News

We were delighted with the response to the RoR New Year photo competition for the best photos of ex-racehorses.  A huge variety of different photographs were sent in, from ex-racehorses enjoying the snow to quieter moments with their owners.

The five winning entries who will each receive a RoR jacket are:

1st - Gray Knight submitted by Laura Grey (picture above)

2nd - Other Will submitted by Helen Williams 

3rd - Blaise Wood submitted by Byrony Close

4th - Night Dance submitted by Ernesta Verburg

5th - Gobavina submitted by Louise Robinson

To see the winning photographs visit the Gallery/Other . 

We also received many wonderful success stories, and have therefore decided to award RoR jackets to the top five success stories as well.  Watch this space for an annoucement on the winners very soon.   

More of the photographs and success stories that were sent in will be added to the website over the forthcoming months.

Thank you so much to those who sent in photographs, we have really enjoyed looking at them and hearing about your success stories.  Please do keep sending them in. 

^ Back to top

RoR is presenting two prizes of £250 each to the top ex-racehorses at the Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Championships at Badminton on 29th and 30th April 2010.

If you have qualified for this Championships and have not registered your ex-racehorse with RoR please do so as soon as possible to qualify for the prizes.

The vibrant Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Grassroots Championships brings together winners from BE90 and BE100 regional qualifiers from around the country to contest the overall Championship. For more details of the Championships visit www.badminton-horse.co.uk/grassroots.aspx

^ Back to top

RoR is holding a Showing Clinic on 20th March with Jan Darwin, one of the country's top show riders, at the Northallerton Equestrian Centre in North Yorkshire.

The clinic will focus on how to produce and prepare your ex-racehorse for the forthcoming show season. You may come and watch, or a few 'guinea pigs' will also be required if you would like to bring your ex-racehorse.

In addition, there will be advice given on feeding, and the correct use of products such as saddlery and bits. For more information on the Showing Clinic with Jan Darwin contact Di Arbuthnot, RoR Director of Operations, T: 01488 648998, E: darbuthnot@ror.org.uk

^ Back to top

RoR and South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB) have joined forces to create an exciting new series of competitions to encourage and recognize the success of ex-racehorses, with a valuable prize fund of £30,000.

The new series will provide a focus for ex-racers competing in the disciplines of Eventing, Dressage, Show Jumping, Endurance and Showing and encourage more riders to recognize the talents and versatility of the thoroughbred and their potential for success in another sphere.

To be eligible, horses must have run in the UK and be registered with RoR. There is a significant monetary prize for each discipline that will be presented to the winners and runners-up at the British Breeding Breeders Dinner and Awards Ceremony in January 2011.

The prize will be awarded to the horse that has accumulated the most points in its respective discipline during the 2010 season in accordance with the rules for that discipline. The winning dressage horse will have amassed the most British Dressage points between 1 September 2009 and 31 August 2010 and in eventing points will be accumulated by British Eventing from their tables from pre-novice to advanced and will be awarded from 1st to 6th place during the 2010 season.

Each winner will collect a valuable prize of £5,000, with £2,500 going to the runner up.

In show jumping, the Champion Award of £5,000 will go to the highest placed horse in the BSJA horse ranking list as at the 1st October 2010. The Recognition Award of £2,500, for horses registered with BSJA between 1st October 2009 and 30th September 2010, will go to the horse with the highest notional prize money earned during this period.

In the Endurance section, points will be awarded on the same basis as the standard Endurance GB Trophy points and the horse with the highest points will win £5,000 with £2,500 going to the runner up.

The showing award will be presented to the winner of the Tattersalls/ROR Thoroughbred show series championship at Hickstead 2010 and the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Horse Championship at Horse of The Year Show 2010, with the winners each collecting £2,500.

“The thoroughbred is a unique and versatile horse and we have seen many times how they can excel in a new career and this series gives owners and riders a new focus”, says Di Arbuthnot, Director of RoR.

South Essex Insurance Brokers, a leading equestrian insurer, have supported the retraining of racehorses for many years.  “The Elite Performance Awards will provide a unique opportunity for all those riders who take on an ex-racehorse and, with time and patience, show how they can be retained for success in a new discipline. It will be wonderful to see more ex-racehorses competing across the disciplines and the awards will recognize their success in a very positive way”, says Nicolina MacKenzie, Marketing Manager of South Essex Insurance Brokers. 

