New Jersey equestrians prepare for 2016 Kentucky Thoroughbred Challenge

May 25, 2016

TikMO1Kendra Richardson aboard Tigre. The New Jersey pair will be competing in the 2016 Thoroughbred Makeover Challenge at the Kentucky Horse Park this October. | Green Apple Stables Nicole and Michelle (Team New Beginnings) and Kendra and Samantha (Team Green Apple) have also agreed to participate in a local barn mini-challenge to compare progress notes throughout the spring and summer leading up to a “Show Off Your Horse” meet prior the main Thoroughbred Makeover event in October.

Team New Beginnings reported in today (Tuesday, May 24) that they have been referring to themselves jokingly as ‘Team Turtle.’ The team is taking things slowly at the beginning to create a firm foundation. Nicole will be taking two horses to the Makeover in October and Michelle has one entry.

Team New Beginnings gave Examiner an update of what has been going on behind the scenes with the trainers and their newly acquired mounts.

Trained by Michelle Horgan, Light Weight is a six-year-old bay mare with 16 starts, 1 win and 1 second. She is a big-boned girl and, according to Horgan, Light Weight has “quite the personality” and is something of a class clown. At the same time Michelle remarked that Light Weight has been quiet and brave under saddle and has had 28 training rides to date.

“It feels like you could go anywhere with her and she would take it in stride,” said Michelle. “It’s interesting how tuned in she is to me as her person and she follows my every move, mostly hoping that I will finally reach into that treat bag.”

Michelle continued, “Light Weight has actually started to whinny at me when I go to get her from her paddock, and I am trying hard not to get too attached since she is currently available for adoption.”

Light Weight has been working mostly at the walk and trot and just started cantering under saddle in mid-May. The mare is pointed to compete in Hunters and Jumpers in the Makeover. Michelle is toying with the idea of switching to Eventing since Light Weight had a lot of experience getting fit through fields and on trail rides during her racing career. “Cross country jumping could be a natural progression for her,” said Michelle.

Michelle hopes to bring Light Weight to her first horse show on June 26 at East Freehold Park, New Jersey.

Cosmo Storm, a four-year-old dark bay gelding, raced 13 times with two firsts and one third place finish. The gelding is ahead of Light Weight in terms of his progress according to Team New Beginnings with 35 training rides to date. Cosmo continues to come along in his dressage training with Nicole McKinley.

January 1 is the official birthday of all registered Thoroughbreds, but Cosmo’s actual fourth birthday was May 6. Even though the horse was recently gelded, Team New Beginnings reported that the horse has a nice temperament and has been calm and steady since day one. Cosmo and Nicole are grateful to have the opportunity to train with trainer Kim Herslow of Upper Creek Farm in New Jersey, who has agreed to work with the pair during their journey to the Makeover.

“I think this adoptable boy has a bright future in dressage and as someone’s forever horse. Cosmo is so much fun to work with,” said Nicole.

Cosmo’s first horse show in the dressage suitability classes is planned for the Mid Atlantic Horse Rescue All Thoroughbred Show (part of the TASS series in Monkton, Maryland on June 4.

Team Green Apple has two horses in training for this year’s Thoroughbred Makeover Challenge and has been working hard with their mounts, Tigre and Norty. On Monday, May 23 Team Green Apple reported on their progress since the last article.

Tigre, a bay gelding who was acquired by Kendra two months ago, had his last race in December. He has had 29 trainig rides to date according to Kendra. She also reported that the horse had approximately four rides on him prior to purchase. During the first five rides after purchase Kendra said she spent that time “assessing where we were with training.”

Kendra explained lightheartedly, “After tripping on every pole and hitting/falling over/plowing through every jump and moving like he had no idea which leg was going in which direction, we went back to basics — with a cross-rail thrown in here and there.”

Kendra gave a breakdown of her training regime with Tigre:

Click here to continue reading the entire article at Examiner.com

 

 

 

 

 

In Other News

November 26, 2024

To Pass or To Fail: That Used to Be the Question

Whether a horse “passes” or “fails” a pre-purchase exam (PPE) is an outdated interpretation: how can a PPE help a buyer?…
Read More
Featured image for “To Pass or To Fail: That Used to Be the Question”
November 25, 2024

RRP Announces $38,700 Match for 2024 Year-End Giving Campaign

The RRP announces the launch of its 2024 year-end giving campaign with a total goal of $100,000, including a $38,700 match pledge that will double contributions from donors who support the organization’s charitable mission to increase demand for Thoroughbreds beyond…
Read More
Featured image for “RRP Announces $38,700 Match for 2024 Year-End Giving Campaign”
October 28, 2024

Feeding the Racing Thoroughbred

Understanding the diet of the racing Thoroughbred can help inform a smoother transition to a career beyond racing.…
Read More
Featured image for “Feeding the Racing Thoroughbred”
October 15, 2024

Retired Racehorse Project’s 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Showcases the Breed Beyond Racing

The 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover was the ninth edition of the event in Kentucky.…
Read More
Featured image for “Retired Racehorse Project’s 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Showcases the Breed Beyond Racing”
October 14, 2024

Picking Prospects Fall 2024

Makeover trainers evaluate sport horse potential based on conformation shots.…
Read More
Featured image for “Picking Prospects Fall 2024”
October 12, 2024

Big Fame Is Named 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Champion, Sponsored by Churchill Downs Inc.

