Evaluator - 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover

11/03/2023

Birthday Boy! Happy 8th Birthday Cheddar!

02/02/2023

𝐉𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞: Evaluator

𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞: Cheddar

𝐀𝐠𝐞: 7

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: New Jersey

𝐓𝐁 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭: Freestyle & Dressage (2022 Makeover)

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞: Colleen Nolan-Tran

“In 2021, I went to the Thoroughbred Makeover for the first time on my first OTTB from New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, Moose (JC: Hard D S C). I had intended to do the Makeover just once, as a bucket list event, but soon after I got back I kept finding myself thinking about going back and doing it again, and even though I didn’t have a horse, I submitted my application in January 2022.

In March 2022, I adopted Cheddar from New Vocations. Soon after I brought him home, we moved from Connecticut to New Jersey. My new farm didn’t have any sort of riding arena and was often too muddy to ride, so our ridden training nearly came to a halt, but I was able to put in a lot of groundwork with Cheddar and start training some obstacles and tricks from the ground.

As the weather warmed up, the ground dried out and we were able to start riding more frequently and Cheddar showed some really lovely natural movement and he was proving to have the most sensible mind, so I decided to enter him in Dressage and Freestyle.

Cheddar and I had a very successful week, placing 4th Amateur/11th overall in Dressage and 1st Amateur/2nd overall in Freestyle, but the highlight of my week was the friendships I made with my fellow competitors.

My best advice to anyone who wants to attend the Makeover is to worry about training your horse from December through the first week of October, but once you get to Kentucky, try to have fun and take it all in! They call it the happiest horse show on Earth for a reason - so make sure you really get to experience it!”

Evaluator - 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover

05/01/2023

At the close of 2022, I wanted to make a recap video to chronicle Cheddar's progress from the time I adopted him from New Vocations in March to his performance at the Thoroughbred Makeover.

It might be surprising because Cheddar always had a very calm temperament, but he had some physical issues that led to some sour behavior under saddle early in his training and his right lead canter took over three months to develop to the point where he could pick it up consistently.

Watch Evaluator (aka Cheddar) transform from his first rides off the track to competing at the 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover. Evaluator is a 2015 gelding. He is...

09/12/2022

A Cheddar approved treat recipe if you're looking for something horsey to do outside of the barn!

Recipe:2 cups flour3/4 cup molasses1 tsp cinnamonPreheat oven to 315FCombine flour, cinnamon and molasses.Once combined, roll out dough to 1/4 inch and cut o...

07/12/2022

Enjoying that post makeover vacation

21/11/2022

If you're looking for a unique gift idea for a horse lover in your life, check out my Etsy shop where you can now purchase the same temporary tattoos and other custom horse marking items that I used for my Makeover Freestyle routine!

All orders over $35 ship free and running a 15% off-sale through the end of the month!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/LuckyCricketFarm?ref=shop_sugg§ion_id=1

01/11/2022

Did you want to watch my finale from the makeover, but don't know enough about horses to understand what's happening? Or maybe you know about horses, but you just like commentary! The RRP has posted the full finale Livestream!

Catch me and Cheddar at the link below:

Watch the entire 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover Finale here: the five top-placed horses from preliminary competition returned to the TCA Covered Arena to contend...

26/10/2022

If you weren't able to catch Cheddar live at the 2022 TB Makeover, I've just finished uploading all of Cheddar's rides (excluding his finale freestyle) to my youtube.

Training 2, Dressage Demo, Preliminary freestyle and a vlog of the full week all included in the following playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoDaHn00Qu1MPOUN8tN22M60phLplW3Uo

26/10/2022

A really fun episode! Definitely recommend listening to the full episode, but if you only care about my interview about Cheddar skip to 56:40

But seriously, listen to the full episode.

