RoR/Ascot Compilation

Compilation PAGES

A COLLECTION OF ROR ARTICLES AS FEATURED IN THE ASCOT MAGAZINE & RACE GUIDE

ASCOT SUPPORTS – WHERE ARE THEY NOW

One of the standout two-mile chasers of the past decade, Sire De Grugy made his mark at Ascot when winning the 2014 running of the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase (pictured above), and he also finished runner-up in the 2016 renewal.

The win confirmed that the chaser, who was rated an exceptional 172 at his peak, had very much taken his place at chasing’s top table, and it was one of four Grade 1 successes in a memorable 2013/14 season.

During a racing career that spanned seven years and notched up 17 wins from 42 starts, Sire De Grugy certainly was the birthday gift that kept on giving.

The friends of his long-time owner, Steve Preston, clubbed together to fund his purchase as a present for Steve’s 50th birthday, but it was his trainer, Gary Moore, who had originally purchased him. Gary saw in the handsome chesnut that he may have a star in his yard, and retained a percentage of the ownership.

Furthermore, as the trainer’s son, Jamie, partnered Sire in all but two of his races, it couldn’t be more fitting that Sire has stayed with the Moore family in his retirement.

When Sire retired fit and healthy in 2017, it was Jamie’s wife Lucie that was to take over the reins. When asked to reflect on his stellar career and plans for his life post-racing, Lucie says “we just wanted him to enjoy his retirement. He had achieved so much in his racing career we didn’t want to pressure him into succeeding in a new career.”

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Sire still resides at the Moore’s training yard and Lucie has to plan her morning rides on Sire with care, as a mistimed ride often means she and Sire find themselves heading up the gallops with the string, but it is Sire’s relationship with Jamie and Lucie’s young children that would surprise many avid race fans.

Whilst Lola, the eldest of the Moore’s children, may only have been aged two at the time of Sire’s Clarence House win, these days she can be found partnering the former stable star in the school and on the gallops. “He just seems to know that they are only little and he is so kind with all the children” shares Lucie.

“When I ride him out he can be spooky and jump around, but with the children he is so calm and patient.”

Sire has one very special equine relationship with Cuddles, the charge of the youngest Moore, Kenny.

It seems like Kenny may be the next Moore to follow his father and uncles along the jockey path, and the four-year-old can be seen on the gallops riding Cuddles, with Sire stuck firmly by his side on babysitting duty.

Sire will hopefully enjoy future trips back to his favourite racetracks to partake in the very popular RoR parades, in which he seems to lap up the attention. “He is so well behaved when he gets to the track, he has done a ridden parade and one in-hand, and he really enjoys them” says Lucie.

Seemingly living the life of luxury in retirement, Sire has enjoyed cross-country schooling outings along with showjumping, and although Lucie says she has no grand plans, she would like to continue to compete with him in the future. For now, he will continue to enjoy his Sunday hacks with Jamie and the children, adventures up the gallops with Cuddles and the occasional session in the school with Lola.

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW

ASCOT SUPPORTS – WHERE ARE THEY NOW

Captain Chris is fondly remembered by many racing fans for his long-term racing partnership with Champion Jockey Richard Johnson. The pair memorably won the 2014 Ascot Chase where he took charge of the race three fences from home and stormed clear to win this coveted Grade 1 (click the photo above to see a replay of the race), making amends for the blunder he made at the second last fence in the 2013 running of the race when battling it out against Cue Card.

The handsome bay gelding had spent his racing career at Sandhill, the Somerset training base of Philip Hobbs, a facility that Colour Sergeant George Beilby and his family had used on many occasions to gallop their point-to-pointers.

It was during one such visit to these gallops in 2011 that a conversation was held between George and Hobbs’ assistant trainer Johnson White regarding another of the yard stable stars, Monkerhostin.

George had heard that Monkerhostin had been retired from racing and simply enquired if plans had been made for his life out of racing and within weeks the larger-than-life Monkey had joined George and his family to start his new life.

At the end of 2018, the Hobbs’ were looking for a suitable, active home for Captain Chris so they made the call to George and Chris arrived with them in January 2019 and the King’s Theatre sired gelding hasn’t looked back.

