Last year, we brought you the story of two siblings competing at the Thoroughbred Makeover – two equine siblings, that is. Karyn Wittek, trainer of on- and off-track Thoroughbreds, hopes that this year her Makeover entry will continue a family tradition.
Wittek took Maria Rose and Spots Appeal, half siblings out of the Successful Appeal mare Mariastheboss, to last year's edition of the retraining competition. Maria Rose competed in the dressage discipline, while Spots Appeal contested the show jumpers. Wittek bred both horses, raised them, and was aboard them both in their appearances at the Kentucky Horse Park for the Makeover.
Last year, Wittek was starting to wonder about what she should do with the horses' mother, Mariastheboss. Wittek and her father bought the mare out of the 2009 Keeneland September Sale for $2,500 and named her in honor of Wittek's mother. Unfortunately, the mare's racing career was a brief one, as she picked up knee chips in her first and only start. Wittek had the chips taken out and decided to breed her, since she was a fan of the pedigree.
Mariastheboss had eight live foals in her broodmare career. Last year though, her filly was born with a gastrointestinal issue.
“She spent almost two weeks at Hagyard and they were able to fix the baby but I don't think I'll ever financially recover,” said Wittek. “The last time I bred her we were also having a lot of trouble getting her in foal because she was pooling urine in her uterus, So I was trying to decide if I retire her from breeding because it was just getting way too costly and I was also worried for her health.”
Just as Wittek was debating about what to do with “Maria,” who by then was 14, the Retired Racehorse Project announced that this year's Makeover will include the first-ever broodmare division.
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If you appreciate our work, you can support us by subscribing to our Patreon stream. Learn more.Previously, the training competition has focused on horses who have recently left the racetrack or race training, or who have completed rehabilitation for an injury sustained during racing or training. This year, recently-retired broodmares will also be eligible to compete. They may enter any of the existing disciplines alongside much younger competitors, but will have separate awards given to them, and will compete for a separate pot of $10,000.
“As soon as the article came out that RRP was opening a broodmare division I made my mind up about retiring her from breeding,” said Wittek.
Wittek said Maria had an intense and aggressive attitude on the track, often menacing her training partners.
“She loved being a racehorse,” said Wittek. “A great personality for a racehorse, but not one for someone who wants to cuddle on a pet.”
Horses may enter up to two disciplines at the Makeover. Wittek is hoping Maria may channel that boss mare vibe to the ranch work discipline, where she'll perform basic under-saddle work, face practical obstacles like gates, logs, and bridges, and will also deal with cattle. In the Makeover context, ranch work is designed to test a horse's propensity for the skills they'd need on a working cattle facility.
Wittek said that while she was a broodmare, Maria went out on trail rides a handful of times when she didn't have a foal by her side. Now, she's back in a working routine and seems to be enjoying the mental stimulation.
“Maria loves to work,” said Wittek. “She's been so excited to be put back into some kind of training … I've started jumping her a little too and she is really brave. I'm thinking I may do jumping or field hunters.
“I'm so excited they came out with this division! It is so hard to rehome broodmares. This is going to really help the breed, and I am so glad to be a part of it!”
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