It’s the episode you’ve all been waiting for…it’s the Thoroughbred Makeover episode! There is so much to cover and we’re excited to share with you just a few of the hundreds of stories this amazing event has created. We had the pleasure to interview people across multiple disciplines from competitive trail, to polo, to eventing, and even interviewed the winner of the Makeover, junior competitor, Jenna Denver, before we even knew she was going to take home the grand prize! We hope you enjoy this mega episode and enjoy hearing from our Making the Makeover series riders (& forever friends), Raechel Ramsey, Leigh Beamer, and Natalie Holdren one last time, and we congratulate every competitor and their horses who participated this year.

And yes…we still caught Leandra Cooper from New Vocations and yes, we bring you another fantastic Adoptable Horse. Stay tuned!

Listen in the browser or in your favorite podcast player! https://www.horseradionetwork.com/2022/10/25/retired-racehorse-radio-90-the-rrp-thoroughbred-makeover-episode-by-kentucky-performance-products/

20/10/2022

We cleaned up nice... Back to normal now!

17/10/2022

Day of Winners with Elisa Wallace and Colleen Nolan-Tran for Oct 17, 2022 by World Equestrian Center

We are joined by a couple of winners today. Winner of the USEF 3* Eventing National Championship Elisa Wallace and at the TB Makeover Auditor Colleen Nolan-Tran took 2nd place overall finish in freestyle and top amateur. Listen in...

https://www.horsesinthemorning.com/day-of-winners-with-elisa-wallace-and-colleen-nolan-tran-for-oct-17-2022-by-world-equestrian-center/

16/10/2022

What a dreamy way to round out the week! 2nd place in Freestyle, up from 4th in preliminary competition. 1st amateur in freestyle.

Wow! This horse is really special. Thank you to all who helped us make it here and thrive

15/10/2022

Back to the covered for makeover finale today with Cheddar! Come watch us live or watch us on the Livestream: https://www.therrp.org/livestream/

We'll be third in for freestyle, which should run in the afternoon... Maybe around 2ish?

14/10/2022

Scoring has been finalized and Cheddar will be heading into the finale in 4th place for freestyle! Good boy!

12/10/2022

Cheddar heading into the Rolex Arena today to be a superstar.

I'm thrilled with his scores and how he did, but more importantly the wind swept up a tent in the warm up that landed on Cheddar before our ride. He handled it better than I did 😅 but I think he deserves an extra award for that

11/10/2022

I spy with my little eye 🧀

09/10/2022

What a dude. All settled in at our layover barn in KY before we head over for the makeover tomorrow! He loaded up and traveled like a champ for the 12 hour drive and made himself right at home.

07/10/2022

Snoozing his way through our final field trip before the makeover

03/10/2022

🌟 MEET THE NV GRADS COMPETING IN THE THOROUGHBRED MAKEOVER! 🌟

New Vocations Graduate: Evaluator
Barn Name: Cheddar
Starts: 18
Earnings: $375,148
Disciplines Entered: Dressage and Freestyle
Sale Info: therrp.org/horses/3880/

🐴 EVALUATOR & COLLEEN'S JOURNEY: I adopted Evaluator from New Vocations' NY facility in March. The first few months together were pretty slow while I treated him for ulcers and we worked through some physical issues. I wanted to try to treat him and work through the issues, because he always had the most wonderful temperament and I knew that if I could get him comfortable he would make a really great riding horse.

I treated his ulcers and we spent a lot of time doing long and low work under saddle and some groundwork. Things really started to come together for him in June and we've really been getting along well. He's smart and incredibly athletic and still has his wonderfully quiet demeanor. I think he's the type of horse that a lot of people might have overlooked because he cribs, and he needed a little bit of TLC to get things straightened out before he was happy working under saddle, but I could tell from the beginning (as could his New Vocations trainer, Amanda) that he was going to make a great riding horse. He's been a pleasure to ride and one of easiest horses to bring out to a show. He never leaves his brain at home and he always manages to rise to the occasion when he heads into the ring.

While the lead up to the makeover adds some stress to the process, its such a gratifying way to see all your hard work pay off (and it serves as excellent motivation to keep your training on track!)

I've adopted 4 horses from New Vocations and, especially for a horse that I'd like to bring to the makeover, its so important to me to go through an organization that I trust to assess the temperament and physical capability of my horse accurately.

