As I get ready to compose this concluding segment of Teddy Spaghetti’s journey to the Thoroughbred Makeover, it’s with immense satisfaction for everything he and our group achieved there; deep gratitude for the family that gave me the chance to bring both their new 3-year-old OTTB and their 16-year-old daughter along for the experience; and a touch of sadness that it’s completed.
The last time I provided an update before the makeover, my Take2 Jumper had been withdrawn from the Finals due to a foot issue, which meant we potentially had space on the trailer and a stall available for Teddy to take a spontaneous trip to the Kentucky Horse Park for some practice. However, after much consideration, we opted to play it safe and not push our luck. The thought of riding him around the field hunter course (which we are not permitted to ride the horses on before competing during the makeover) and allowing him to become familiar with the setting at the Kentucky Horse Park was certainly tempting. But we decided that asking him to travel farther than he ever had before, not just once but twice within a three-week timeframe, simply wasn’t fair. So instead, my teammate Grace kept him in shape while I flew down to the Take2 Finals to coach, and we planned to start strong when I returned.
We were fully prepared to stick to the plan and spend our final two weeks working through our list of exercises, outings, and training refreshers, and we were feeling quite confident — until Teddy lost a hind shoe and stepped on a clip in the pasture. All in all, we were fortunate. There was no bleeding, and it wasn’t a severe injury to the hoof, but there was some heat and a pulse, indicating inflammation. As a result, in an abundance of caution, we didn’t spend our last week schooling and refining his skills, but instead tending to his hoof without a shoe, soaking and applying poultice in a desperate attempt to prevent another dreaded abscess. It’s beneficial to have a reliable support system, and my farrier came to check on him almost every day before finally deciding he was in the clear, and he felt comfortable putting the shoe back on Teddy on Saturday. We were scheduled to leave Monday morning.
There’s really nothing quite like having to move forward feeling a bit unprepared, but we decided to put our faith in Teddy’s remarkably calm and confident nature, all the training we had been able to complete, and the fact that we had a full day of practice upon arrival to refine what we needed to. So, we made the journey to Kentucky, with Teddy’s hoof still wrapped in poultice to ensure we were doing everything possible. Monday afternoon proceeded as anticipated. We set up our stalls and tack room, and Teddy immediately settled in for a nap while we waited for the veterinary team to complete our health assessment. Once cleared to compete, we took a leisurely walk around the Kentucky Horse Park to enjoy the scenery and then tucked them in for the night. There was no need to do much; Tuesday was for schooling.
But Tuesday’s weather had different plans. After unprecedented rainfall and waiting for a break in the storm that never materialized, we were once again forced to alter our plans. Teddy and I took the wettest walk imaginable around the area of the Rolex course we were allowed to access in the morning, and when Grace finished virtual school for the day, we attempted to jump in our show hunter ring. I am certain I won’t be the only trainer sharing details about the weather in their Thoroughbred Makeover updates, but the picturesque footing that the Kentucky Horse Park is known for was replaced by mud. It was impossible to get a sense of how the lines would ride, so we simply used it as an opportunity for Teddy to see what he could of the ring and for us to observe how the turns felt. He handled it wonderfully, but there was simply no way to have the effective practice we had hoped for. Whatever Wednesday would bring, it would bring, and we would do our best to have a positive experience regardless. The good news? The storm provided plenty of puddles around the Horse Park for us to practice our water crossings!
First up on Wednesday was my Field Hunter hack, followed by my individual Field Hunter course, and Teddy rose to the occasion. Considering Teddy had only hacked a total of three times before the makeover, and never in an open field, I really couldn’t have expected much more from him. He unfortunately picked up the wrong lead to the right, something he has struggled with in the past and something we were planning to concentrate on fine-tuning if we had had the chance. Still, he maintained his composure and corrected it as soon as I asked. He also had a bit of a “monkey see, monkey do” moment in line waiting for his turn to back up when the two horses next to us became a little agitated and excited, but he was able to refocus and finished on a high note. As for our individual course, he was so brave and willing that I felt foolish for ever worrying he was unprepared. Sadly, a new gate introduced on course since I had walked it during the storm led to a rider error in its closing, and a zero for that obstacle, but that was entirely my responsibility. Aside from that and a slight hesitation at the land bridge due to the wind and an oddly positioned puddle, I truly cannot find fault with our course in any way.
