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Post by lawyerbunny on Dec 20, 2012 14:48:34 GMT 1
So it seems Kauto Star is going into dressage! He's gone to Laura Collett to be assessed as to how he'd take to it. I'm just sad to see Paul Nicholls and Clive Smith having fallen out publically about when and where he went. Lovely, though, to see the horse being given a chance to turn his hoof to something else in his retirement. That's led to quite a discussion in the press about retiring racehorses and what they do, and don't, get up to. Some interesting stories here - I didn't know that about JP, for one. www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/9746395/No-easy-answer-to-question-of-Kauto-Stars-retirement.htmlDenman too is enjoying an active retirement. I'm hoping to catch a glimpse of him in the team chasing field in the Spring, there's been a lovely diary by his new rider on H & H as to how he's been getting on since hanging up his racing plates. A friend in work has been a huge Denman fans and we're going to go along to cheer him on! I'm pleased to see some good-news stories about racing being part of a horse's career, not all of it. In other news, tws and I have joined a point to point syndicate for this season. The horse is trained at a small yard in Herefordshire where he's hunted, hacked out and turned out every day. The plan is for him to start his campaign at the end of the month. I'm thinking of starting a thread about his progress, if people would be interested to know about how he gets on and perhaps see a bit more of what goes on in racing, so watch this space for news!  |
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Post by antares on Dec 20, 2012 14:58:28 GMT 1
Hi
Yes, it is great to have some high profile ex-racers out there going into new jobs!! Whatever happened between trainer & owner is none of my business though ;D
& yes, I would love you to start a thread about your pointer - it's a great idea
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Post by mandal on Dec 21, 2012 15:56:18 GMT 1
I am especially thrilled about Denman he's one of my horse heros. In other news, tws and I have joined a point to point syndicate for this season. The horse is trained at a small yard in Herefordshire where he's hunted, hacked out and turned out every day. The plan is for him to start his campaign at the end of the month. I'm thinking of starting a thread about his progress, if people would be interested to know about how he gets on and perhaps see a bit more of what goes on in racing, so watch this space for news! Fab and I wish you great success and fun. |
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Post by Lisa in Plymouth on Dec 21, 2012 23:00:06 GMT 1
I've been following the retired racers via Horse and Hound. I've particularly enjoyed reading about this year's Grand National Winner Neptune Collonges, he was retired following the Grand National and at the end of November won his first dressage test.
'National winner Neptune Collonges has just won his debut dressage test, with a score of 79.57%.
Change of career
The 11-year-old grey gelding was retired from the racetrack following his win at Aintree last year, and he spent a well-earned summer off at his owner John Hales’ place in Shropshire. John also owns Nick Skelton's former showjumpers Arko and Russel.
However, ‘Nipper’ hasn’t retired from life and according to John’s wife, Pat, dressage is just the beginning of his competition career with their daughter Lisa, who is now riding him.
“Lisa’s doing dressage so she can showjump him,” Pat explained to H&C. “People don’t understand a horse might be able to jump Becher’s Book but it doesn’t mean he can showjump!”
His first outing – and win – was at a local show at Kingswood Equestrian Centre in Albrighton last week (18 November). The pair only did a walk and trot test as Nipper’s canter is “coming along but still not brilliant”.
Do himself justice
“He can hold it quite well although he still rushes into canter,” Lisa told H&C. “But his walk and trot has come so good I thought I might as well do something with him.”
Nipper has clearly taken to his new sport like a duck to water, although Lisa is taking things very slowly.
“We’ve started from the bottom again and are working our way up,” she said. “But I’d rather do that than go out showjumping now and have three down – I want him to do himself justice.”
The Hales family always knew that last year would be Nipper’s final season, as he had a high handicap and didn’t have the speed he once had. But they weren’t all in agreement that the Grand National should be his final race.
Proud family
“He was no longer a Gold Cup horse and we knew he couldn’t take on the up-and-coming stars,” said Lisa. “But he’s a horse with massive heart and will always try his hardest, we just decided we didn’t want didn’t want to flog him like that by sending him back to the trainers.”