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George feels there are many similarities between those who embark on a military career and racehorses. Both lead disciplined careers with an emphasis on routine and physical fitness. Similarly, there can be issues for both when faced with the need to move on and find a new career and George feels that, like soldiers, racehorses are entitled to prove that they can succeed in another role. George believes that with a capable and confident rider, along with patience, many ex-racehorses can prove their versatility and succeed in a new life.

George says “Chris, who is now 17, is a gentle giant; my daughter Kelsie was just 15 years old when she first took him hunting. He is genuine and straight forward whereas Monkey still lives everyday like it is his last, is brave and would give anything a try.”

Chris is often partnered by George’s wife Debbie who has taken part in RoR parades, acted as chaperone to the family’s racing ponies and enjoyed learning new skills like showjumping but sadly, like the rest of the nation, Chris and Monki are currently enduring an enforced Covid lockdown holiday spending time out in the field with the Beilby family’s other equine friends.

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW

ASCOT SUPPORTS – WHERE ARE THEY NOW

DODGING BULLETS GAINED GRADE 1 SUCCESS AT ASCOT AS HE GOT THE BETTER OF SPRINTER SACRE IN THE 2015 CLARENCE HOUSE CHASE

Dodging Bullets always drew much attention throughout his career for both his success on the track and for the fact he was bred by one of the most famous Flat jockeys of all time, Frankie Dettori.

His adaptability saw him win on the Flat, over hurdles and over fences with a total of 36 runs under rules, winning ten. Dodging Bullets made his mark at Ascot winning the Clarence House ridden by Noel Fehily, a successful prep run before he headed to Cheltenham and the biggest win of his career, the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Dodging Bullets arrived at Paul Nicholls’ Somerset establishment in November 2011 and from day one he was cared for by Lucy Sharp. From his daily exercise to attending to him at the races, it was Lucy who was by his side and it was whilst celebrating his Champion Chase win that it was mentioned to her that his owners, Sir Martin and Jocelyn Broughton, hoped that when the day came Dodge would go to live out his retirement with Lucy.

“We had all been celebrating rather well so although I always wished he would be mine one day I didn’t dare let myself believe it would actually happen,” said Lucy.

“It was on his final race a couple of years later when I was in the stables caring for him after his race that I was called back to the racing room at Cheltenham as his owners wanted to speak to me. It was then that they told me that Dodge had run his last race and asked if I would like him. I couldn’t stop crying, one week later he came home to my yard.”

Dodge is still treated like a king with Lucy enjoying his many quirks. “If you feed him polo’s he has to put his nose in the air and if you ignore him he either nudges you or pulls on your clothes until you give him some fuss.”

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Dodge also plays his own version of ‘king of the castle,’ insisting on standing on the shavings bale when it is placed in his stable so that he can look down on Lucy.

Dodge spends his days enjoying the company of his Shetland friend called Lady or herding up the chickens who share his paddock. Lucy has worked hard to settle his enthusiastic nature: “He has always loved to get on with his work, he loves to jog and I still cannot eat anything before riding him, but he still makes me smile all the time.”

Lucy says being part of the RoR parade at Cheltenham was one of her proudest moments: “People in the crowd were telling me how brilliant he looked and how much they loved him, I never realised what a fan club he had, and it was a truly unforgettable experience. I would recommend anyone who owns an ex-racehorse to join the RoR and when restrictions allow I can’t wait to do more with them.”

Dodge’s education continues, and Lucy works closely with Paul Nicholls’ assistant Harry Derham to ensure Dodge can make the most of his new life: “He has always been a bad traveller and although he can now perform a foot-perfect dressage test at home Harry and I are working out ways we can help him to travel better so he can go to more competitions.”

Eventing and showing are on Lucy’s wish list for Dodge to be able to compete in.

Lucy’s passion for thoroughbreds both on and off the track doesn’t stop with Dodge. He shares his field with Pacha du Polder and Lucy already has her eye on another beautiful thoroughbred currently in training with Paul. Lucy says: “When you take on an ex-racehorse you know they have had the best care possible.”

