By Heather Benson Year two of the national Ultimate X Showdown off-track Thoroughbred barrel racing competition saw a huge increase in overall applications that translated into a big increase in the quality of the competition. “The horses were also clocking…

Lynn and Donner on the cross country course. Photo courtesy of symanskyequestrian.comTomorrow, Lynn Symansky and her off-track Thoroughbred, Donner, will ride the dressage portion in day one of the World Equestrian Games Three-Day Event in Normandy, France. Not only is Donner the…

One of the many Thoroughbreds in Rodney Jenkins’ shedrow at Laurel Park. Photo by Sarah Hinkle.By Sarah Hinkle Editor’s Note: Sarah was the winner of the “Morning with Rodney Jenkins” package that was a part of our June Thoroughbreds and…

Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) and Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) have teamed up to create the TCA Thoroughbred Marketplace on October 4 and 5 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The event is built into the RRP’s second annual…

Malinda and now 25-year-old Schmoopy grace the winner’s circle at Pimlico during May’s “Canter for the Cure” event. Photo by JHA Photo Services.On her thirtieth birthday,Malinda Lawrence finally bought herself her first horse: a nondescript bay Thoroughbred gelding.  “Schmoopy” as…

Michelle and her OTTB, Banks, on the cross country course.Michelle Warro, assistant trainer at Steuart Pittman’s Dodon Farm Training Center, may have found her dream horse in a Not For Love gelding named Not Without Me (aka Banks).  She kindly…

Mensa G and Michael Pollard at Rolex Kentucky 2014. (photo courtesy of EquiSport Photos)As the highest placed off-track Thoroughbred at the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (14th), Mensa G showed the world that OTTBs have exactly what it takes to…

Nuno Santos and Ken’s Kitten in front of the large crowd at West Wind Farm (photo courtesy of Mark Partridge, Ramsey Farm) Reviews of Thoroughbreds For All Kentucky 2014 are glowing. Six hundred Thoroughbred lovers, top racing owners and trainers,…

Mensa G and Michael Pollard held the best dressage score after day one.The rest of this week is devoted to the pinnacle of achievement for on-track Thoroughbreds, the Kentucky Derby, but at last weekend’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, it was…

Mensa G and Michael Pollard, still on the leaderboard after cross country.The cross country portion of any three-day event is where Thoroughbreds have always stood out and it was no different at the 2014 Rolex.  The course rewarded those horses and riders…

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event has begun and we will be bringing you all the latest news from the 14 off-track Thoroughbreds that are competing this year.  We completed the second day of dressage tests today with some wild weather…

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event has begun and we will be bringing you all the latest news from the 14 off-track Thoroughbreds that are competing this year.  The first set of dressage tests took place today and after 31 horses…

You have probably heard by now that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) recently released a video to kick off a campaign against horse racing. The video is nine minutes long and is taken from seven hours of…

The recently launched campaign by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) calling on the public to stop attending and betting on horse races does not serve the interests of horses. Thoroughbreds love to run and they depend on…

Big Red in the spotlight as a model for KerritsMovie star, catalogue model, charity fundraiser, guest horse and public relations professional—Big Red is one OTTB with a long and diverse resume. In his biggest role, Big Red, whose Jockey Club…

February 24, 2014-Lexington Kentucky- This year’s Thoroughbreds For All event star line up will include: Olympic dressage rider Linda Zang, Pan American Games eventing gold medalist Lynn Symansky, and Kentucky Oaks winning jockey Rosie Napravnik. All three will share their…

 Each month, we will focus on the entities and individuals that are putting together the “pieces of the puzzle” in creating the big picture of off-track Thoroughbred training and placement. This month, we feature the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), a…

Lara Knight, one of our Makeover trainers for 2013, recently shared with us the behind the scenes experience at the Ocala Winter II Horse Trials on the Florida Horse Park on February 7, 8 and 9.  Lara and her OTTB,…

The stars shone brightly last weekend in Timonium, Maryland as the “Stars of the Thoroughbred Makeover” took center stage in the main arena at the hugely popular Maryland Horse World Expo in Timonium. Three of the 26 horses featured in…

Retired Racehorse Training Project (RRTP) has contracted with Heather Benson of Back Forty Media and Marketing to expand its work to increase demand in the equestrian sport and recreation markets for Thoroughbred ex-racehorses. “This is a huge step forward for…

RRTP Releases First National Study of Thoroughbred Racehorse Placement A report released today by Retired Racehorse Training Project (RRTP) is the first nationwide study of how Thoroughbred ex-racehorses are transitioned into second careers. It is based on a survey conducted…

At an awards dinner held at Keeneland Racecourse on Saturday, January 4, the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry gave the Retired Racehorse Training Project (RRTP) one of its highest honors by awarding it the Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) Industry…

Have YOU completed our OTTB Owner Survey? If you own one or more Thoroughbred ex-racehorses click on the link! Exploring the Bridge To Second Careers for Racehorses…

What if demand for Thoroughbred ex-racehorses were to grow? 1. More people would adopt from placement organizations.    2. More people would train them for second careers.    3. Prices would rise to a level that could cover the cost…