After lunch and a good rest, it was time for Teddy to try his skills at Show Hunters. As show hunters, we take pride in being a discipline focused on uniformity in our pursuit of perfection — and unsurprisingly, that is where our lack of preparation, albeit for reasons beyond our control, became evident. Teddy warmed up perfectly, but upon trotting across the ring, he suddenly hesitated and became startled by the shadows being cast by the jump standards. This was unlike anything I had ever experienced with him, and after another issue with our right lead, I was left without much opportunity to establish my rhythm, ultimately finding a longer distance to my first jump than I would have liked. Because I was hesitant to adjust too far back in pace with him being uncharacteristically wary, I chose to keep moving forward down my first line instead of waiting for the extra stride as I had originally intended. Even as I describe it, I understand why I did it, but it was definitely a mistake. Not a catastrophic one by any means, but one that would cost me a clean jump out of my first line and, therefore, cost us a chance at the finale.
Disappointed not at him, but at myself, I chose to regroup, gave Teddy a gentle pat on the neck as we moved to the next single jump, and went back to my original plan: add down the last two lines, build his confidence, and set Grace up for a successful second trip. And that is precisely what we did. Unknown to us, we were the only team that chose to have two different riders jump, but after a quick tack adjustment and warm-up, Grace entered for our second trip. Besides a slight stumble at the end of her first line as well, she nailed it. We’ll never know if our courses would have been more polished if we had had those last two weeks to practice at more show venues, or even if we’d been able to see how the lines rode on proper footing on Tuesday. Probably, but all the “what ifs” and “should haves” immediately disappeared from my mind as I watched Grace come out of that show hunter ring hugging Teddy’s neck and crying happy tears of disbelief that they had done it. In just 10 months, Grace had become an essential part of retraining her first-ever OTTB (off-track Thoroughbred), and in their most significant moment to date, she and Teddy had been able to deliver a show hunter round that she was incredibly proud of. That is what the Thoroughbred Makeover is all about.
But we weren’t finished yet. Thursday morning brought the eagerly anticipated Mock Hunt, and Grace was in the saddle. I knew she was nervous; she had told me. Normally, we hunt together and I ride close by to offer support, guidance, or even just a humorous comment if needed. It was a lot for her to go out there and do something like that alone on such a large stage, but I told her to trust in what she’d already achieved, that she knew Teddy would take care of her — and when in doubt, channel my voice in her head as if I was right behind her. Most importantly, I told her to simply have fun and enjoy having made it this far. And that is exactly what she did! Perhaps the strangest part of competing as a team for the first time was being in jeans instead of breeches that morning, and I’m not sure how much I breathed as I strained to see all that I could across the Steeplechase infield. Yet, what I could see was wonderful, and when it was all said and done, she walked back to me on a loose rein, grinning from ear to ear. Not only had they both had an absolute blast, but their performance helped us finish in seventh place in the Preliminary Competition and earned us a spot in the finale.
Friday was therefore spent in competitor meetings, presenting Teddy for the Finale jog to confirm soundness, and completing our arena familiarization. Bay, Grace’s little sister and our honorary team member, then got to take Teddy on a long walk around the Rolex course to see firsthand where he had competed. It was the perfect low-key day, and the perfect preparation for the Finale.
Grace had chosen me to take the reins Saturday morning in the Finale, and I was honored to do so. With the top 10 of us starting fresh, my past experiences in both the 2023 and 2024 Field Hunter Finales, and Teddy’s proven willingness and experience in a show ring, I was hopeful we had a good chance of being competitive. However, my main goal was to end our week on a positive note and let him have some fun. Fortunately for me, he was happy to oblige, and we delivered an incredibly solid trip. Our obstacles included: mounting inside the ring, several single jumps, a two stride, opening and closing another gate, a hand gallop to a halt, and dismounting while still in the ring. Teddy didn’t hesitate, instead tackling each task with a quiet confidence beyond his years and an overall consistency that can sometimes take years to develop. It was an undoubtedly well-deserved second-place finish, and I could not be prouder of him or our entire team.
Overall, in addition to finishing as the overall Field Hunter Reserve Champion, we finished in the top 30 in the Show Hunter preliminary competition, placing fifth in the teams, and seventh place in the Field Hunter preliminary competition, which also earned us the first-place team and second Top-Placed Pennsylvania-bred.
Thank you to all of you who have followed along and may have supported us from the sidelines, or from afar. Your support and this event mean more to us than you could ever know, and while I could continue indefinitely about the experiences and benefits of the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover, my message is simple. If you are thinking of competing, alone or as a team, or even as a supporting owner, do it. I assure you that you will not be disappointed, and maybe I’ll even see you in 2026!
The Jockey Club supports many aftercare initiatives including the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the only accrediting body in aftercare, and Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), which encourages the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon completion of careers. View all of the initiatives supported by The Jockey Club.