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW

ASCOT SUPPORTS – WHERE ARE THEY NOW

FIRST RECEIVER FINISHED SECOND IN THE HAMPTON COURT STAKES AT ROYAL ASCOT LAST YEAR ON HIS FINAL RACECOURSE OUTING

Her Majesty The Queen has held a lifelong passion for horses, both on and off the track. A regular visitor to Royal Ascot and the owner and breeder of many successful horses both on the Flat and over jumps, Her Majesty also ensures that her horses are given the opportunity to succeed in a second career if deemed suitable.

Leading showing producer Katie Jerram is currently in the early stages of retraining one of Her Majesty’s homebreds, First Receiver. The four-year-old gelding by New Approach was last seen on the racetrack at Royal Ascot last year when he came second in the Hampton Court Stakes, trained by Sir Michael Stoute. First Receiver’s dam, Touchline, appeared at Royal Ascot in 2015 when coming third in the Sandringham Stakes.

“First Receiver arrived with us this February, he is a very kind and willing horse and both the Queen and her team at Sandringham are following his progress closely.”

Her Majesty has entrusted Katie to retrain several of her horses, including Barbers Shop who had great success and is now enjoying his retirement at the Jerram yard.

First Receiver has taken to his new routine and will initially be shown inhand to gain competitive experience before being shown under saddle.

“First Receiver will be aimed at the specialised RoR showing classes as well as novice riding horse classes, he is a superb pattern of a horse and easily fell into his new working outline.”

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Katie is no stranger to racing having trained point-to-pointers and held a trainer’s permit before producing show horses. “Thoroughbreds are my favourite breed.

I love their brain, intelligence and outlook on life. I also love their beauty and their understanding of people.”

Retraining ex-racehorses is something Katie says brings her great satisfaction and is a lovely achievement. “Whether they have succeeded on the racetrack or not I love to see these beautiful horses in their next career. For the trainers, owners, breeders and public I think it is important to see that they can have a competitive career after racing.”

For those that are considering following the RoR route Katie says: “Make sure you understand your horse and the correct retraining approach for them, seek help and advice, have lessons and most of all make sure they are the right horse for you and your capabilities. I would always recommend a thoroughbred.”

First Receiver is relishing his new career, with a love of carrots and time in the paddock, and we hope he brings Her Majesty many memorable moments in the future.

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW

ASCOT SUPPORTS – WHERE ARE THEY NOW

Limato made his mark at Ascot when winning the Merriebelle Stable Pavilion Stakes in April, 2015 following up with a creditable 2nd in the Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) at Royal Ascot in the same year.

Limato ran 33 times and achieved 14 career wins. Following his retirement from racing in September 2020 his owner, Paul Jacobs, gave this wonderful nine-year-old the opportunity to thrive in another career and he arrived with showing producer Katie Jerram Hunnable in November to start his retraining.

“He has taken to his retraining much quicker than we could have ever imagined, he took to wearing a normal saddle very easily” shares Katie, “he is being trained to be a show horse and is being aimed at the RoR showing classes as a Large Hack.”

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been a huge advantage for Limato but just like a human he has a favoured tendency to be right-handed.”

Limato is far pickier about the friends he chooses, and Katie describes him to be like marmite, “he chooses his own friends but luckily we seem to be on his friends list.”

“His unusual best friend is the yard cat, he adores him. Mr Jacobs spoke to Limato’s breeder, Seamus Phelan in Ireland, and it appears that as a foal he was befriended by a very similar cat.”

As a horse that has spent most of his life in a training routine, Limato is relishing his retraining with a mixture of schooling and hacking. He is a great example of how adaptable thoroughbreds can be, excelling in a new life following years spent racing. ror.org.uk

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ASCOT SUPPORTS – WHERE ARE THEY NOW

Laura O’Neill, Operations Executive, Retraining of Racehorses (RoR); I was lucky enough to be offered Jallota, now known as Jally, through a good friend of mine, Steph, who works for trainer Charlie Hills. Steph called me one day and asked if I knew anyone who would like to give Jallota a “forever” home and after a short think, I said I would love to have him!

Jally was previously owned by Dr and Mrs Hay (whose racing colours have also been carried by the likes of Fame And Glory and Here Comes When), his racing career saw him travel to Dubai, Italy and all over the UK, including running four times at Ascot.

