News

Anyone considering taking on an ex-racehorse, or who already owns a Thoroughbred, will benefit from a lecture demonstration evening at Greatwood on Tuesday 10th June at 6.30pm.

The Marlborough based charity rescues, rehabilitates and where possible rehomes former racehorses.

There will be a riding demonstration by Jamaican event rider Sam Albert, who has already secured a place at the Olympics in Hong Kong. Sam has successfully brought on many former racehorses to event and whilst all ex-racers cannot go on to such great things, Sam has many tips and advice on how to get the most out of your horse.

Greatwood's founder Helen Yeadon has a lifetime's experience of horses to share and Dr Sven Kold, of the Willesley Equine Clinic, is one of the country's leading equine vets. A nutritionist from Dodson & Horrell will also be on hand to answer any questions.

Tickets cost just £5 plus 50p postage if you would like to guarantee a place - there are limited spaces. Please call Greatwood on 01672 514535.

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British horseracing’s official charity for the welfare of horses who have retired from racing, Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), officially launched its new website today at www.ror.org.uk .

Visitors to the site can easily find information on ex-racehorses, from how to go about owning and looking after an ex-racehorse, to the various competitions under the RoR Series.

Each equine discipline is uniquely colour coded to enable users to quickly go to the area of the website they are most interested in, be it polo, showing, endurance, eventing, show jumping, dressage, or simply hacking.

An important addition to the site is the facility to register an ex-racehorse online to qualify for the RoR Series. Owners with ex-racehorses not competing in the RoR Series are also encouraged to register their horse, as are visitors to the site who are interested in owning an ex-racehorse.

To illustrate the benefits of having an ex-racehorse there are many success stories to view, more famous ones are listed in the 'Hall of Fame'. Information on RoR itself is also featured including a short video featuring Clare Balding, and details of the RoR Clinics and the charitable retraining centres it helps support.

Initial feedback on the site, which was designed by PinkGreen Creative with equine marketing specialist Jackie Hutchinson of Pace Marketing Solutions, has been very positive with many registrations being made each day.

Di Arbuthnot, RoR director of operations, said: “There is an increasing interest in ex-racehorses and entries to the RoR series for all equine sports. This new website provides a wealth of information to help owners as well as promoting the benefits of owning an ex-racehorse.

“In addition, RoR can build up a valuable database illustrating the whereabouts of ex-racehorses, and ensuring the right information and competitions are provided by RoR to help and encourage potential owners.” 

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Another Man, the half brother to Champion chaser One Man, won the RoR/Tattersalls Show Series Class at the Royal Windsor Horse Show on Friday 9th May, ridden by Clare Oliver. 

Judged by Henrietta Knight and John Conifey it was a very strong class this year.

Her Majesty the Queen's horse, Shepherd's Delight, finished third and at 18 years-old was awarded the best veteran prize.

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Prizes in polo for the RoR Lycetts Hamilton Polo Series are starting on 1st June.  The first polo match will be at Cirencester in the Gerald Balding Cup. 

Register your ex-racehorse now to qualify for these prizes.

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RoR are planning to hold a residential clinic in August at The British Racing School in Newmarket.  This will be a 3 day course where you will be asked to bring your ex racehorse which must be registered with RoR.  RoR recognised coaches will be on hand to instruct and help with any problems that you have been experiencing.  There will be talks from a vet, a racehorse trainer and a nutritionist as well as visits to Newmarket. 

Anybody that is interested in attending this course please email RoR.

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Don't leave it too late to enter your ex-racehorse into the relevant show classes at the Yorkshire Sport Horse Show on 11th June.  New to the RoR Series in 2008, the Yorkshire Sport Horse Show will be holding a qualifier class for the Retrained Racehorse Challenge for Addington 2008, and a qualifier class for the RoR/Tattersalls Show Series for Hickstead 2009.

Entries close on 10th May.  Contact the Show Secretary for the schedule:  Mrs Sue Hayhurst, Hope Inn, Rudland, Fadmoor, York  YO62 7JJ.

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RoR is organising a Retrained Racehorse Training Day in conjunction with HPA on Monday 2nd June 2008 at Watership Down, Berkshire. The day is by invitation only from the HPA. For enquiries please contact us.

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British Eventing is pleased to announce that Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) will award a cash prize of £250 to the two highest placed Thoroughbreds at the British Eventing Grassroots Festival held at Aston-Le-Walls (9-10 August).

RoR, sponsors of the Retrained Racehorse Event Championship, is pleased to offer this new £500 prize fund, divided between the Bailey’s Intro and Shires Equestrian Pre-Novice championship sections.

Di Arbuthnot, Director of RoR said: “If you are the proud owner of a Thoroughbred and event, then you could be walking away with an extra prize! Too often Thoroughbreds are pigeon-holed purely as racers rather than sport horses, but increasingly Thoroughbreds are topping the results table at many events across the UK."

Mike Etherington-Smith, British Eventing Sport Director said: “We welcome this new prize fund initiative in support of the Grassroots Festival. Eventing can be a successful second career for many Thoroughbreds and this award recognises the versatility of the breed.”

To be in with a chance of winning this great prize, Thoroughbred owners registered to event with British Eventing must sign up to the series by registering their ex-racehorse with RoR, just follow the links from the home page of this site.

For more information on the Festival contact Liza Randall, PR and Communications Manager at British Eventing on 02476 698868 or email liza.randall@britisheventing.com

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On 4th May Leicestershire Show is holding qualifiers for the RoR/Tattersalls Show Series and the Retrained Racehorse Challenge, both of which are qualifiers for 2008.  For further details visit the RoR Show Series pages or for the contact details of the show secretary visit Diary Dates.

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A parade of ex-racehorses organised by RoR and Arena Racecourses took place at Lingfield Racecourse at their Winter Derby Meeting on Saturday 15th March. Various equine disciplines were represented in the Parade including polo, showing, eventing and showjumping.

The RoR also had a Stand at Lingfield, to answer any queries first-hand.

A parade at Newmarket Racecourse will take place on 16th August, and a parade will also take place at Doncaster Racecourse later in the year.

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To help owners look after and train their ex-racehorses RoR run an education programme. This programme includes clinics nationwide, with the next one due to take place on 23rd April at the ILPH Centre, Snetterton, Norfolk.

Run with Baileys Horse Feeds the clinic is entitled, 'Retraining the ex-racehorse, where to start and how to proceed'. Click here for more information.

Later this year in the summer, a residential course in Newmarket is planned. Keep checking the Welfare & Development section of this website for more information.

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Following the first Retrained Racehorse Event Championship held at Barbury Castle last year the event is sent to continue in 2008. Sponsored by the RoR and the National Trainers Federation (NTF) it will be held on 4th to 6th July 2008 at Barbury Castle, near Marlborough.

This Series is open to all, and is at Open Intermediate Level. Horses must be registered with RoR to compete in this Series. Click here for more information

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There will be more RoR prizes for ex-racehorses than ever at selected Polo Clubs across the country this year. Keep looking at the Polo Series page for more information.

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Take a peek at a clip of the new RoR video in About Us . It aims to promote the benefits of having an ex-racehorse and features well known racing and sport horse riders.

The full length version will be taken around the country to show at the races, sales, equestrian competitions, and used during presentations.

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The National Trainers Federation (NTF) will support RoR as it’s main charity from 2008. The NTF newsletter is to feature Success Stories and help promote RoR and the work that it does.

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