What is the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover?

 

The RRP has been working to draw attention to Off Track Thoroughbreds by showing Thoroughbred Breeders, Owners, and Race Trainers that their horses have worth after their racing career is finished. In RRP’s mission statement they write that the Makeover was “created to showcase the trainability and talent of the Off-track Thoroughbred, and to inspire trainers to serve the futures of these animals through training”. The RRP Thoroughbred Makeover is also the only national gathering of the Organizations, farms and Trainers dedicated to serving these horses when they retire from racing.  The Makover gives each selected trainer/horse combination 10 months to train for a new career outside of racing.  The disciplines include Competitive Trail, Working Ranch, Dressage, Hunter, Jumper, Eventing, Field Hunter, Polo and Freestyle.

                  RRP Thoroughbred Makeover 2019           ~   Southern Diva

Lola is a 15.2 hand 2014 Bay Thoroughbred mare by Spring At Last - Spirit In The West by Gone West

Lola was retired from the track after 4 starts and a less then stellar speed index of 25.  Lola was then given to another trainer and turned out for a month before I came in contact with her and brought her home to me.  She was born in Florida then sold several times and found her way up to Fort Erie Ontario. Lola and I trained for trained for, and competed at the 2019 Thoroughbred Makeover in the Field Hunter division.  WE finished in the top fifteen of the division.   We are now competing in Eventing, and Dressage and continue to Field Hunt as well as trail ride around Michigan.

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                     RRP Thoroughbred Makeover 2018

Kodiak Ridge           ~          

Birdie is a 16 hand 2013 Bay Thoroughbred Mare by Kodiak Kowboy - Cristina Ridge by Come Summer          

 

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Kodiak Ridge, known as Birdie has a unique story. Like most Thoroughbreds, Birdie started her race training the fall of her yearling year, but her trainer was having a hard time getting her “tucked up” (race-fit).  It was discovered that Birdie was pregnant, so she was removed from the track and turned out with a broodmare band.  She had her foal 14 days after her second birthday.  After raising her foal, she was then sent back to the track that fall where she raced 3 times with her best finish being a 2nd place in her 3rd and final race.  She was officially retired from racing the fall of her 3 year old year by her owner/breeder after only 3 starts when she showed she was not interested in being a racehorse. She then spent a year turned out to pasture with other young Thoroughbreds.  I brought Birdie home on October 29th of 2017.  Due to Birdie’s limited career as a racehorse, she had not received as much ride time as many other Off-Track Thoroughbreds.  This translated into anxiety and confusion on her part when being ridden.  Because of this we spent the 2018 season focusing on building her trust in me on the ground and under saddle.  She competed at three Dressage shows in Michigan at the Intro level as well as competing in Dressage and Freestyle (bitless Dressage Musical freestyle)at the 2018 Makeover. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brave Titan

Hal is a 16 Hand 2011 Dark Bay Thoroughbred Gelding by Cowboy Cal - Boro by Siphon (BRZ)

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Brave Titan, now known as Hal, raced for the three years with 34 total starts.  After completing his final race on July 10, 2017 his career earnings totaled just over $34,000.  After being sidelined from an injury for several months, his current owner/trainer decided to retire Hal from racing and chose to list him online on CANTER Ohio (CANTER USA), an organization dedicated to finding OTTB’s new homes in the United States and Canada.   Hal has conformational front leg limb deformities and after having radiographs done, we now know that he has arthritis and bone chips, as well as remodeling of the bone and ligament scarring in his front fetlocks.  He is on Ukele Devils Claw plus to manage his joint comfort.  Hal splits his time between training to work as a therapy horse with at-risk youth through our non-profit Jacob's Lighthouse Inc. and spending time with his best friend Jacob.. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

              

                RRP Thoroughbred Makeover 2017

 Jacob's Lighthouse is a 16.1 hand 2008 Dark Bay Thoroughbred Gelding by Limehouse - Gliding Light by Always A Clssic.

 

Jacob is a known as a war horse having raced 59 times over six years with earnings just shy of $90,000.  On December 9, 2016 after seeing a Thoroughbred listing on CANTER Chicago, I went to Hawthorne race track where I purchased Jacob for $600 from his then owner/trainer.  His former owner/trainer did not want Jacob sent to an auction so he chose to place a listing for Jacob online on CANTER USA.  Jacob had changed owners 15 times through the claiming races he had been run in before I purchased him and retired him from the track.  When I brought Jacob home he had a lot of anxiety, body soreness and a strong dislike for people or working.  Through our time together Jacob has taught me so much about patience and understanding and an OTTBs need to develop a close bond with a person.  Jacob has come a long way in our time together and I am looking forward to our continued future.  Jacob is currently enjoying spending time with his best friend Hal and training to be a Therapy horse with our Non-profit Jacob''s Lighthouse Inc. (named after Jacob).