He ran a total of 52 times, winning seven races, including at both Group 3 and Listed level, as well as being placed in a Group 1.

I collected Jally from Charlie’s yard in September 2019 and gave him 8 months in the field as he had an old injury that needed a bit of rest before we bought him back into work in May 2020.

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Due to a previous injury the decision was made to direct his retraining to the dressage arena. He took to this very well and in September 2020 we made our debut at an unaffiliated dressage competition and won our class. Jally has continued to improve and will now go affiliated this year with the plan to climb the levels and see how we go.

The Hay’s are very interested in how all of their former racehorses are and take great pleasure in hearing of their achievements off the racecourse. They enjoy hearing how Jally is progressing and have added me to their family and friends Facebook page where I post updates on how we are doing and results from competitions.

“We are delighted that Jallota is with Laura and thoroughly enjoying his new life in the dressage arena. It is wonderful to see such a lovely horse, who gave us so much fun and pleasure during his racing days having the opportunity to have a second career and a lovely home. The Facebook page gives people like Laura the chance to update us with what the horses are doing and allowing us to see any pictures, which is always so nice. We are very much looking forward to seeing more of Laura and Jallota’s journey together”.

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Most horses retiring from racing are eminently suitable for a further career in one of the sport horse disciplines or simply as a hack. In the fifteen years since RoR started staging competitions exclusively for former racehorses, annual participation has increased significantly. During non-Covid affected times, RoR annually stages 40 separate competition series across 15 different disciplines, catering for all levels of ability, from grassroots to elite.

The RoR Showing and Dressage Series are the most popular amongst RoR members, however, Eventing, Horseball and Polocrosse are all on the rise, highlighting the many different disciplines that RoR has to offer. To provide a comparison and some perspective, in 2019 more thoroughbreds took part in RoR dressage competitions than ran in steeplechases (4,148 vs 2,965).

Most racehorse trainers have now established their own networks for finding second careers for horses in their care but owners wishing to learn more can ring the RoR helpline for advice on 01488 648998, there is also a directory of retrainers on the RoR website, as well as RoR’s own Source A Horse site, an online facility through which former racehorses can either be sold or loaned out.

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ASCOT SUPPORTS WHERE ARE THEY NOW

ABSEIL – Owned and ridden by Tracy Sieminski 11-year-old gelding by First Defence, formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute Abseil can lay claim to being the best-bred horse currently registered with RoR. Bred by Juddmonte Farms in Kentucky, his dam, Intercontinental, won a Breeders Cup race and he is closely related to the stallions Champs Elysees and Dansili.

He went into training with Sir Michael Stoute in Newmarket but an indicator of the injury problems he would face throughout his racing career was that he did not make his racecourse debut until he was a four-year-old. Later that season he was sent off favourite for the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot where he finished a respectable 8th of 28. In all, Abseil ran 12 times, winning twice before retiring in 2015.

Abseil then moved on to Cheveral House Racehorse Rehoming in Nottinghamshire, an operation run by Hayley Turner’s mother, Kate. It was there that Tracy Sieminski first laid eyes on Abseil when she was looking for a potential former racehorse to take on and retrain.

Under Tracy’s care and enjoying his new life on the Welsh coast in the sleepy village of Trelawynd, Abseil has since embarked on a second career, competing in a variety of disciplines. He has won at dressage, taking part in the BHS finals, then in 2017 Abseil made on his debut at the RoR National Championships at Aintree where he competed in the ridden and in-hand showing classes. And in 2018 he qualified for Eland Lodge Cross Country finals.

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However, it is as an Endurance horse that Abseil has enjoyed the most success, winning him the prize of RoR Elite Endurance Horse at the 2019 RoR Awards.

Covering a distance of 30 miles and next month the pair aim to complete their longest one yet, 40 miles in Clocaenog near Ruthin.

“All my friends call me crazy but he’s a bit crazy too, so we make a decent match. If he doesn’t know you and you entered his field, he chases you out! You’ve got to find out what they like and all their little quirks and he’s got more quirks than any horse I’ve come across, but I wouldn’t swap him for the world now.”

“When out riding at home, he is often ridden in a hackamore and is more than happy to do his duty as a riding school pony and my grandchildren regularly ride him.

