Though Thoroughbreds featured prominently in hunter and jumper show rings of the past, the breed is now rarely represented at the highest echelons of the sport. The Take2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program was created to encourage the use of Thoroughbreds in show rings once more.
The Take2 program was the brainchild of Thoroughbred trainer Rick Violette, who grew up on the East Coast showing hunters and jumpers before transitioning to training racehorses. Violette passed away in 2018, but the program remains dedicated to providing opportunities to retiring racehorses.
Executive Director Andy Belfiore says the program works as a go-between for racehorse owners and people seeing show horses. Take2 is a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited nonprofit that also encompasses the TAKE THE LEAD program, which is a retirement program for horses that retired from New York Racing Association (NYRA) tracks.
More than 1,000 horses have found new homes between Take2 and TAKE THE LEAD program.
Take2 launched a 3-foot hunter division and a 1.0-to-1.05-meter division specifically for Thoroughbreds in 2012. There are now Take2 divisions in 23 states and the Take2 League has been created. All Take2 classes take place at horse shows that are sanctioned by the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
Membership in the League allows riders to try to qualify for the $20,000 Take2 Hunter-Jumper Finals, which will take place at the Kentucky National Horse Show Sept. 20 to 24, at the Kentucky Horse Park. It also puts riders in the running for year-end high-point awards. Take2 also offers a Junior Rider Program and scholarships.
Learn more about Take2 here.
Read more at The Plaid Horse.
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