The top title went to Big Fame, trained by Angela Carmitchel.…
Read More
Featured image for “Big Fame Is Named 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Champion, Sponsored by Churchill Downs Inc.”
October 10, 2024

Preliminary Competition Concludes at the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover

That’s a wrap on preliminary days at North America’s largest retraining competition for Thoroughbreds!…
Read More
Featured image for “Preliminary Competition Concludes at the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover”
October 9, 2024

First Day of Competition Is In the Books at the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover

The first day of preliminary competition has wrapped!…
Read More
Featured image for “First Day of Competition Is In the Books at the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover”
October 3, 2024

2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Event Survey

No excerpt…
Read More
October 2, 2024

Follow Along with the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover

The banner event of the Retired Racehorse Project is coming October 9-12! Here’s how to follow all the action.…
Read More
Featured image for “Follow Along with the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover”
October 1, 2024

Retired Racehorse Project Announces 2024 Makeover Champions Participants

The RRP announced today the list of former breeders, owners, trainers, stallion farms and other connections participating in Makeover Champions, the RRP’s new initiative to encourage more public support of Thoroughbreds in careers beyond racing via the Thoroughbred Makeover.…
Read More
Featured image for “Retired Racehorse Project Announces 2024 Makeover Champions Participants”
September 30, 2024

Connections Corner Signup Form

No excerpt…
Read More
September 27, 2024

Real Rider Cup Fair Hill Raises $80,000 for Thoroughbred Aftercare, Announces Plans To Go West

As of this writing, the event has raised over $600,000 for Thoroughbred aftercare and Motion has a vision to expand the event model to benefit more aftercare entities.…
Read More
Featured image for “Real Rider Cup Fair Hill Raises $80,000 for Thoroughbred Aftercare, Announces Plans To Go West”
September 24, 2024

RRP Announces Format Changes for 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover

Beginning in 2025, the Finale Championship event will be replaced by individual discipline championships, welcoming back the top ten highest-placed horses after preliminary competition.…
Read More
Featured image for “RRP Announces Format Changes for 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover”
September 23, 2024

Tieback Surgery 101: Possible Complications & Long-Term Care

Done correctly, tieback surgery helps a Thoroughbred both on the racetrack and in his second career.…
Read More
Featured image for “Tieback Surgery 101: Possible Complications & Long-Term Care”
September 17, 2024

2024 Bill Kraatz Thoroughbred Makeover Ambassador Award: Talk Show Man

Talk Show Man, a 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover graduate, is the first recipient of the reimagined Ambassador Award.…
Read More
Featured image for “2024 Bill Kraatz Thoroughbred Makeover Ambassador Award: Talk Show Man”
September 13, 2024

Churchill Downs Incorporated Returns as Title Sponsor of Thoroughbred Makeover Champion

This title is awarded to the horse selected by a panel of judges as having the highest level of training at the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America.…
Read More
Featured image for “Churchill Downs Incorporated Returns as Title Sponsor of Thoroughbred Makeover Champion”
September 10, 2024

Thoroughbred Charities of America Returns as Title Sponsor of Thoroughbred Makeover & National Symposium

TCA provides exceptional commitment to improving the lives and welfare of Thoroughbred racehorses both on and off the track, which has guided its support of the RRP since 2012.…
Read More
Featured image for “Thoroughbred Charities of America Returns as Title Sponsor of Thoroughbred Makeover & National Symposium”
September 6, 2024

Webinar: Diagnose Before You Treat

Sponsored by Bluegrass Equine Surgery; featuring Dr. Heath Manning of Bluegrass Equine Surgery. Recorded August 2024.…
Read More
Featured image for “Webinar: Diagnose Before You Treat”
August 26, 2024

Meet the Thoroughbred Makeover Class of 2024

It’s time for our annual deep dive into the data we collected on this year’s Makeover class!…
Read More
Featured image for “Meet the Thoroughbred Makeover Class of 2024”
August 19, 2024

Joint Care for Racehorses & Its Impact on Post-Race Careers

Many options exist to help Thoroughbreds stay sound and comfortable at the racetrack and after racing.…
Read More
Featured image for “Joint Care for Racehorses & Its Impact on Post-Race Careers”
August 5, 2024

2024 Aftercare Industry Month: The Difficult-to-Place Horse

Presented by Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation. Originally recorded February 27, 2024.…
Read More
Featured image for “2024 Aftercare Industry Month: The Difficult-to-Place Horse”
August 5, 2024

2024 Aftercare Industry Month: Networking Within the Industry

Presented by Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation. Originally recorded February 20, 2024.…
Read More
Featured image for “2024 Aftercare Industry Month: Networking Within the Industry”
August 5, 2024

2024 Aftercare Industry Month: How Does Your Contract Hold Up?

Presented by Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation. Originally recorded February 13, 2024.…
Read More
Featured image for “2024 Aftercare Industry Month: How Does Your Contract Hold Up?”