He prefers to live out as he tends to get restless when kept in the box and he’ll escape if given half a chance. So now, he pretty much stays out 24/7, which suits him well.”

When Tracy attended the RoR Awards at the Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket she took the opportunity to visit Sir Michael Stoute’s Freemason Stables, where Abseil had been trained. Head Lass Sarah Deniff recalls what a character Abseil was, adding: “It’s fantastic and so nice you can keep contact with the new owners.

I was surprised when Tracy told me about the long distances he covers in his endurance events but it goes to show how versatile they are. It’s amazing how intelligent they are and they will try anything for you.”

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Retraining of Racehorses

Where are they now?

- Side Glance

A veteran of 40 career starts, the stunning black gelding Side Glance was a great favourite of Sheikh Fahad and his brothers.

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hough he may not have made his way to the winner’s enclosure at the Royal meeting, he lost nothing in defeat - coming third to Frankel in 2012 in what his trainer, Andrew Balding described as “one of the strongest Queen Anne Stakes there has ever been”.

“Sidey” won more than £1.7m in prize money, racing all over the world. His constant companion during those globe-trotting days was Leanne White, Andrew Balding’s travelling head groom.

On Sidey’s retirement in 2015, following a leg injury, his owners, Qatar Racing, kindly gifted him to Leanne and her friend Sarah.

“Sidey” spent the first part of his retirement recuperating alongside Sarah’s other retired star, Pentecost, winner of the 2002 Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot.

When Sarah decided to hang up her boots

“He has a lot of character, can be incredibly strong and cantankerous, but turns into an angel around children” in 2019, “Sidey” returned to Kingsclere to be with Leanne, where he has turned into the most wonderful family horse.

“He has a lot of character, can be incredibly strong and cantankerous, but turns into an angel around children, or anyone he can sense isn’t very confident,” says Leanne. “My 11 year-old stepdaughter has learnt to ride on him; watching the way they have bonded over the past 18 months has been very special.”

When Leanne got married last June, “Sidey” carried her to the altar, standing happily to pose for hundreds of photos after the ceremony, enjoying many pats, kisses - and his favourite Polos.

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“Sheikh Fahad and Leanne’s passion “David often reminds me of the day Sidey bolted three laps his racing manager, for Thoroughbreds of the track at Meydan, Dubai David Redvers, stems from many with me in thick pea soup fog!” have a lot of horses years working with at Kingsclere, so this extraordinary She is also teaching I see them often and breed and she knows that “Sidey” to jump at the age there’s never a time they “Sidey” may get bored if of 14 - but admits that he don’t ask after him,” she he does not have a job to is “by no means a natural”. divulges. “David often do. She has concentrated Due to his previous reminds me of the day on his schooling during injuries, and the fact he is Sidey bolted three laps so strong, cross-country lockdown and would of the track at Meydan, and fun rides will probably like to qualify him Dubai with me in thick pea not be on the agenda. for the Retraining of soup fog!”

Racehorses Dressage Leanne is often reminded Championships, which is of “Sidey’s” cheeky exploits held at Blenheim Horse when his old owner comes to visit.

Trials in September.

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Retraining of Racehorses

Where are they now?

- Namibian

From Royal Ascot winner to para dressage champion is surely one of the most remarkable success stories in the annals of retrained racehorses.

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amibian toughed it out to win the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot in 2011 when ridden by Silvestre De Sousa and trained by Mark Johnston. He made his final racecourse appearance in early 2014 and was then retired to the Godolphin rehoming centre. A chance encounter with para athlete and trainer, Julie Frizzell, who was looking for a new horse, proved to be the start of an extraordinary new chapter in his life.

with an external cast on her arm to keep the hand in place and loops on the right rein that she can hook with the index finger of her right hand.

A powerful ex-racehorse and a para rider might not seem the most suitable - or, for that matter, the safest combination. But with calm and careful handling, the pair have gone on to form a formidable partnership, becoming national para dressage champions and representing Great Britain.

“though embarrassingly, I didn’t know how famous he was!”

Julie recalls that “Barney”, as he is now known, impressed her with “an absolutely stunning trot”, the first time she sat on him. “I felt as though I needed to pinch myself,” she recalls, “though embarrassingly, I didn’t know how famous he was!”

