Horse Country

all in Horse Country

Chanel Minnifield actor equestrian OTTB retired racehorse ex-racehorse Thoroughbred Makeover Digi Digital Soldier aftercare training diversity inclusion Zen Heart Horsemanship Olympics

Breaking Barriers and Building Dreams: Chanel Minnifield's Journey with OTTB Digi

Hello to all the dreamers and trailblazers out there! I’m Chanel Minnifield, passionately pursuing my 2028 Olympic dreams and aiming to reshape the equestrian world. As a Black woman navigating a traditionally homogenous field, my journey is more than just personal achievement – it's a heartfelt mission to inspire change and empower diversity within the equestrian community.

Meet Digital Soldier, My Partner in Change

Thoroughbred Makeover training dressage Turcotte Grayson OTTB ex-racehorse retired aftercare horseshoes farm lambs ducks sheep cats equine

Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: All Creatures Great and Small

Well, another month has come and gone and our progress continues to be hindered by the series of unfortunately chaotic events that seems to be marring 2024.

After a spring and early summer of below-normal temperatures and a fair bit of rain, we got two solid weeks of excessive heat with no relief. And then, we got smoke. Smoke that cost us two race days, and me a lot of riding time.

My province is on fire. Our greatest natural treasure is under siege by it.

My elderly pets have been having health crisis after health crisis.

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance New Vocations adoption OTTB retired racehorse Buckeye Warrior Holly Zecchin RRP Western Dressage competition

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Success Story: Buckeye Warrior, Holly’s Dream Dressage Horse

Holly Zecchin was in the market for a horse with the potential to compete in Western Dressage when she found Buckeye Warrior on the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program website. Buckeye Warrior, a 2016 bay gelding, had run from 2018 to 2021, earning a total of $43,819. Unfortunately, at the time he was listed on the website, Buckeye Warrior was rehabilitating from a stress fracture in his left tibia. Consequently, there were no videos of him, only photos showcasing his conformation.

Finn Decorated Invader Cavalry Charge Calvin OTTB ex-racehorse retired racehorse Thoroughbred Makeover T.I.P. canter dressage Horse Park schooling training classes

Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: Valuable Show Experience for West Point’s OTTBs

West Point Thoroughbreds will be represented by not one, but two graded stakes winners at the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover: Cavalry Charge and Decorated Invader! Their Thoroughbred Makeover trainers, Erin Knehr and Mary Termer, will be telling the stories of these two winners in a joint blog entry each month.

Erin Knehr:

Widget Factory Drafted Charity Horse Show New Vocations Thoroughbred Makeover OTTB ex-racehorse retired racehorse training walk/trot dressage jumper war horse aftercare

Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: Trial Run for Two!

The perfect opportunity for me to take BOTH of my RRP hopefuls presented itself in May at the New Vocations’ 21st Annual All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show. This show would give me the chance to work out details with my packing list, provide long distance trailering experience, give more show experience for the two horses and prepare me for the Thoroughbred Makeover with two horses. It’s always been in the back of my mind: can I really compete two horses at once? How am I going to do this?!?!

all in Horse Country

newsletter sign-up