In this first full trainer episode of our 2025 RRP Trainer Chronicles series, we’re joined by Stephanie Parkot, a dedicated adult amateur and mom of three from Corfu, New York, who’s making her Thoroughbred Makeover debut with a gelding she calls “the right horse at the right time.”

Stephanie’s Makeover partner is Sterling Honor, a striking son of Honor Code, adopted through New Vocations. Together, they’re preparing to compete in Competitive Trail and Dressage—and doing it all while balancing barn time with the demands of family life. Stephanie shares what drew her to off-track Thoroughbreds in the first place, the emotional rollercoaster of returning a previous adoption, and how she found the confidence to try again.

She talks candidly about the realities of retraining a Thoroughbred in the dead of a New York winter, the importance of tailoring your program to your lifestyle, and how she’s approaching the 2025 RRP Makeover with a mindset centered not on perfection, but on partnership and progress. One of her guiding philosophies? “Flexible consistency”—knowing when to adjust your expectations without losing sight of the goal. Another? Not waiting for the perfect moment.

Whether you’re a fellow adult amateur retraining an OTTB, curious about the Thoroughbred Makeover process, or simply looking for honest insight into what this journey really looks like behind the scenes, Stephanie’s story is one of heart, resilience, and horse-first horsemanship.