A retired RAF Wing Commander, Julie is a classified Grade IV para rider, following an accident that resulted in limited use of her right hand. (Grade I being for athletes whose impairment has the greatest impact on their ability to ride and Grade V the least impact.) She rides

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For an ex-racehorse to “accept a different leg aid, a different sport, takes time and quiet patience,” Julie stresses. Nevertheless, Namibian “picked up the challenging dressage stuff quickly and we ‘played’ with lots of lateral work, stretching and bending.”

Julie was also aware of the horse’s body changing as his musculature adapted to the new sport. Dressage requires a different sort of power and impulsion to Flat racing, with the horse taking greater weight on its hindquarters.

“As he has moved up the

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levels, each stage is taken with consideration of his body catching up with his brain,” she explains.

Julie describes “Barney” as being incredibly impatient to learn. Thoroughbreds’ brains “are so active, their character is so inquisitive, that you need to provide something interesting for them,” she advises. She is a great fan of the “immense capability for versatility” of former racehorses 74

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and speaks eloquently of her relationship with “Barney”, of “the joy of growing together, helping him excel in a second career and forever being astonished at his ability and kindness”.

The horse that once galloped past the winning post to the roar of the Royal Ascot Grandstand now adores an audience of a different kind. He “lifts” at competitions and puts “a proper swagger in his walk; I swear he @ascotracecourse |

actually smiles at the gallery when people clap,” says Julie.

He also boasts the party piece of being able to “count” with one foreleg - notably in front of an international judge in his first appearance for Great Britain, Julie recalls ruefully. Not that she’d change a thing. “It wouldn’t be the same if he didn’t occasionally remind me that he can, in fact, count to 15 with one foreleg…”

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Retraining off Racehorses

Where are they now?

- Trip to Paris

Trip to Paris pulled out all the stops to win the 2015 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, a day his syndicate of owners will never forget. Owned by the La Grange Partnership since his purchase by Ed Dunlop at a twoyear-old, it is somewhat fitting that one of those syndicate members who travelled the world to watch him race - ended up owning him outright in his retirement.

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ulie White and her husband Andy were involved with Trip to Paris from the start of his racing career. After retiring in July 2017 and a spell at the National Stud, Julie made the journey to Newmarket to collect him and take him home to Naseby in Northamptonshire, to live with her other horse, Dazzle.

“It is still early days,” says Julie, “but he seems to have plenty of potential for dressage.” He is competed by local dressage rider, Sarah Kempson and although lockdown has meant limited outings, Trip to Paris has been competing in online RoR dressage classes with success.

“It is still early days,” says Julie, “but he seems to have plenty of potential for dressage.”

He has qualified for the RoR Summer Championships with his most recent scores being over the coveted 70% mark.

Like so many ex-racehorses, Trip to Paris is quite a character. “He makes me laugh every day,” says Julie. “He has always had attitude in abundance, ever since we first met him as a two-year-old and that has never left him.” His adoring owner reveals that he likes to take her bobble hat off while she is picking out his feet and “helps” with the

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mucking out by spreading his own bag of shavings around the stable.

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“or else he will have fun scaring you!”

Julie and Andrew continue to have racing interests with the original syndicate that owned Trip to Paris, so she is able to @ascotracecourse |

update the rest of his old owners with his progress as they have two other horses with Ed. “We love going to the races and to see a Thoroughbred try his

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or her hardest in a race is truly wonderful,” says Julie. She vows to keep Trip to Paris “for the rest of his life. We hope he will excel at dressage, but he will be loved and

"He has always had attitude in abundance, ever since we first met him as a two-yearold and that has never left him.”

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cared for always,” she stresses - “not because of what he’s won, but because of who he is.”

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Retraining of Racehorses

Where are they now?

- Quadrille

Quadrille may have been beaten by a short-head at Royal Ascot in 2010 in front of his owner and breeder, HM The Queen - but in his second career he leaves the rest of the field behind.

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he 14-year-old gelding, by Danehill Dancer, was trained

by Richard Hannon Senior and, following a career-ending injury, went to Louise Robson at the age of five.

