Paddock Space has successfully rehomed many ex racer's and we have recently retained some racehorses some ourselves to compete. We have placed horses in many different spheres. It is amazing how quickly most horses turn their hands to their new jobs. Dance on the Top went to Hacking with a difference (please find link to their website below) and was taking complete beginners on riding holidays in the New Forest within 6 months of leaving training.
Ex racer's can make great happy hackers as well as competition horses when retrained correctly. The management of ex racehorses is imperative in the retraining process, if your over feed them you will blow their brains, if you don't ride or exercise them regularly you cannot expect them to be a lamb to ride. People should also remember that horses do not just retire from racing because they are unsound. They may lack ability or have become lack luster on the track. Some horses race and improve with age others will be good horses whilst juveniles but not train on as they age so it's then time for them to move into a different equine sphere.
Our rider Jemma Sayers has competed to British Eventing Intermediate level and had her first ex racehorse from us 3 years ago. She has slowly brought him on as he was a very big immature horse and he has now successfully completed 5 British Eventing Intro level events. Jemma is Jim Boyle's part-time secretary and now picks the ones she would like to event when they are yearling's
Paddock Space then retained Bariloche, a horse who is bred to win the Derby and even had a Derby entry at two, for Jemma to retrain. Bariloche has been taken slowly as, although talented, is slightly immature in his brain and we did not want to rush him. He won his first unaffiliated One Day Event, 2 months after leaving training, and shows a fabulous attitude when at competitions.
Our next in house project is Rowan Warning (pictured left). Rowy was totally fed up with racing by the time he finished his career. It took a while for him to learn that his new life was a totally different ball game. He loves hard work and would be happy to go out on the lorry to a competiton everyday of the week. He has now completed two British Eventing Intro level events and is improving all the time.
Trebello is a jumper that is having his summer holidays with us. We are quietly getting him going with an eye to hopefully competiting him before he goes back into training at the end of October. He is very talented and works beautifully on the flat.
We have found that our owners take a keen interest in these horses new careers and really enjoy seeing them working in their new role. It has given us a great thrill to see the boys go round their first cross country courses ears pricked looking for their next fence. Rowan Warning finishes his cross country and says wheres the next fence?!
Rehoming of ex racehorses is a subject we feel strongly about and should you wish to take a horse on to retrain or need help retraining one please do not hesitate to contact us.
