Increasing demand for thoroughbreds beyond racing

ImageImageImage

Clinic Schedule and Final Updates

October 02, 2025

Hello 2025 Makeover Trainers and clinic participants!

There are a few announcements and loose ends to tie up before we all hit the road. Please read this email in full.

If you missed the Competitors’ Final Newsletter last week, read it here. Much of this will also be helpful to our clinic participants. You may also watch the recording of last week’s final webinar here.

Contacting RRP

The Maryland office starts packing up this week and will be traveling on Saturday, October 4. Until then, email remains the best way to get in contact with us at secretary@therrp.org. If you need assistance with anything Makeover related after October 3, call or text Molly at 240-342-6728. Messaging staff on social media platforms, such as Facebook, is not an appropriate way to get into contact with us. The Facebook group is also not to be used for emergent situations or rule-related questions. There is a pinned announcement in the trainer group about how to properly utilize the group during the Makeover.

Clinic Times & Stabling

Please view your assigned clinic (and competition) ride times here. Use the “filter by type” dropdown menu towards the top of the page to see clinic times only.

Stall assignments for all horses can be found here.

Please also review the event schedule and venue map here to see when schooling will be available. Ticketed schooling is open to competing horses only. Non-compete/clinic horses may use the open schooling and warmup arenas.

Arrival Procedure

Please check the event schedule for Show Office hours. All participants, competing and non-compete, must check in at the show office to review their horses’ health documentation and receive their bridle numbers. Every horse must wear bridle numbers at all times when they are outside of their stalls.

Horses cannot arrive at the Kentucky Horse Park for move-in prior to noon on Monday, October 6. Clinic participants that only reserved a stall for half of the week cannot move-in prior to noon on Thursday, October 9. All horses must be moved out of their stalls by 8am on Sunday, October 12. Otherwise, there are no restrictions on how late or early you may come and go at the Park each day. Note that depending on the time, there may not be anyone available to assist you.

General Parking at the horse park is FREE. Please note the identified areas on the linked map for general parking and dropped trailer parking. There will also be signage throughout the park to guide you. Trailers and vehicles are welcome to pull up to the barns to load and unload but are not to remain parked around the barns for extended periods. Parked vehicles around the barns, rings, and Covered Arena risk parking tickets from KHP Police.
The leading number in your stall assignment indicates which barn you’re in (1047= Barn 10, 702= Barn 7, etc). Please take note of your stall assignment and do not put your horse in a stall that is not assigned to you. Your stalls will be tagged with index cards with your name on them. If you arrive at your stall and are unable to put your horse in it for whatever reason, please text Molly Hutchison at 240-342-6728 with your name, stall number, and a description of the issue.

Important Photography Announcement

Erin Gilmore is the Official Photographer of the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover Championship.
You can pre-order your photos for a discount until the start of competition on October 7th.
All competition rounds, all rides will be covered on Wednesday, October 8, Thursday October 9, and Finals Day Saturday, October 11. Signups are not required.
All candids will be filed by horse number so check your albums for them!
NEW THIS YEAR:
The photography team will be taking signups for Clinic Day, Friday October 10th.
If you’d like your clinic ride photographed, you must sign up in advance via the form here.
They will not photograph your clinic ride on Friday unless you are on the signup list.

Movie Night Venue Change

There is a slight adjustment to the social schedule for next week. Movie night on Thursday will now be held in the TCA Covered Arena, NOT at Secretariat Center. You are still welcome to bring dinner and whatever else you’d like for a cozy fun evening (chairs, blankets, etc.)! Start time remains at 6pm, popcorn and light refreshments provided. Please see the General Event Information page for more information on all of the social events we have planned!

Banned: Pinch Boots

Please be advised that our stewards have ruled to ban pinch boots for all jumping disciplines at the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover. Please refer to FEI Jumping rules Article 257, 2.3 & 2.4, for more information. Use the FEI Tack App to determine if your jumping boots are legal and/or check in with your discipline steward next week.

Competitor Briefing

Tuesday at 6 PM in the Covered Arena
Tuesday, October 7: This will be our last opportunity to cover housekeeping issues and any questions you may have prior to the start of competition. Attendance is strongly encouraged. This event will not be recorded for later viewing; please plan your schedules accordingly.

We look forward to seeing you all very soon!

All the best,

Rayna

Rayna Erasmus | Program Manager & Show Secretary
3357 Hazelwood Road, Edgewater, MD 21037
Increasing demand for Thoroughbreds beyond racing.

Social Media and Important Links

Our Website
2024 Rulebook
Trainer Portal (restricted, must be logged in to access)
RRP Store
RRP Facebook Page
TB Makeover Public Facebook Group
TB Makeover Trainers Closed Facebook Group
TB Makeover Volunteers Facebook Group
Instagram: @RetiredRacehorseProject
Twitter: @RRP_TBMakeover
TikTok: @retiredracehorseproject

In Other News

October 2, 2025

Clinic Schedule and Final Updates

Hello 2025 Makeover Trainers and clinic participants! There are a few announcements and loose ends to tie up before we all hit the road. Please read this email in full. If you missed the Competitors’ Final Newsletter last week, read…
Read More
Featured image for “Clinic Schedule and Final Updates”
October 1, 2025

RRP Announces 2025 Makeover Champions Participants

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) announced today the list of former breeders, owners, trainers, stallion farms and other connections participating in Makeover Champions, the RRP’s initiative to encourage more public support of Thoroughbreds in careers beyond racing via the Thoroughbred…
Read More
Featured image for “RRP Announces 2025 Makeover Champions Participants”
September 30, 2025

Final Trainer Newsletter: Everything and Anything

This email is EVERYTHING. Please read it in its entirety. This email is your key to a successful Makeover week. Save it to reference later. 11 days to go…we are totally calm. No panic detected here. If you missed yesterday’s…
Read More
Featured image for “Final Trainer Newsletter: Everything and Anything”
September 29, 2025

