Canadian Olympic, WEG and Pan Am Games veteran Selena O’Hanlon will be judging the cross-country portion of the Eventing division at the Thoroughbred Makeover, October 2-5, 2019 at the Kentucky Horse Park. “I’m so honored that I get to see all these fabulous OTTBs strut their stuff,” O’Hanlon commented via a Facebook post.
A roster of 474 off-track Thoroughbreds from the US and Canada, each with 10 months or less of retraining, will take part in three days of competition in 10 different disciplines – Barrels, Competitive Trail, Dressage, Eventing, Field Hunters, Polo, Ranch Work, Show Hunters, Show Jumpers, and Freestyle. About 78 horses are entered in Eventing. Trainers vie for a share of $100,000 in prize money, with one overall winner, chosen through text message voting, crowned America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred and earning a $10,000 bonus.
The cross-country judging involves a course of approximately twelve obstacles including water, ditches, and banks, each with at least two options including “bonus” fences. Judges also award a score of 0 to 10 for rideability, performance between fences and the open gallop.
This is the fifth year for the popular Thoroughbred Makeover, created by The Retired Racehorse Project and presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. The competition is intended to inspire good trainers to become involved in transitioning these horses to second careers, while the National Symposium held in conjunction with this event educates people involved in the care, training, and sale of these horses to responsible owners.
Livestream of the Finals will be available here.
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