[ 42 horseillustrated.com|october 2019 ]The 2012 event capitalized on the momen-
tum the inaugural event garnered, involved four
top Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred farms and was
dubbed the 100-Day Thoroughbred Challenge. The
fourhorsesweredonatedtotheChallengebyJay
EmEssStable,SagamoreFarm,TheWalnutGreen
FarmandNorthviewStallionStationandsentto
Pittman’sDodonFarmfor 100 daysoftraining.
Insteadoffocusingonthemethodstrainers
used,likethe 2011 eventdid,the100-DayChal-
lengehighlightedthetrainabilityandcharac-
teristicsoftheThoroughbredasa breed;each
horsewastrainedbythesamestaffmembers
atDodonFarm.Off anD Running
The 2013, the event moved to Pimlico Race
Course in Baltimore, Md., and became a truly
national event. Featuring 26 trainers who had
four months to train their off-track Thorough-
breds (OTTBs) in one of 10 disciplines, the
event drew 800 live spectators.
The event returned to Pimlico in 2014,
matching 10 trainers with 10 OTTBs to com-
pete in one of 10 disciplines. The Thoroughbred
Charities of America (TCA) is an organization
that raises and distributes funds to approved
organization that assist with Thoroughbred
rehoming; they have been an avid supporter of
the RRP and the Makeover events since 2013.TODay’S fORmaT
The Makeover in the format we see today
came to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexing-
ton, Ky., in 2015. Nearly 200 horses competed
in 10 disciplines after 10 months of training,
vying for $100,000 in prize money. Extensive
workshops, panels and educational opportuni-
ties were offered, and a world-class trade fair
rounded out the weekend.
It’s important to note that the Makeover is
not solely geared toward professional riders:
juniors, amateurs, professionals and teams all
compete together, with specific awards for the
highest-placed amateur, junior and team in
each division. Amateurs and juniors have won
several divisions at previous Makeovers, and
junior Charlie Caldwell won the overall 2017
Makeover on a West Virginia-bred polo pony.
For the 2019 event, which will be held Oct. 2-5
at the Kentucky Horse Park, 673 trainers from
44 states and four Canadian provinces have
been accepted to compete with 723 horses.
The riders will compete in 10 disciplines: bar-
rels, competitive trail, dressage, eventing, field
hunters, polo, ranch work, show hunters, show
jumpers, and freestyle (a free-form division to
demonstrate skills of the trainer’s choice).COming uP ROSie
Champion jockey Rosie Napravnik is no stranger
to competition. A two-time winner of the Ken-
tucky Oaks and winner of the Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile and Distaff, Napravnik doesn’t need toThe riders will compete in 10 disciplines:
barrels, competitive trail, dressage, eventing, field hunters, polo,
ranch work, show hunters, show jumpers, and freestyle
(a free-form division to demonstrate skills of the trainer’s choice).The
Thoroughbred
makeover
now offers
western
disciplines,
such as trail,
ranch riding
and barrels.
Anne Litz/courtesy rrp