Experience the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover

Coming to the Kentucky Horse Park on October 8-11!…
Read More
Featured image for “Experience the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover”
September 26, 2025

Trainer Newsletter: Ride Times and Stabling

Drumroll please…. Your ride times and stall assignments are here! Keep an eye on your inbox for a lengthier email tomorrow and do not forget to join us for tomorrow evening’s webinar. If your coach, parent/guardian, horse’s owner, etc. wishes…
Read More
Featured image for “Trainer Newsletter: Ride Times and Stabling”
September 26, 2025

2025 Bill Kraatz Thoroughbred Makeover Ambassador Award: Drafted

Selected by a committee of Makeover officials, this year’s winner of the Bill Kraatz Thoroughbred Makeover Ambassador Award is Drafted!…
Read More
Featured image for “2025 Bill Kraatz Thoroughbred Makeover Ambassador Award: Drafted”
September 20, 2025

Trainer Newsletter: Makeover Webinars Next Week

We are less than three weeks away from the start of the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover! Tune in to next week’s webinars to ensure you are prepared. If your coach, parent/guardian, horse’s owner, etc. wishes to receive the trainer newsletters, they…
Read More
Featured image for “Trainer Newsletter: Makeover Webinars Next Week”
September 9, 2025

Trainer Newsletter: Special Awards, Freestyle Music, Scheduling, etc.

Hi all! It is crunch time for everyone so I will keep this newsletter as brief as possible. Please ensure you check your horse’s special award nominations and send in scheduling requests before Friday. Read the rest of this email…
Read More
Featured image for “Trainer Newsletter: Special Awards, Freestyle Music, Scheduling, etc.”
September 9, 2025

September Trainer Newsletter: Edits and Clinics CLOSING

Final Entry edits and clinic registrations close TOMORROW, September 5th, at 5pm EST. Do not miss out on the opportunity to participate in clinics whether it is with your 2025 horse or a Makeover graduate! Now is the time to…
Read More
Featured image for “September Trainer Newsletter: Edits and Clinics CLOSING”
September 8, 2025

Ask a Trainer: Introducing Turnout

Bridget Heasley answers: “How do I safely introduce turnout to a recently-retired racehorse?”…
Read More
Featured image for “Ask a Trainer: Introducing Turnout”
September 1, 2025

Final Entry Trainer Newsletter: CLOSING NOW

Final Entry submissions close TODAY, August 29th, at 5pm eastern time. If you do not submit this form, your entry will be WITHDRAWN. This is not to be confused with the application submission or horse registration process. This is the…
Read More
Featured image for “Final Entry Trainer Newsletter: CLOSING NOW”
August 25, 2025

Picking Prospects: Summer 2025

Makeover staff evaluate sport horse potential based on conformation shots.…
Read More
Featured image for “Picking Prospects: Summer 2025”
August 22, 2025

Thoroughbred Charities of America Returns as Presenting Sponsor of 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) and Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) jointly announced today that TCA has returned as the title sponsor of the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, the banner event of the RRP.…
Read More
Featured image for “Thoroughbred Charities of America Returns as Presenting Sponsor of 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium”
August 11, 2025

A Day in the Life of a Racehorse: Racing Day

Follow along as a 3-year-old Thoroughbred filly captures her first win.…
Read More
Featured image for “A Day in the Life of a Racehorse: Racing Day”
August 8, 2025

Makeover Champions Program Returns to Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover 

Makeover Champions invites members of the Thoroughbred racing industry to demonstrate public support for former connected horses who are headed to the 2025 retraining competition, the largest and most lucrative of its kind in North America. …
Read More
Featured image for “Makeover Champions Program Returns to Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover ”
August 6, 2025

Final Entry Trainer Newsletter: OPEN NOW!

Discipline selections, stabling reservations, and clinic registrations are open NOW! Log into the Trainer Portal now to complete your form. The Final Entry form will close at 5pm EST on Friday, August 29th. If you do not submit the final…
Read More
Featured image for “Final Entry Trainer Newsletter: OPEN NOW!”
August 5, 2025

2025 Thoroughbred Makeover Clinics Open to Graduates

We’re excited to welcome back graduate horses to the Thoroughbred Makeover for clinic opportunities this fall!…
Read More
Featured image for “2025 Thoroughbred Makeover Clinics Open to Graduates”
July 25, 2025

Volunteer Shifts Now Available For 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover

Can you help us produce what’s been called “the happiest horse show on earth”?…
Read More
Featured image for “Volunteer Shifts Now Available For 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover”
July 22, 2025

July Trainer Newsletter: Horse Registrations & Discipline Selections

2025 Trainers, Let’s cut to the chase: The horse registration deadline is closing and the Final Entry period is looming. Both are mandatory for all Makeover trainers and failure to meet these deadlines will result in withdrawal from this year’s…
Read More
Featured image for “July Trainer Newsletter: Horse Registrations & Discipline Selections”
July 21, 2025

Ask a Trainer: Pairing Juniors & OTTBs

Professional Julia Jesu tackles a common question: how do you ensure that a green OTTB is the right horse for a junior rider?…
Read More
Featured image for “Ask a Trainer: Pairing Juniors & OTTBs”
July 16, 2025

Program Asset Upload Form

No excerpt…
Read More
July 9, 2025

2025 Retired Racehorse Project Strategic Planning Thoroughbred Makeover Trainer Survey

No excerpt…
Read More
July 8, 2025

2025 Retired Racehorse Project Strategic Planning Stakeholder Survey

No excerpt…
Read More
July 2, 2025

2025 Ambassador Award Voting

No excerpt…
Read More