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.