By Stefanie Grimm
Each year since 2010, as Thoroughbreds across the country face the end of their racing careers, the team at the Maryland-based Retired Racehorse Project step up with one purpose: “furthering founder Steuart Pittman's vision to increase demand for Thoroughbreds after racing and restoring their prominence in the equestrian world.” With this goal in mind, the RRP created the inaugural 'Thoroughbred Trainer Challenge' in 2012–an event which gave four trainers just 100 days and an opportunity to showcase what a recently retired racehorse could do in a potential second career.
That event, which packed the 2012 Pennsylvania Horse World Expo, was the precursor to what became the first RRP Thoroughbred Makeover event in 2013. Held at renowned Pimlico Race Course in October 2013, the initial Makeover featured 26 trainers from 15 states who were given three months to re-train an off-the-track Thoroughbred in the discipline of their choice–from eventing, jumpers, and dressage, to polo, western riding, and police work.
What started as a small opportunity with just 26 trainers quickly blossomed into a national event and, in 2015, the annual Makeover event made the move to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Now with a $100,000 purse, split between the placings in the various divisions, on the line, the competition provided an outlet for trainers and racing organizations around the world to showcase the versatility of their retired racehorses.
Held this upcoming October 12-15, this year's rendition will host 377 entries–one of whom is Minnesota's 17-year-old Madisson Walker.
Together with her mount, Minnesota-bred Claire Sailing (Stay Thirsty), Madisson will tackle the Show Hunter division this Fall.
“It was in 2019 that I acquired my first off-the-track Thoroughbred,” Walker said, when asked how she got her start with the breed. “Sword of David (Line of David) and I have gone on to compete all over the U.S. and that was when I discovered that many people in the hunter/jumper show circuit do not care for Thoroughbreds.”
Madisson Walker & Sword of David | Madisson Walker
“Hearing numerous amounts of negativity around them and being turned down from trainers for riding Thoroughbreds really encouraged me to want to make a difference.”
Together with her mother, Kristina Walker, Madisson created Minnesota-based Koch Thoroughbred Transformations.
“We have done so much in our first few months of being open, and we really value the horses we get in, as well as the owners who trust us with them,” Walker said. “To me, these are not just horses, they are my passion. I love [the ones] that give me a challenge and then being able to show how far I can get them with time, trust, and patience.”
Her 2022 Makeover entry is Claire Sailing, a 4-year-old filly bred by Jack Guggisberg who made her last of three starts at Canterbury Park June 12.
“She just did not enjoy her job as a racehorse,” Walker noted. “But that works perfectly for me as she is very beautiful and is making the transition into being a hunter/jumper easily.”
To be eligible for the Makeover, horses must have had an official workout or start since July 1, 2020, but fewer than 15 retraining rides prior to Dec. 31, 2021.
“I feel for her having had her last race on June 12, and only about 10 rides on her to date, that she is right on target,” Walker said. “She is very young and all of the new experiences at a horse show are so different from life at the track.”
Walker said she feels confident that the future for Claire Sailing is bright.
“She competed in her first over-fences class Aug. 6 and did very well. I am excited to see how she continues to progress as she is such a smart and willing mare,” she said.
Following the Makeover in October, in which many of the entries are then placed on the market for sale, Walker hopes to use her experience to pay it forward, putting any money made from Claire Sailing's future sale back into Thoroughbred rescue.
“I'll ensure she finds a suitable show home who will continue to grow her skills, and the money from her adoption can go back into our non-profit to continue to transition other OTTB's.”
At just 17 years old, Walker is already thinking of the future–both in life and in horses.
“I want people to see and respect me as a trainer, not just as a junior,” she said, referencing her being one of this year's youngest competitors.
When asked if she felt any additional pressure about that particular accolade, she added, “I find that I put more pressure on myself to do well to represent my state, as well as the aftercare program my mom and I run.”
And while adult life is on her doorstep, Walker plans to keep horses in her future.
“I have been looking into a lot of different colleges lately, [including] Hollins University due to their riding program. I know I want to work with off-the-track Thoroughbreds into my adult life, and want to make a living out of helping these horses transition into new careers.”
For more information on this year's Thoroughbred Makeover event, visit: https://www.therrp.org/.
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