The Retired Racehorse Project, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, created the Thoroughbred Makeover to showcase the trainability and talent of off-track Thoroughbreds. The competition is intended to inspire good trainers to become involved in transitioning these horses to second careers, and the National Symposium serves to educate the people involved in the care, training, and sale of these horses to responsible owners.

This is the only national gathering of the organizations, trainers, and farms dedicated to serving these horses when they retire from racing.

Ten competitive disciplines are offered at the Makeover: Barrel Racing, Competitive Trail, Dressage, Eventing, Field Hunter, Polo, Ranch Work, Show Hunter, Show Jumper, and Freestyle (a free-form division to demonstrate skills of the trainer’s choice). A horse may be entered in up to two disciplines.

Preliminary rounds take place on Wednesday and Thursday. (To see the specific tests required in each discipline, click here.) Each competitor receives a preliminary round score and placing, and the top five in each discipline advance to the Finale, which takes place on Saturday in the Covered Arena and is broadcast via livestream. The Finale is a separate championship event and competitors are placed by Finale scores.

Each discipline competes separately in Finale, and each has their own final test to determine the Makeover Champion in that discipline. Judges from all disciplines then rank the ten Makeover Discipline Champions, and the Thoroughbred Makeover Champion is named (and earns a $10,000 check!).

Because the Makeover is a training competition designed to evaluate a horse’s progress in a prescribed period of time, we set eligibility requirements to ensure that all horses are of similar experience at the starting point. Horses must meet these requirements to be eligible for the 2024 competition:

• Registered with The Jockey Club and have a lip tattoo or microchip.
• Raced or had a published work on or after July 1, 2022.
• Not have started in training for a second career before December 1, 2023 (other than a maximum of 15 allowable rides).
• Tack walking as part of a veterinarian-prescribed injury rehab plan is considered exempt from the 15-ride rule. Further exemptions and details can be found in the rulebook. (Please note that the updated 2024 rulebook is expected December 1.)

The RRP has also added a broodmare program alongside the traditional retired racehorse division. Broodmare division eligibility is as follows:

• Jockey Club-registered
• Have foaled or been bred in the 2022 breeding season or after, as reported by The Jockey Club
• Have one lifetime start or published work
• Since the history of each broodmare can vary significantly, broodmares will not be subject to the 15-ride limit
• Broodmares may not have had prior shows or competitions before December 1st, 2023

The RRP has a strictly enforced Horse Welfare Policy in effect at the competition, which covers horse protection, abuse and neglect, soundness, and body condition. Trainers agree to adhere to the United States Equestrian Federation’s Guidelines for Drugs and Medication, and random testing will take place.

As the largest gathering of individuals and organizations with an interest in Thoroughbred aftercare and second careers, the Thoroughbred Makeover offers additional networking and educational opportunities for both competitors and spectators. While a more detailed schedule of additional events will be published closer to the event, attendees can expect educational seminars, networking events, special spectator events and additional educational opportunities.

An extensive vendor fair also runs concurrent with the competition. 

Many Makeover trainers take on off-track Thoroughbreds as resale projects, and the Makeover provides a unique opportunity for horse-shoppers to see dozens of OTTBs successfully competing in a second career, and all in one location.

RRP has endeavored to help market and facilitate the private sale of these horses by highlighting them at the competition: they wear special bridle numbers, are advertised on our website, and appear in a printed sale catalogue available to spectators and mailed to interested parties. Designated areas are available for shoppers to try sale horses, and local veterinarians are on stand-by and available to perform pre-purchase exams on site. Click here to learn more about the Makeover Marketplace.

All sale contracts are private but are required to include no-slaughter and notification of resale restrictions.

• The 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover saw professionals, amateurs, juniors and teams compete side-by-side with recently-retired Thoroughbreds who raced or ran a timed workout since July 1, 2021 and did not begin retraining before December 1, 2022
• 320 horses competed in the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover.
• Competing horses ranged from unraced horses who only ever posted a workout all the way to multiple graded stakes winners and Breeders' Cup participants.
• Over $40 million has been invested into the future of horses participating in the Makeover since its inception in 2013, including health care, training, and more.
• A total of 2,990 unique trainers have been accepted since 2013, representing 46 states and four Canadian provinces. Many trainers attend annually with multiple horses.
• A total of 4,159 horses have been directly impacted since 2013.