For more details look at the overview on the RoR Series page for your relevant discipline on this website.

^ Back to top

In 2010, RoR are introducing workshops where you can bring your ex-racehorse for coaching from top BE accredited coaches.

Individual or small group hour sessions will be available to book through RoR at a cost of only £25 at any of the centres listed below.

To apply, horses must have raced or been in training and be registered with RoR. If the workshops are well supported RoR will consider putting on more workshops in other areas to give opportunities to all owners with ex-racehorses.

Click here to download the application form to complete and send with your payment of £25 to RoR, Ash Cottage, Back Street, East Garston, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 7EX.

APRIL
23rd April - WARESLEY PARK STUD, Cambridge - with Nick Turner
26th April - HEART OF WALES, Powys - with Nick Turner
27th April - GRANGE EQUESTRIAN CENTRE, Devon - with Nick Turner

MAY
4th May - WEST WILTSHIRE EC, Wiltshire - with Nick Turner
7th May - OSBALDESTON, Lancashire - with Jeanette Brakewell
10th May - UNICORN CENTRE, Gloucestershire - with Nick Turner
11th May - VALE VIEW, Leicestershire - with Nick Turner
12th May - THE SEAGOLD CENTURION, Bishop Auckland - with Karen Dixon
17th May - GOLDEN CROSS EC, East Sussex - with Nick Turner
19th May - NORTHERN RACING COLLEGE, Doncaster - with Karen Dixon

JUNE
15th June - KINGSBARN EC, Falkirk, Scotland - with Ian Stark

^ Back to top

RoR is organising a trip to Doncaster Bloodstock Sales on 7th April 2010 to see how to view, vet and buy a horse at the bloodstock sales.  The trip will also include help with the catalogue and the 'First Time Buyers Guide' prepared by the sales company. 

There will only be limited places available on this trip, but there will be more arranged at other bloodstock sales later in the year. 

Coffee on arrival and a light lunch will be provided.  To book a place at £20 per head, email Laura at RoR lquainton@ror.org.uk  .  For more information on Doncaster Bloodstock Sales visit www.dbsauctions.com

^ Back to top

The 'Ask the Experts' team has been asked to consider the production of a dedicated website for the buying, selling and loaning of ex-racehorses.

Such a site would be the one-stop site for anyone wishing to source, sell or re-home an ex-racehorse.

Do you think this is a good idea? Would you use the site?

Please may we have your thoughts and comments on this proposal by email to asktheexperts@ror.org.uk no later than 28th February 2010. 

We look forward to hearing from you.

^ Back to top

The evening with Jeanette Brakewell, former Olympic event medallist, held at the Osbaldeston Centre in Lancashire on 29th January went extremely well despite freezing conditions.

About 150 ex-racehorse enthusiasts and owners watched ten former racehorses being retrained by Jeanette.  These included previous Cheltenham winner Hussard Collonges, and another ex-racehorse who had been 'rescued' from Beaston Sale.

There was such good feedback and attendance that the RoR is considering holding more of these evenings.  Keep an eye on the website for more details. 

^ Back to top

An impressive line-up of ex-racehorses are set to parade at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday 16th March and at Sandown Racecourse on Saturday 13th March. Each parade will be held before the first race in the Parade Ring.

At Cheltenham a number of previous Cheltenham favourites will be showing-off their new talents, including two Gold Cup winners: Kicking King who last year finished second in the RoR/Tattersalls Show Series class at the Tattersalls/Ward Union Show in Ireland qualifying for the final at Hickstead later this year, and Master Oats who now enjoys hunting and hacking.

Others Cheltenham heroes due to line-up include Champion Hurdle winner Brave Inca, and Moscow Flyer winner of the Arkle Challenge Trophy and Queen Mother Champion Chase, both of whom are also doing well in the show ring. Another Champion Hurdle winner, Make A Stand, will return to Cheltenham for the day taking a break from his new life hunting and showjumping.

Make A Stand will also be on parade at Sandown as will Kicking King, Brave Inca and Moscow Flyer. In addition to the well known Celibate who has been enjoying a second career as an eventer.  At Sandown there will also be a 'petting area' in the winner's enclosure after the parade where you can come and meet some of these heroes.

The horses due to parade are listed below, although they are subject to change.

