Aftercare

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Ten Lessons Learned From 2019 Thoroughbred Makeover

When I arrived at the Retired Racehorse Project’s (RRP) Thoroughbred Makeover Presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America on Tuesday, Oct. 1, the Kentucky Horse Park was already buzzing that evening.

Though the event didn’t officially start until Wednesday morning, more than 450 recently retired Thoroughbreds had made their way to Lexington, Ky. After passing a mandatory wellness exam upon arrival, show-week preparations began as their riders took them to check out the grounds and prepare for the week ahead.

THE ARRIVAL EXAM

Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: Moving Out of the Comfort Zone

This year, America’s Best Racing and the Retired Racehorse Project will be sharing diaries from several trainers preparing for the 2019 Thoroughbred Makeover competition, scheduled for Oct. 2-5 at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: ‘We Are In Good Shape’ with Shanghaied

My mantra this month is “WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.”

With only five months until the Thoroughbred Makeover, our training continues. So far we have met our goals by going off-property to lessons. Shanghaied and I have ridden in two clinics successfully, and we have a show coming up the first week in July! I am happy with our ground fundamentals and Shanghaied’s level of fitness.

Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: Back in the Saddle with Thalia

I like to view goals as steppingstones on a journey rather than a destination at which to arrive. This mentality has allowed for the ever-humbling qualities of some horses to be a smoother pill to swallow when life hands you lemons. Sometimes things just fall out of place no matter how much planning went into them. Sometimes, all that’s left to do is sit back and enjoy the lemonade. It’s in these times that we can often grow the most as horsemen and women.

Daring Destiny, who will continue to aim for the Thoroughbred Makeover, with Sarah and Katie

Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: Team Unicorn Making Lemonade From Lemons

Life happens — sometimes really fast and really hard. The farm where we were boarding our Dizzy is closing. Our team — our family — has to move. Because of where we all live, finding a central place to stay together was an impossible feat. It was determined that Dizzy would move closer to team member Katie as she was the one that had spent the most time in the saddle with him. With new jobs and new homes on the horizon, sadly teammates Skye-Anna and Shannon had to step down. Team Unicorn Training Club was threatening to totally dissolve.

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