The Thoroughbred Makeover & National Symposium
Hundreds of off-track Thoroughbreds, each with 10 months or less of retraining. Three days of competition in 10 different disciplines, vying for a share of $100,000 in prize money. Thousands of spectators watching online and in person. And at the end, one overall winner, crowned America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred.
The Retired Racehorse Project, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, created the Thoroughbred Makeover to showcase the trainability and talent of off-track Thoroughbreds. The competition is intended to inspire good trainers to become involved in transitioning these horses to second careers, and the National Symposium serves to educate the people involved in the care, training, and sale of these horses to responsible owners.
Turning for Home at the Thoroughbred Makeover
Turning for Home has supported the Retired Racehorse Project and its signature event, the Thoroughbred Makeover, from its inception. Over the years, Turning for Home graduates have earned many ribbons in the Makeover, but perhaps the highest honor came when Kyle Rothfus won the 2017 Ambassador Award for his work towards Thoroughbred aftercare. That year, he took Quality Hey to the Makeover as his entrant. For the past several years, Turning for Home has also sponsored an award for the highest-earning Turning for Home graduate/adoptable horse.
| Racing Name | Year | Rider | Partner Farm | Discipline(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2015 | Nicole Valeri | Safe Haven Equine | Barrel Racing - 6 of 12 |
 | 2015 | Shariah Harris | Safe Haven Equine | Polo - 3rd Top Polo Junior Rider |
 | 2015 | Kasey Evans | Black Oak Farm | Show Hunter - 4 of 28 |
 | 2016 | Kelly Lupton | Black Oak Farm | Competitive Trail - 19 of 33 Freestyle - 27 of 33 |
 | 2016 | Joanna Hagen | Black Oak Farm | Show Hunter - 4 of 57 |
 | 2016 | Jennifer Osterman | Black Oak Farm | Dressage - 54 of 58 |
 | 2016 | Kelly Page | After the Races | Dressage - 53 of 58 |
 | 2016 | Rebecca Ramsey | Black Oak Farm | Dressage - 49 of 58 |
 | 2016 | Claire Lokken | After the Races | Show Jumper - 4 of 61 Freestyle - 22 of 33 |
 | 2016 | Amy Kaplan | Full Gallop Farm | Dressage - 26 of 58 Eventing - 50 of 65 |
 | 2016 | Kelly Lupton | Black Oak Farm | Show Jumper - 57 of 61 |
 | 2016 | Dorothy Crowell | Bell Run Farm | Eventing - 29 of 65 |
 | 2017 | Amanda Cousins | Turning for Home | Show Jumper - 35 of 84 Eventing - 65 of 90 |
 | 2017 | Kate Goldenberg | Safe Haven Equine | Dressage - 38 of 78 Field Hunter - 20 of 30 |
 | 2017 | Devon Olivier | Full Gallop Farm | Show Hunter - 33 of 84 Eventing - 42 of 90 |
 | 2017 | Amara Underwood | Turning for Home | Working Ranch - 4 of 12 Show Jumper - 17 of 84 |
 | 2017 | Nina Lyman | Maui Meadow Farm | Competitive Trail - 9 of 63 Freestyle - 28 of 38 |
 | 2017 | Cherie Gaebel | Sedgemere Farm | Show Jumper - 4 of 75 Show Hunter - 11 of 84 |
 | 2017 | Lindsey Partridge | Black Oak Farm | Competitive Trail - 3 of 63 Field Hunter - 6 of 30 |
 | 2017 | Lisa Berry | Black Oak Farm | Working Ranch - 12 of 12 |
 | 2017 | Ashley Dufrane | Black Oak Farm | Dressage - 15 of 78 Freestyle - 15 of 38 |
 | 2017 | Kyle Rothfus | Black Oak Farm | Competitive Trail - 50 of 63 Freestyle - 34 of 38 Ambassador Award Winner |
 | 2017 | Kelly Lupton | Black Oak Farm | Competitive Trail - 39 of 63 |
 | 2017 | Erin Schalick | Fox Run Farm | Barrel Racing - 12 of 18 Show Hunter - 62 of 84 |
 | 2018 | Jessie Hartford | Black Oak Farm | Dressage - 75 of 113 Show Jumper - 83 of 96 |
 | 2018 | Lauren Lindsay | Full Gallop Farm | Eventing - 13 of 95 Dressage - 45 of 113 |
 | 2018 | Kate Goldenberg | Safe Haven Equine | Dressage - 96 of 113 |
 | 2018 | Danielle Montgomery | Turning for Home | Barrel Racing - 16 of 28 Competitive Trail - 39 of 62 |
 | 2018 | Rachael Lallier | McCaulley Equine | Show Hunter - 44 of 126 Dressage - 60 of 113 |
 | 2018 | Jessica Werner | Phoenix Equine Services | Dressage - 13 of 113 Eventing - 38 of 95 |
 | 2018 | Julia Jesu | Black Oak Farm | Show Jumper - 49 of 96 Eventing - 91 of 95 |
 | 2018 | Mary Roby | Parthenon Stable | Eventing - 84 of 95 Show Hunter - 84 of 126 |
 | 2018 | Megan Montgomery | Turning for Home | Barrel Racing - 2 of 28 Field Hunter - 36 of 46 |
 | 2018 | Melissa Smith | McCaulley Equine | Competitive Trail - 41 of 62 Show Jumper - 84 of 126 |
 | 2018 | Cherie Gaebel | Sedgemere Farm | Show Jumper - 14 of 96 Dressage - 41 of 113 |
 | 2018 | TEAM COMPETITION | McCaulley Equine | Show Hunter - 1 of 9 Show Jumper - 3 of 6 |
 | 2018 | Katy Hanlon | Fox Run Farm | Show Hunter - 16 of 126 Show Jumper - 86 of 96 |
 | 2018 | Melissa Murray | Black Oak Farm | Barrel Racing - 25 of 28 |
 | 2018 | Nicole Huttar | Jumping H Farm | Show Hunter - 83 of 126 Dressage - 85 of 113 |
 | 2018 | Meg Bowers | Full Gallop Farm | Eventing - 87 of 95 |
