Racing into a new future.

There was plenty to set racing fans’ hearts fluttering at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival, writes CAROLYN HENDERSON. But for me, the most emotional moment wasn’t seeing Sizing John power home to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Instead, it was the sight of eight wonderful ex-racehorses being paraded by the riders who have taken them on to new careers. All had more than earned their keep on the racecourse and some -  like Denman – had become household names. However, it wasn’t their racing lives we were celebrating. It was the fact that they and ex-racehorses we’ve probably never heard of thrive after they have retired from their first job, thanks to dedicated owners and registered charity Retraining of Racehorses. At one time, many ex-racehorses had no future. Then RoR was formed, a charity which has done so much to boost the profile of ex-racehorses. It gives help and advice to those thinking of taking on one of these horses and offers prestigious competition series especially for them. Now, some riders look for ex-racehorses specifically to take part in these competitions. That’s great, but – as with any breed or type – these horses aren’t for everyone. Re-training them takes skill and you need to understand the lives they’ve been used to as you introduce them to their new ones. Horses are, of course, individuals. I admit that many years ago, before RoR existed, I did something I would never dream of doing now. I bought a little three-year-old out of a Flat racing yard in Newmarket because a friend knew the trainer and said she deserved a chance. We turned her straight into a field with my other horse, who immediately fell in love with her, and couldn’t understand why she grazed a perfect 15-metre circle. Then we realised that for the past two years, she’d only been allowed to graze in a round pen. After three days, she got braver and seeing her canter around the field for the first time was wonderful. Four years later, after a successful showing career, she broke a hock in the field and had to be put down. I never had another ex-racehorse because I didn’t think I’d strike gold twice, but I’ve met and heard of so many lovely ones since then – including ones belonging to Feedmark customers such as Kathy Boothman, who is a member of the RoR Musical Ride on her stunning 16.3hh ex-racehorse Middlebrook. Don’t take on an ex-racehorse on a whim, but if you’ve thought it through – and have read all the advice and information on www.ror.org.uk – you could be starting a rewarding journey. There are ex-racehorses excelling in all fields, from hacks to competition animals, and trainers who can help you build a bond with your new partner. Temperament is everything, and that applies to you as well as to the horse. Patience and calm persistence always pays dividends, but if you know you have them, you could be on to a winner.