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Bronn OTTB retired racehorse Meghan McNamara training Thoroughbred Makeover eventing cross country dressage Fort Robinson Nebraska aftercare

Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: Learning New Disciplines and a Special Trip with Bronn

Coming off a slow May, June was jam-packed for me and Bronn. This is about the time I usually feel the pressure of the Makeover, but having competed a few times, I try to keep things in perspective and remember why we do this: for the good of the Thoroughbred and to have a blast along the way.

Old Friends Farm a Decades-Long Journey for Michael Blowen

Michael Blowen glanced at the 1977 Sports Illustrated cover of Triple Crown champion Seattle Slew when it arrived in the mail and immediately discarded it. A horse on the cover of such a prominent magazine?

“I thought thinking of them as athletes was absurd,” he said.

Blowen, then a writer for the Boston Globe, accompanied Bob Taylor, one of his editors, to Suffolk Downs seven years later. The visit to the Massachusetts track was life-changing.

Thoroughbred Makeover OTTB retired racehorse aftercare Pangal Funnee training Trello eventing cross country

Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: Take Time to Step Back, Reset, and Reassess

This year, America’s Best Racing and the Retired Racehorse Project will be sharing diaries from several trainers preparing for the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover competition, scheduled for Oct. 11-14 at the Kentucky Horse Park. Meet adult amateur rider Julianne Pangal and her RRP hopeful, Funnee, as they gear up for their maiden voyage to the Thoroughbred Makeover.

Thoroughbred Makeover aftercare OTTB retired racehorse training Dom Jessica Hanneman nutrition feed reins horse riding equestrian dressage cantering

Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: Gaining Fitness and Progress in Training with Dom

This past month Dom and I have been focusing on recuperation, weight gain, and building muscle and endurance.

After going to the Minnesota Horse Expo in April, Dom was exhausted! Being in a new place with all of the new sights and sounds, and meeting all of the people took a lot out of him. So, after we returned home, we sprinkled in some light work, but mostly Dom had the week off to recuperate and get his energy back.

Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: Hear the Horse’s Voice First

As we all continue our retraining journey with our Thoroughbred Makeover potentials, there is still one thing that lingers on my mind … what discipline will I enter?

The Thoroughbred Makeover makes it so enjoyable and easily geared toward whatever your horses needs might be. Historically, I have competed in Dressage, Show Hunter, and Competitive Trail. However, this year the more I ride and train with Goldie, the more unsure I become about what I should choose.

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