“…as I mused on how badly I felt about not getting more done, I realized that I actually am showing up and doing the work, and loving whatever happens as we negotiate this situation.” (more…)
“Louise, dear readers, is currently That Horse. As in, steer clear of That Horse, it looks like it may explode. Which horse did the trainer refuse to ride today? That Horse. OMG, I’m so glad I am not on That Horse.” (more…)
Training horses is never straight line from point A to point B — especially when you’re training on a deadline. Detours happen and our plans must change. Brandy Stevenson discusses just that. (more…)
“The goal of that Tadpole was not to clamber for the blue ribbon, but rather to take a temperature reading on where he was, assign homework and head back to the farm with more information on how to shape my training going forward.” (more…)
“But, I AM a special kind of stupid. And so the overweight, middle-aged, amateur said, ‘Put him on the shuttle on Saturday morning, and I’ll pick him up in Ocala.'” Thus began Libby and Spider’s 2020 Makeover journey.
“Hypothetically, if I were to get together with an older warhorse mare (raced 50+ times) with my older warhorse self (50+ yrs old) would y’all sponsor me…” And that’s how it all began for Jen and Louise, two warhorses headed to the 2020 Makeover. (more…)
“The spring in her hocks and flawless lead changes couldn’t compensate for her lack of speed; she always managed to cross the line in the middle of the pack. Shipped off to a farm and listed for sale, she was stalled waiting for the starting gun to fire on her new career.” (more…)
“For the past two years, my RRP personal entries … have been young, lightly raced, red, and well… hot. Boomer, an elegant, 17.1 hand, 2011, big-boned bay was anything but what had become known as ‘my type.'”
It’s that time of year — the Retired Racehorse Project has announced the trainers for the 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. (more…)
As the application deadline for the Thoroughbred Makeover draws near, many riders are acquiring their fresh off-the-track horses. Here’s a hilarious tongue-in-cheek look at what those horses would say if they could talk.
For this year’s Thoroughbred Makeover, the Retired Racehorse Project implemented an arrival exam to ensure that each horse was fit to compete. Here’s how it went.
Although the Thoroughbred Makeover has begun, Kristen reflects on her journey to get here and — no matter what the outcome — how Geoffrey has already exceeded her expectations.
Preliminary competition is now complete in all ten disciplines at the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. See who is sitting in the top spot in each discipline.
“To all the fellow trainers, volunteers, employees and vendors making the trip to Kentucky, good luck and have fun. Nessi and I will be cheering for you from home.”
“I was having more fun and less stress riding than I had in a long time. I was enjoying our journey so much and each week I reveled in the progress we made. For once the struggles, though frustrating, just weren’t that bad because the fun rides far outweighed the bad rides.”