Louise specialises in retraining retired racehorses and runs Thoroughbred Dressage in Buckinghamshire. She was invited to Windsor Castle to try “Quad” and initially felt that he would only be a “low-level dressage horse as his movement was not anything exciting”. However, as she has joked, “I couldn’t say “no” to The Queen!” - and the horse has gone on to confound her expectations.

“I couldn’t say “no” to The Queen!” - and the horse has gone on to confound her expectations.

“Quad” is currently the highestperforming former racehorse on the UK dressage circuit and was crowned the ROR Horse of the Year 2019. Under Louise’s patient and knowledgeable training, he has enjoyed success at the National Championships and mastered the movements of canter pirouette, piaffe (where the horse trots on the spot) and passage; an elevated, exaggeratedly slow trot.

“Our partnership has definitely exceeded all expectations,” Louise

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admits. “As he has developed and grown, he has blossomed into something truly exceptional. I hope to be able to compete him at Grand Prix one day - the highest level.”

The key to this blossoming is, she believes, “patience and 76

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time”. Thoroughbreds have “a truly phenomenal heart; they will give you everything, they are intelligent, willing and want to learn and please.”

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speed rather than the controlled, cadenced paces of the arena.

Whilst you will find many Thoroughbreds at the lower levels of dressage, they are a rare sight at the higher end. The trajectory that Quadrille and Louise have been on since 2012 is a testament

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that Thoroughbreds can thrive in completely different new lives.

The key to this blossoming is, she believes, “patience and time”.

Louise adores his “zest for life”, submerging his whole head in a bucket of water and enjoying his favourite snack of cow parsley. She reveals that “Quad” is also known as “Peter Pan, as he is the

horse that never grew up”. The word “bouncy” doesn’t do him justice, she jokes, adding that she always uses a neck strap when they go hacking,

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due to his natural exuberance!

His cheekiest trick, however, is reserved for the farrier - whom “Quad” enjoys picking up by his belt…

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Retraining of Racehorses

Where are they now?

- Goldream

As a six year-old, Goldream proved himself at the highest level, winning the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2015 in a thrilling finish.

This dark brown sprinter, trained by Robert Cowell, went on to win the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp later that year.

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W

hen he came out of racing, Goldream went first to the British Racing School in Newmarket, but proved to be a little too keen for the students. Last February he arrived at the Yorkshire-based charity, New Beginnings Horses, which is dedicated to providing former racehorses with a “life past the post”.

Now aged 12, Goldream has learned to take life a little slower and has adapted so well that, rather than re-homing him, New Beginnings will keep him as one of their “Ambassador” horses.

Kevin Atkinson of the charity explains: “We attend race meetings throughout Yorkshire, where we take two former racehorses who will either stand in an enclosed safe area and let the public get up close and touch them, or do ridden parades to show the true versatility of the former racehorse.”

So how is a fiery sprinter like Goldream

“We attend race meetings throughout Yorkshire, where we take two former racehorses who will either stand in an enclosed safe area and let the public get up close and touch them," persuaded to take life at a slower pace?

On arriving at New Beginnings, he was turned out in a field for several months to “chill and relax with a couple of other horses,” Kevin divulges. Goldream’s retraining started slowly towards the end of last year. This calm and relaxed approach soon began to pay dividends.

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“If all horses were as well-behaved as he is, our life would be much easier!”,

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At first, Goldream tried “to do everything at speed”, but with patience and time, he began to relax. Like many Thoroughbreds, he proved trainable and winning to learn. Staff describe him as “a total dude”, who loves people and is eager to please.

behaved as he is, our life would be much easier!”, says Kevin.

Although Goldream’s ambassador work making appearances at race meetings will be his main job, there are also plans to take him out to some shows. He moves beautifully, and is being aimed at some low-level dressage classes.

It is testament to the Thoroughbred’s adaptability that this former star sprinter is now one of the calmest horses on the yard. “If all horses were as well-

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Goldream is not, however, without his foibles, as staff have found to their cost. He adores playing in the mud and loves to roll at any opportunity — of which there were many during the unusually wet spring.

He is now turned out in the field in a rain sheet when it’s wet — else staff have to spend hours brushing the mud off him in order to be able to ride…

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