Just a month before the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover arrives at the Kentucky Horse Park, Flying Cross Farm in Goshen, Ky. will play host to a unique competition for off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Held in conjunction with the farm's annual USEA horse trial, the “Developing Thoroughbred” class will give recently retired racehorses an opportunity to showcase their potential as successful, competitive, top-level event horses for the future.
The competition will be modeled after the USEA's Young Event Horse classes, which are restricted to 4 and 5-year-old horses. Open to horses of any age which are either one year off the track (Thoroughbreds with a published workout or race in 2020 or later) or two years off the track (Thoroughbreds with a published workout or race in 2019), the special class will not only showcase the Thoroughbred breed but also provide horses and riders with the educational, constructive feedback that the YEH program provides.
The idea came to Flying Cross Farm's Heidi Jones via Lori Miller, head trainer for Thoroughbred Aftercare organization Friends of Ferdinand.
“We thought this was a really cool idea,” said Jones. “We are already setting a course for YEH stuff, and now we're opening it up to more people who might otherwise miss out on what the YEH program has to offer. It will help showcase the breed and what these horses can do as a second career. It's also a perfect set up to prep for RRP, so it could be really good stepping stone for those horses, as well.”
Each horse will demonstrate a dressage test appropriate for the level, then complete a jumping course with five show jumping-type fences and 10 cross country style fences followed by a final 100-meter gallop to showcase the horse's stride.
The Developing Thoroughbred class will be sponsored by Friends of Ferdinand, and both divisions are scheduled to be held at Flying Cross Farm on Wednesday, Sept. 15. Entries will be taken online after Aug. 3 via Blue Horse Entries.
More information about the Developing Thoroughbred class can be found at the Flying Cross Farm website.
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