Thoroughbred Makeover Celebrates Adoptable Horses in their Second Career
Now in its fifth year, the Thoroughbred Makeover, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, aims to dispel the myth that race horses are only useful for racing.
This year’s Makeover took place on October 2-5, 2019, in Lexington, Kentucky, and included competitions in 10 different disciplines, showcasing the trainability of off-track Thoroughbreds. The event had more than 400 Thoroughbred entrants, most of whom were acquired directly from the race track. The Thoroughbred Makeover is also home to the Makeover Marketplace, sponsored by the ASPCA, which provides a unique one-stop spot for riders and trainers to see off-track horses for sale or adoption.
Check out this video clip with Jen Roytz, Executive Director of the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) to learn more and see how your equine rescue group can get involved next year!
Among the attendees were the following equine adoption groups, some of which had alumni horses competing:
- Aikendale Thoroughbred Rescue
- Beyond the Wire
- Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption program
- Florida Trac
- Galloping Out
- Hidden Acres Rescue for Thoroughbreds
- Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center
- MidAtlantic Horse Rescue
- New Start
- New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program
- NTWO
- Run for The Ribbons, Inc.
- Second Stride
- Turning for Home, Inc.
In addition to the competition, the event offers several educational opportunities, including seminars, sponsored by Horse Media Group, and the Makeover Masterclass, sponsored by Thoroughbred Education & Research Foundation (TERF). This year, three horses were selected from different aftercare organizations and paired with experienced trainers who demonstrated their process for training a horse off the tracks.
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