Cheltenham Festival Parade – 16th March
BRAVE INCA – Champion Hurdle winner now showing 
BLOWING WIND – Cheltenham Festival winner now hunting and showjumping
EARTH MOVER – Christie’s Foxhunter winner now team chasing
HUSSARD COLLONGES – Royal & Sun Alliance Chase winner now showing
KICKING KING – Cheltenham Gold Cup winner now showing
MAKE A STAND – Champion Hurdle winner now hunting and showjumping 
MASTER OATS - Cheltenham Gold Cup winner now hunting and hacking
MOSCOW FLYER – Arkle Challenge Trophy and Queen Mother Champion Chase winner now showing
ROYAL PREDICA – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup winner now showing
STORMY FAIRWEATHER – Cathcart Challenge Cup winner now hunting

Sandown Parade – 13th March
CALL OSCAR – winner over hurdles now media star as his retraining is covered in monthly articles in Your Horse
BLUE JAVA – winner of 5 races on the flat now showing and dressage
BRAVE INCA – Champion Hurdle winner now showing
CELIBATE – winner of 14 races on the flat and over jumps now eventing
KICKING KING – Cheltenham Gold Cup winner now showing
LADY CHARLEMAGNE – trained on the flat now excelling in dressage
MAKE A STAND – Champion Hurdle winner now hunting and showjumping
MOSCOW FLYER – Arkle Challenge Trophy and Queen Mother Champion Chase winner now showing

(Photograph:  Make A Stand on parade at Sandown)

^ Back to top

Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) was very pleased to be awarded the 'Fighting the Credit Crunch' News Award by Horse and Hound recently.

The Award was given to the institutue/individual who has done their best to beat the budget blues.  RoR was given the award for their new measures to increase prize money and tighten entry requirements to increase funding and opportunities for retraining ex-racehorses.

In 2009, RoR set up a points series in eventing, polo and dressage offering various cash prizes of up to £5,000 as an incentive to encourage horse-owners to consider rehoming ex-racehorses.  New restrictions were also applied to classes - particularly showing - to create a more even competitive field. Record entries for all the RoR Series were received throughout the year.   

^ Back to top

'The retraining process from racing to polo' clinic with David Morley will be held on Tuesday 23rd March at the Rugby Polo Club in Warwickshire.

HPA accredited coach David Morley will work and ride former racehorses from the starting point when a horse comes out of training to playing chukkas. This will be followed by veterinary and horse nutrition advice. 

The workshop also offers the opportunity for you to bring your ex-racehorses in the afternoon session for coaching and problem solving.

The cost is £25. For more details and to book a place contact Laura Quainton, T: 01488 648998, E: lquainton@ror.org.uk

^ Back to top

Do you have any funny, cute or amazing photographs of your ex-racehorse?

RoR is holding a competition this New Year for the best photos of ex-racehorses. They may be photographs of your horse competing, hacking, or simply cheeky snaps of him/her around the yard or in the field.

This one for example is of Differential looking very muddy and enjoying his new life as a hippo! On his smarter days he has qualified for the RoR Show Series final with his rider Vicky Smart.

Thank you so much to those who have already sent in photographs, we have enjoyed looking at them and look forward to receiving many more.  If you also have a great story to tell even better, we love hearing about your success stories, as do so many of you judging by the popularity of our Success Stories page on our website.

So email us at success@ror.org.uk by 31st January 2010 with your photographs, and be in with a chance to win a RoR jacket. The top 5 entries will all win a jacket.

(1st February 2010:  Please note the competition has now closed, but thank you to all those who took the time to send in your great photographs and tell us about your success stories.  We will announce the winners soon.  Remember to continue sending in stories throughout the year as we are always keen to know how ex-racehorses are getting on in their second careers.)

^ Back to top

The final results have been announced for the inaugural RoR Elite SEIB Dressage Performance Award.  Organised with British Dressage (BD), the Award is a points championship open to any level, from grass roots to the higher levels. 

The considerable first prize of £1,500 and a commemorative trophy will be presented to Bold Hunter and Anne Bostock at the British Breeding Awards in London on 9th January 2010. 