“But I was against him running in the National – I said why risk him in his last race?”
Luckily for them, the risk paid off and Nipper was first over the line, by a nose.
“He did our family proud, so we want to keep him in work as long as we can, but doing something he enjoys,” she said. “So if he doesn’t take to showjumping I’ll stick to dressage as he’s got lovely paces and he seems to like it.”'
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Post by Liz on Dec 21, 2012 23:22:56 GMT 1
It's great, isn't it, to hear of these success stories instead of the usual reports of neglected ex racers. My friend has Monkerhostin and he's enjoying life as a hack/hunter and is used to escort my friend's little girl when she's out on her wee pony. He's not anyone's ride by a long way but goes so well for my friend who is something of an expert with TBs, especially racehorses. In a previous life she prepared yearlings for the bloodstock sales. Monkerhostin is very fussy in the mouth and my friend, who is a quiet but effective rider, has the best hands I've seen in many a long day.
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Post by cbc on Dec 22, 2012 12:55:33 GMT 1
It's always good to hear about ex racehorses going on to another career, the high profile ones always stick in people's minds more.
It would be very interesting to hear about your syndicate horse, as it is something I know little about.
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Post by lawyerbunny on Dec 22, 2012 23:55:05 GMT 1
Many thanks for your replies and for some lovely stories added about Neptune Collanges and Monkerhostin. I'm a great believer that good news should travel just as fast as bad news, and love reading about how racers who've given their best on the track are still getting the chance to give their best. The people who've been involved in these horses' success do deserve a huge pat on the back. Many thanks too for your comments re. the pointer, he'll be introducing himself on here soon....  |
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rowanrachel
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Post by rowanrachel on Dec 23, 2012 1:15:18 GMT 1
Really luvly stories. Unfortunately there's a couple of ex racers at my yard who aren't so lucky - a guy bought them for £200 each and is really horrible to them. Makes me so sad to see. They are both such amazing gentle things you can tell they could be amazing horses in the right hands. Glad to see some get a second chance. X
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Post by lizpurlo on Dec 23, 2012 1:25:25 GMT 1
RR, that's so sad, poor boys, heartbreaking situation for you. For me though, the very public spat between Paul Nicholls and Clive Smith took the shine off the great news that Kauto was retiring in one piece, and the photo on the front of the Racing Post of Clifford saying goodbye brought a lump to my throat..... I wish he could have stayed at Paul Nicholls' yard, as they all hoped he could, rather than being taken far away by people he didn't know to a whole new life and totally new regime. And I bet he'd far rather go hunting with his old mate Denman, who looks to be having a ball! Good luck with the point-to-pointer, LB. And if he's ever running at Brampton Bryan I'll come and cheer him on, it's only ten minutes away from here! |
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Post by jill on Dec 23, 2012 9:12:19 GMT 1
It is shame there aren't many dedicated racehorse owners like the Hales family. It would be fantastic to think that the majority of racehorses had such an enviable life after racing - sadly it isn't the case. Most owners see them as a commodity and throw them away after they have finished with them, however good they may be. And most of them are a real pleasure to have around - they know how to behave, they are happy to take orders and give of their best. There are a few who haven't been trained NOT to take off once their feet hit grass, but that is by no means all - the biggest problem we have found is retraining them to stand still while they are being mounted, so often riders are chucked up while they are on the move. But if anyone is looking for a fun horse, don't discount them, they are usually such nice horses.
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Post by basilhorse on Dec 23, 2012 11:04:40 GMT 1
I've owned 4 ex-racers over the years who were all owned by the same racing syndicate who always made sure their horses had good homes after racing Here's 2 of them about 15 years ago:   One of them will live out his days in my field:  The fourth one Basil has gone to be a happy hacker at my friend's house where he was born:  I was involved in getting another 2 fit again after injury so they could be sold to good homes:  Love my ex-racers |
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Post by bonniesmum on Dec 23, 2012 11:59:17 GMT 1
They are lovely pictures basilhorse
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