2020 New Vocations Open Barn and BBQ Scheduled

March 2, 2020 – Lexington, KY – New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program will host its fifth annual Open Barn and BBQ event on Friday, April 24 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. An educational experience held concurrently with the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, the organization will open its barn doors to the public at the conclusion of dressage competition at the Kentucky Horse Park. 

Held at New Vocations’ Lexington facility on Mereworth Farm, just 7 miles from the Park, guests will be invited to tour the facility and meet adoptable horses. The evening will include a Southern-style buffet dinner, drinks and live music by Frontier Band, followed by an hour-long educational demonstration in the indoor arena. Four adoptable horses will be ridden by New Vocations trainers in mini clinics taught by international event rider Dorothy [Trapp] Crowell, who will offer her perspective on the retraining process of off-track Thoroughbreds. The evening will conclude with Dorothy teaching two-time Kentucky Oaks winning jockey Rosie Napravnik aboard her more-advanced OTTB, which is a product of Dorothy’s program.

Dorothy was selected for two Olympic teams and was a World Equestrian Games Silver Medalist at The Hague in 1994 aboard her beloved OTTB Molokai. Additionally, Dorothy won the first-ever National four-star championship as the highest-placed American, finishing second in the inaugural CCI**** at Rolex Kentucky. She has had Top 10 finishes at Badminton, Burghley and Pau, all on off-track Thoroughbreds.

A silent auction will add to the evening’s atmosphere; the auction will open online at noon on Friday, April 17, and end at the conclusion of the Open Barn and BBQ on April 24. The auction will include unique experiences and opportunities, such as riding lessons with four-star event rider Nick Larkin, an African safari package, swag from the United States Eventing Association, photo shoots with acclaimed equestrian photographers, signed horse-racing memorabilia, event tickets and more. Once live, the auction can be found at the New Vocations website; bidders need not be present to win. All proceeds from the auction will help New Vocations rehab, retrain and rehome retiring racehorses.

The Open Barn and BBQ begins at 5:30 (gates open at 5 p.m.) and includes live music, dinner, drinks and an educational demonstration for $40 ($20 for children under 12). The open bar will be provided by Tito’s Vodka and Jackson Family Wines; other beverages will be provided. The address of New Vocations at Mereworth Farm is 719 Dolan Lane, Lexington. Limited tickets are available at newvocations.org/event_detail/9. Proceeds from the event will benefit New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

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Founded in 1992, New Vocations has grown into the largest racehorse adoption program in the country. Its mission to rehabilitate, retrain and rehome retired racehorses has led to the placement of over 7,000 individuals, with nearly 500 retirees entering the program each year. With facilities in Kentucky, Ohio, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and New York, New Vocations serves over 40 racetracks, working directly with owners and trainers in need of equine aftercare options. Newvocations.org