RoR
New pathway for
racehorses in endurance
A
s we gently ease out of lockdown and wait for the postponed ride calendar to recommence, I sit at home on my sofa, delighted that racing has returned to ITV, albeit behind closed doors with jockeys riding in face masks. I am wondering what will become of all those magnificent thoroughbreds who are giving their huge hearts to the only equestrian discipline they have known since birth. Thanks to Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), British Horseracing's official charity for the welfare of horses who have retired from racing, many will go on to new homes and second careers in dressage, showing, show jumping, polo and of course, endurance.
"The thoroughbred typically has bags of stamina and a very low heart rate when fit"
26
retraining
Anna Collins, former RoR Elite Endurance Champion and endurance ambassador for RoR explains the exciting new pathway.
Earlier this year, I was delighted to work with John Hudson, former Endurance GB Chairman and Anne Walker National RoR Co-ordinator to develop an exciting new pathway, both to encourage RoR members to give endurance a try and Endurance GB and Scottish Endurance Riding Club (SERC) members with former racehorses to compete. The thoroughbred typically has bags of stamina, a very low heart rate when fit, is used to travelling long distances to an event and is brought up from an early age to understand the routines of every day handling, shoeing, clipping and has good stable manners. The ex-racehorse will have trained in a string and will love riding out in company, which is why endurance rides are perfect for them. The new pathway shown, incentivises people to give it a go and gain a recognition rosette for completing a fun or charity ride
features | endurancegb.co.uk
