Dec 07, 2016

Retired Racehorse Project Welcomes Trainer Applications for the 2017 $100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover

By Retired Racehorse Project - Press Release
Photo via RRP.

Retired Racehorse Project announced today the opening of trainer applications for the 2017 $100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover. Approved trainers will acquire recently retired Thoroughbred racehorses and introduce them to second careers. Disciplines offered are barrel racing, competitive trails, dressage, eventing, field hunters, freestyle, polo, show hunter, show jumper, and working ranch.

Horses and their trainers will compete for $100,000 in prize money and the title of America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred on the first weekend of October at the Kentucky Horse Park. The event includes seminars, demonstrations, sponsor fair, and a livestreamed finale featuring the top three horses in each discipline.

Professional, amateur, and junior trainers may apply whether they have acquired an eligible horse or not. Applicants must demonstrate expertise in at least one of the ten Makeover disciplines through competition highlights, references, and optional video links.

“This event is about the trainers,” said RRP President Steuart Pittman. “They are the key to securing the futures of these horses, and they are the ones who create the performances that inspire our audience. We spent the weeks since this year’s event reviewing evaluations and interviewing judges, volunteers, and competitors. We believe that our updated formats for each discipline will be popular.”

Approved trainers will acquire eligible Thoroughbreds through whatever source they choose or can ride under contract with an owner. Horses must have raced or had a published work after July 1, 2015 and must not have started training for a second career before the first of December.

The 2016 Thoroughbred Makeover was attended by 2,500 spectators and watched livestream by over 10,000. An expanded marketing strategy is expected to grow the event in 2017.

Thoroughbred Makeover Links:

2017 Thoroughbred Makeover Rules and Information

Rule Changes for 2017 Makeover

Sponsorship and Advertising Opportunities

2016 Thoroughbred Makeover

Video of 2016 Thoroughbred Makeover

Apr 19, 2024 Membership

Top Tips for Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event First-Timers from USEA Members

The 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is truly an eventing lover’s paradise with four full days of competition, vendors galore, opportunities to meet some of the sport’s greatest riders face-to-face, and so much more. For a seasoned Kentucky veteran, hopping over to the Kentucky Horse Park for the fun feels easy enough, but attending Kentucky might feel a bit overwhelming for first-timers. We chatted with USEA members from all over the country to get their favorite Kentucky tips to share with you. Check them out here!

Apr 19, 2024 Eventing News

Meet the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L Field

There are some familiar names and new faces on the five-star roster for this year's Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Which horses have had recent top placings? Which riders have seen success at the Kentucky Horse Park in previous years? Which horse is called "Grandpa" by his rider and which one was purchased for $1?

Apr 18, 2024 News

Canter Culture to be a Silver Sponsor of USEA for 2024

The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is thrilled to announce Canter Culture as a “Silver Sponsor for the USEA American Eventing Championships” taking place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, Aug. 27-Sept. 1.

Apr 18, 2024 Interscholastic

Learn from the Experts: How to Prepare for the 2024 Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships

If you’re a new team setting out to compete in the 2024 USEA Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Eventing Championships in just a couple of weeks, preparing for the “happiest horse trial” in the U.S. may seem a bit daunting. With five components to the Spirit Award contest that require creativity and cohesion between team members, there is a lot that goes into preparing and packing to leave for the event.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Real Estate Partner of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA