Virginia and looking for a place to ride out of the elements? Morven Park is offering up its indoor arena for winter schooling this season. Sessions cost $25 and include use of schooling jumps for setting your own course. Learn more here.

There is a correlation between respiratory health and performance for our equine athletes. Learn more about how the two tie together in this case study blog from Haygain.

Hot on Horse Nation: Your horse can like you, but not trust you at the same time. Like, Trust, and Respect are all very important with our horses and yet they are not dependent on one another, nor does it mean if you have one does it mean you have the other. More on how to improve these elements of your relationship with your horse here.

Wednesday Video Break:

Get to know Japanese rider Kazumo Tomoto in this vlog from Fox Pitt Eventing.

Tuesday Video: Versatile Cavaletti with Piggy March

By on Feb 16, 2021 3:00 pm -

Even if you don’t have access to regular lessons and training, or in supplement to your ongoing education, one benefit of today’s reaches of the internet is the plethora of information available for learning. British five-star eventer and reigning Badminton champion Piggy March’s vlog is one such example. In her latest episode, Piggy gives into the many different ways she incorporates cavaletti into her everyday training.

“(Cavaletti) are a good variation of work through the season to break up just normal schooling or test riding,” Piggy explains. Additionally, poles are useful for getting the hind end and topline built back up after time off and for getting the horses geared back up for jumping.

Piggy takes us through some basic cavaletti exercises, explaining the differences between some of her horses and how the poles help each of them. Another thought she shares: this is useful not only for the physical benefits, but also for the added perk of encouraging the horse to think for and carry itself. This is a skill perhaps underemphasized in some areas but is one of the most important characteristics a successful event horse needs. From there, you’ll see how Piggy works over the poles – using trot and canter poles, bounces, small jumps, and lead change poles – with horses ranging from experienced five-star to young horses.

It’s extremely generous that Piggy and her team continue to produce this content for our enjoyment and education. Please support them by subscribing to Piggy March on YouTube.

This Year’s Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover Will Be the Biggest Yet

By on Feb 16, 2021 12:00 pm -

The Makeover Marketplace allows buyers to watch, try, vet and buy in one location in one weekend. Photo by Giulia Garcia.

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) welcomes today 484 accepted applications, representing 480 unique trainers and teams, to the 2021 class of the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. The Thoroughbred Makeover is the world’s largest and most lucrative retraining competition for ex-racehorses, and the 2021 class combined with 322 trainers from the postponed 2020 competition year will make this the biggest Makeover yet.

The Thoroughbred Makeover is a retraining competition open to professionals, junior, amateurs and teams, competing side-by-side. Ten disciplines of competition are offered, including barrel racing, competitive trail, dressage, eventing, field hunter, polo, ranch work, show hunter, show jumper, and freestyle (a free-form discipline to demonstrate skills of the trainer’s choice). Horses can compete in one or two of those disciplines.

Horses from each competition year will compete in separate preliminary rounds, and the five top-placed horses in each discipline after preliminary competition will return for the Finale where they will compete once more to determine final placings. New for this year (intended to be part of the 2020 Makeover), a panel consisting of all the judges from the ten disciplines will determine the overall Thoroughbred Makeover Champion in each competition year, selecting the best-trained horse from the ten discipline winners. A popular vote placed by spectators watching both in-person and online via live stream will determine a People’s Choice winner in each competition year, who wins the right to direct a donation to an equine charity of their choosing.

2019 Thoroughbred Makeover Champion Cowboy Swagger, trained by Fallon Taylor. Photo by CanterClix.

“After the pandemic forced the cancelation of the 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover, it was important to us to preserve the opportunity for our 2020 class to compete, and thanks to so many loyal sponsors and donors from the racing, breeding and sport horse worlds, we are going to be putting on the largest retraining competition in history,” said RRP executive director Jen Roytz.

Accepted trainers are encouraged to register their horses at TBMakeover.org as soon as they acquire them. Horse registration closes on July 31, but registration upon acquisition allows the RRP to better gather data on horses undergoing the Makeover process.

The application process for the 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover required trainers to demonstrate their skills and expertise through competition results, videos and references, as well as a letter from a vet stating that that the applicant has the necessary skills and knowledge to appropriately care for a horse transitioning off the track. The RRP’s selection committee took into consideration both candidates’ ability to effectively retrain an off-track Thoroughbred and candidates’ commitment to the RRP’s mission of promoting off-track Thoroughbreds in second careers.