✨ To find your next Thoroughbred Makeover champion, visit newvocations.org/horses. Every NV Grad that competes at the 2023 Makeover will be reimbursed the trainer application fee!

Retired Racehorse Project Take2 Evaluator - 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover North Country Horses

01/10/2022

I've opened an Etsy shop as a fundraiser to offset costs of our upcoming trip to Kentucky.

I'm creating custom digital horse head silhouettes with your horse's unique markings.

I made my own design for Evaluator and have already turned him into matching shirts for me and my friends, a flag, iron on patches, and a temporary tattoo.

I'm offering 25% off all orders between now and when I leave for the Makeover!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/LuckyCricketFarm?coupon=2022RRP

29/09/2022

A sneak preview of Cheddar's freestyle! :D

27/09/2022

Cheddar went out for the first time since August HITS this morning. Completely unbothered by these brisk mornings, what a perfect little guy

26/09/2022

Thoroughbred Makeover, Hurricane Prep and EFWP for Sept 26, 2022 by World Equestrian Center

The Thoroughbred Makeover is a few weeks away and we have Auditor Colleen Nolan-Tran on to tell us about her makeover horse. Kristen Kovatch Bentley, Communications Manager for the Retired Racehorse Project, gives us all the details on the makeover. Plus, Glenn discusses hurricane prep and we have some Equestrian First World Problems. Listen in…

https://www.horsesinthemorning.com/thoroughbred-makeover-hurricane-prep-and-efwp-for-sept-26-2022-by-world-equestrian-center/

23/09/2022

Is there a better way to prep the makeover than becoming a criminal?

Cheddar thinks not! Watch a recap of the last month in which Mr. Perfect commits several petty crimes 👮‍♀️🚔

One final update on Cheddar's training before we head to the Thoroughbred Makeover. We leave in a little over two weeks!

31/08/2022

Show photos are back from HITS! What a good 🧀

25/08/2022

Meet the horses of the 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover! And if you look closely you might see a familiar name listed as a Stakes Horse 🧀

https://www.therrp.org/meet-the-horses-of-the-2022-thoroughbred-makeover/?fbclid=IwAR0GIkcMgmunRhqf60pYebfBZnp1l1b0F_sQR3K3VqWxavNcprqL3kIDIfo

Each Thoroughbred Makeover class offers valuable insights into aftercare: learn more about this year's entries!

22/08/2022

Home from HITS and it's safe to say that Cheddar passed the overnight horse show test with flying colors.

You really couldn't ask for more from him all weekend. Now for a couple of well deserved days off and some extra cookies to pay him back for being so good this weekend. 👍🧀

19/08/2022

Mr. Perfect at HITS

12/08/2022

Yep! It's official he's a pro!

09/08/2022

Not Cheddar, but my 2021 Makeover horse - Moose! Moose debuted at first level today (his and my first time at the level) and put in a solid test!

So proud of both Cheddar and Moose for braving the heat and putting in some really solid rides these past two days

08/08/2022

The show went great! Solid scores at training 2 and 3, but more importantly, trailer training was a success!

07/08/2022

I call this "Better Late than Never Trailer Training"

Tomorrow Cheddar and I hit the road again for our next show, and while he's trailered out several times and worked out of the trailer, I haven't practiced tying him enough to feel comfortable leaving him tied. So today we practiced a little trailer loading and then some trailer tying. And obviously my house is a bit quieter than the show grounds will be so I tried to jazz it up a bit to see what he thought.

Unimpressed. Maybe he wants to see gymnastics next time 🤷‍♀️

05/08/2022

Things are getting real! Cheddar's final entry has been submitted for dressage and freestyle!

24/07/2022

Final entries for the makeover open in a week and we need to pick a second discipline... We're torn between competitive trail and freestyle 🤔 we've been schooling some obstacles here and there but have been slacking on our tricks recently so today to beat the heat we practiced some Spanish walk for the first time since April! Fortunately he remembered 😅