The 2021 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover held at the Kentucky Horse Park featured six Airdrie Sired competitors! Retired racehorses are retrained to compete in disciplines such as Dressage, Show Hunter, Jumpers, Eventing, Polo, Fox Hunting, Competitive Trail and more! The TB Makeover highlights the versatility of retired racehorses and helps support their ability to have wonderful post racing careers for years after retirement.
We headed out to the horse park to surprise the Airdrie teams with treats for horses & humans alike! Every team was well prepared, having spent many months training their “Project” horses up to the big competition. Teams come from all over the country to compete in their chosen discipline. Even after months of training and practice, it’s always daunting to take your recently retired young thoroughbred to a huge show in a new setting. Just getting to the Makeover is a huge accomplishment and we are so impressed by every horse and rider team!
Meet some of the incredible teams!
Melissa Meitzen and Start of Action by UPSTART
Melissa and 3yo filly “Secret” came to the makeover from Texas to compete in Barrel Racing. They competed on Wednesday evening and finished 3rd -qualifying for the finale! At the end of the weekend the pair finished 3rd place overall in 20201Barrel Racing and also WON top amateur rider! We asked Melissa how the competition went and here is what she had to say…
“It feels like a dream honestly! I was just excited we made it to Kentucky, never in a million years did I think we would make it to the finale.” We are so happy for team “Secret” and wish them all the best in the finals and beyond!
Clare Mansmann and Heaven is Waiting by CREATIVE CAUSE
The tall, dark and handsome gelding “Enoch” is as sweet as he is handsome! “Enoch” is 7 years old and a two time winner in his ten start career for trainer Mike Maker and owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey. He earned over $120,000, breaking his maiden at Belmont Park and winning an allowance at Keenland, just down the road from the TB Makeover. Clare and “Enoch” competed in Jumpers and she reports that he was fabulous! He did everything she asked and just got a bit tired and knocked a couple of rails. At home he is known for being a gentle giant (16.3hh), easy going and a horse that anyone can hop on for a ride with his calm demeanor. His current owner and trainer has offered him for sale but admits she isn’t great at selling horses, many of them wind up staying in her barn for life. She is excited for his future because with more time and training she thinks he will be a very talented jumper for years to come. All our best Clare and Big E!
Mary Elizabeth Cone and JOOTER by CAIRO PRINCE
Jooter was an extra exciting horse for us to meet because he is not only Airdrie Sired but also Airdrie Bred.
Out of Multiple Stakes Placed Lover’s Spat, by Yankee Gentleman, Jooter was foaled at Airdrie in 2016. He was sold at Fasig Tipton October Yearling Sale in 2017. Jooter is now owned by 14 year old Mary Elizabeth Cone and her family. He competed in the Hunters as they tell us he is much too slow for jumpers! He is a beautiful mover and he and his young rider had a large fan base in their classes on Wednesday and Thursday! We gifted Mary Elizabeth his foal photos, hard to believe this light grey was born looking like a bay! The pair finished with a WIN in the team competition and 3rd for amateurs! Mary Elizabeth is reported to be “on Cloud 9”! Congratulations on a great week Team Jooter and Team Key Equestrian! Can’t wait to see what you do next!
Blair Allan and In Harvey’s Honor by CAIRO PRINCE
Blair and “Harvey” have the sweetest partnership. He is a big boy, standing at 17.2 hh as a 4 year old gelding! This made making the lines in their Hunter classes a little complicated, when a 5 stride is an easy 4 for Harvey to make. Blair reported that he was a rockstar, never showed his age or greenness, and she thinks he will only continue to improve with more training and show miles. We were thrilled that Blair and her family were able to come to Airdrie to meet Cairo Prince and our other stallions!
The two other Airdrie Sired teams were Cayla Stone with Unexpected Visit by Include (Left) and Kate Coldren and New Prince by Cairo Prince (Right). Cayla and “Fortunata” aka Tuna competed in Dressage and Competitive Trail. Kate and New Prince competed in Competitive Trail and Freestyle.