“We’re always humbled by the interest we receive from applicants each year, but with hundreds of 2020 entries still in play and known logistical challenges — move-in, daylight hours, running two Finales, and more — the application committee had the tough task of narrowing down the 2021 entry pool to meet our schedule capacity,” said RRP managing director Kirsten Green. “The primary goal of the Makeover is to showcase Thoroughbreds at their very best, so this means we’re looking for trainers whose application demonstrates that they’re equipped to meet that goal on the timeline provided.”

The Makeover has historically attracted a broad cross-section of the horse industry, represented by junior, amateur and professional equestrians, as well as teams. The great equalizer at the Makeover are the horses: eligible Thoroughbreds competing in 2021 will all come from similar backgrounds, with no more than 10 months of retraining for a second career and all having raced or trained to race within the past two years.

Warlander and Haylie after their final show jumping round at the Makeover. Photo by Canter Clix.

This format allows trainers in all categories to compete side-by-side on equal footing. Juniors and amateurs routinely enjoy great success at the Makeover and have earned many top-five finishes; the 2017 Thoroughbred Makeover Champion Old Tavern was trained by junior Charlie Caldwell.

“Driving demand for Thoroughbreds after racing is a critical aspect of aftercare, and the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover is central to that mission,” says Erin Crady, executive director of TCA. “We believe in the importance of that mission and are thrilled to support the RRP as it prepares for the biggest Makeover in its history.”

Accepted trainers for 2021 include Becky Huestis, assistant rider and manager for John Madden Sales; Darby Mazzarisi, champion hunter trainer; and Natalie (Voss) Nevills, two-time Eclipse Award-winning turf writer for Paulick Report. They join a diverse class of trainers hailing from 46 states and four Canadian provinces. Trainers range in age from 11 (will be 12 at the time of the Makeover as per rules) to 74.

Trainers for the 2021 class have signed up to bring a total of 521 horses. Combined with the declared horses from the 2020 competition year, a total of 953 horses will participate in the Makeover process this year. The full list of trainers accepted for the 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover can be found at the event website.

With the uncertainty of training green horses, the length of time between acceptance of trainers and Final Entry, and the fact that some horses sell before the Makeover, the RRP is once again offering a wait list. Individuals who missed the initial round of applications are welcome to apply to the wait list and can do so by contacting [email protected]. The wait list does not guarantee final entry into the competition, but does widen the impact of the Makeover and helps more horses transition to second careers.

Photo courtesy of Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover.

For riders seeking a well-started off-track Thoroughbred for competition or pleasure, the ASPCA Makeover Marketplace will return in 2021, offering buyers the unique opportunity to watch a horse compete, trial-ride, and complete a pre-purchase exam all in one location. Over 100 horses are expected to be entered in the Marketplace from both competition years.

In addition to a weekend of Thoroughbred competition and celebration of what makes the off-track Thoroughbred great, the Makeover also offers ample opportunity for education for both trainers and the public: educational seminars and panel discussion will take place on Friday, October 15, as well as the Makeover Master Class, a retraining clinic for recently-retired racehorses. Structured similarly to popular colt-starting competitions but without the competitive aspect, the Makeover Master Class offers spectators the opportunity to watch experienced off-track Thoroughbred trainers assess a prospect’s conformation and movement, as well as demonstrate their process for initial training and first rides. A vendor fair provides plenty of shopping opportunities as well!

The Thoroughbred Makeover is the flagship event for the RRP, a 501(c)3 non-profit committed to increasing the demand for and value of Thoroughbreds in their careers after racing. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover.

Thoroughbred Makeover fast facts:

▪ The 2021 competition is open to any Thoroughbred that raced or had a published work after July 1, 2019 and did not start retraining for a second career before December 1, 2020
▪ Trainers indicate a primary (and optional secondary) discipline on their applications, but are free to change disciplines as the competition approaches and they learn their horses’ strengths. A horse can compete in up to two disciplines, and a trainer can compete a maximum of two horses in a single competition year.
▪ Trainers do not need to have obtained the horse they intend to compete at the time of their application. Some trainers have already obtained their Thoroughbred Makeover mounts, but many are still searching. Trainers may begin registering their horses today, but have through July 31 to complete horse registration
▪ Participation in the Thoroughbred Makeover Marketplace sale is entirely voluntary, but many trainers take advantage of the extra exposure to market their prospects. All sales are private contracts between individual trainers and buyers; the RRP is not involved and receives no commissions