NEWS

The USPA is a proud sponsor of the polo division of the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium taking place October 3-5 at the Kentucky Horse Park located in Lexington, Kentucky. The division has grown since last year with 14 polo horses entered for 2019. The highly successful symposium features top professional and amateur equestrian trainers, competing hundreds of off-track Thoroughbreds in 10 different disciplines for $100,000 in prize money. At the end, one overall winner, is crowned America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred. Polo has enjoyed great success at the Makeover: Old Tavern, trained by Charlie Caldwell, won 2017 America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred as selected by audience vote. In 2018, the addition of a seven-minute chukker in the Finale had the crowd cheering and was immensely popular with competitors and spectators alike. For more information, please visit retiredracehorseproject.org.

Join the USPA in congratulating all the 2019 polo entries below:

Thursday, October 3, 9-10:30am ET – J TCA Covered Arena

Format - Riders will complete an agility pattern to include the following: figure-eight with lead changes at the canter both directions, two roll-backs (left and right), two turns (left and right - tightness of the turn will be judged), two tight circles (left and right), a check and release and two complete stops and step-backs.

After the agility pattern, contestants will demonstrate each of the following strokes, hitting the ball and following it: nearside forehand, offside forehand, nearside backshot and offside backshot.

Scoring - Polo Agility will be judged with a maximum possible score of fifty points. Each of the following will be scored on a scale of 0 to 10: calmness of horse (10 points), responsiveness to rider’s aids (10 points), adjustability of pace (10 points), quality of lead changes (10 points), quality of stops (10 points). Stick and Ball Work will be judged with a maximum possible score of fifty points. Each of the following will be scored on a scale of 0 to 10: calmness of horse (10 points), responsiveness to rider’s aids (10 points), adjustability of pace (10 points), willingness to maintain straightness and pace during strokes (10 points), speed and agility (10 points).

Steward – Lindsay Dolan, USPA Membership and Handicap Director

Judges – Tony Coppola, USPA President; Chris Stratemann, USPA Outdoor Handicap Committee Chair & Orchard Hill Polo Team Manager

Saturday, October 5, Makeover Finale at 2-2:30pm ET – J TCA Covered Arena
The top five contestants will perform both the agility pattern and a six-minute exhibition chukker for an additional score to determine placings, followed by Thoroughbred Makeover Champion voting.

You can still get your Thoroughbred Makeover fix even if you are unable to join in person in Kentucky. The Thoroughbred Makeover will once again be providing a livestream of the Makeover Finale, and viewers get to choose (via text vote) who among the 10 division champions will be named America's Most Wanted Thoroughbred!

WATCH HERE

The Retired Racehorse Project’s mission is to facilitate placement of Thoroughbred ex-racehorses in second careers by increasing demand for them in equestrian sports and serving the farms, trainers, and organizations that transition them. To that end, the 2019 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, is a training competition designed to showcase the trainability and talent of off-track Thoroughbreds, and inspire equestrians across a variety of disciplines to consider the Thoroughbred as a competitive or recreational partner.

The Thoroughbred has long been admired for its speed on the racetrack, but had fallen from fashion in the show ring. Once again, riders in disciplines ranging from eventing and jumping to barrel racing and ranch riding are recognizing the athleticism, versatility and heart of the ex-racing Thoroughbred and finding their perfect partner in these wonderful horses.