The full results of the RoR Elite SEIB Dressage Performance Award 2009 are:

1.  BOLD HUNTER - Anne Bostock
2.  ROCKCRACKER and Sam Perks
3.  MISTER BOJANGLES and Dee Lousada
4.  PRAIRIE GROVE and Jane Wymark
5.  HENRY HARBER and Julie Riley
6.  ALQABAS and Anita Street
7.  FIRE MOON and Leah Craven 
    THEME PARK and David Trott
8.  LIGHT THE FUSE and Dee Lousada
9.  GOLDEN DYNASTY and Clare Carter
10. BRUZELLA and Jo Hawkins 


Bold Hunter is owned by Anne and Ian Bostock. They bought him as a ten-year-old, when he came out of racing and Ian point to pointed him for three years. When he was 14, Ann had a go at dressage and has been placed at every outing. She plans to compete at elementary in 2010. 

Second place went to Sam Perks’ Rockcracker, who was in training with George Margesson in Newmarket and had numerous second and third places. He left racing aged nine and was trained up to advanced medium dressage. Sam took Rockcracker on three years ago and they are members of the South West BYRDS team, competing successfully at elementary level.

Third place went to Dee and Tony Lousada’s 18 year old gelding, Mister Bojangles, who they bought as a four-year-old. He was raced over fences until he was 11. When he was retired, Dee continued to hack him out, but handed him over to a professional dressage rider and last year he was competed by Paul Hayler at advanced medium level and was working to Prix St Georges level.

^ Back to top

Monkey Boy ridden by Mrs Sue Henry won the 2009 RoR and Endurance GB Championship for the second year running, and was presented with the RoR Trophy at Endurance GB’s Annual Dinner and Prize Giving on 28th November.

A clear winner, Monkey Boy is now 18 years old, having originally been in training with Jack Berry where he raced several times and was placed as a two-year-old.

The full results are:

1st MONKEY BOY – Mrs Sue Henry

2nd SANAPTA – Mrs Fiona Griffiths

3rd MORE CONFUSION – Mrs Heather Whiteley

4th LIVIA – Miss Lisa Giovine

5th AFRICAN STAR – Mr Maurice Whiteley

6th NOSY BE – Mrs Pam Pemberton

7TH APRIL’S COMAIT – Miss Valerie Commock

8th VOYAGER – Mrs Pauline Beach

9TH SWAN WALK – Miss Jane Holdsworth

10th RIBBLE ASSEMBLY – Miss Anna Bowen

(photo provided by Eric Jones and Jan Clark)

^ Back to top

The new RoR Eventing accumulator series in association with British Eventing (BE) and South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB) was very well received. Congratulations to all those taking part.

The final results for 2009 were:

1. KILPATRICK RIVER - Elizabeth Power (336 points)

2. POILU - Bridget Hall (315 points)

3. SEPTEMBER BLISS - Elizabeth Power (140 points)

4. ELKRA BOY - Shelly Dixon (116 points)

5. ALLIGATOR ALLEY - Matthew Heath (110 points)

6. ROOKIE - Danielle Jackson (77 points) 

The winning prize of £5,000 will be awarded at the British Breeding Awards in London in January 2010 to Kilpatrick River ridden by Elizabeth Power (pictured). Two runners-up prizes of £3,000 and £2,000 will also be awarded to Poilu and September Bliss respectively.

The 11-year-old, Kilpatrick River, is owned and ridden by Elizabeth Power. He ran 22 times and came out of racing as a five-year-old. Elizabeth rode Kilpatrick River to 11th place at the 2009 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. She also took third place in these awards with her nine-year-old, September Bliss, who had six starts under National Hunt rules. Elizabeth, lives in Ireland but spends the competition season based in Malborough, UK. She hopes to compete at Badminton and the World Championships in Kentucky this year.

Poilu, Simon and Bridget Hall’s eleven-year-old gelding took second place in the performance awards. He had seven starts during his racing career and retired in 2004. He was originally bought for Simon but after realising his potential, he was sent to Clayton Fredericks and took 5th place at The 2009 Landrover Burghley Horse Trials.

^ Back to top

Ironman Muldoon won the exciting final of the 2009 RoR/SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championship at the prestigious Horse of the Year Show on Thursday 8th October.  

Owned by Mrs Amanda Bowlby and ridden by Jayne Webber, this 12 year old gelding qualified for the final when winning at Burghley Horse Trials in September. 

Ironman Muldoon was originally trained by Mark Pitman during his racing career where he won a hurdle race first time out.  He is a full brother to 1995 Grand National winner Royal Athlete, who also made a successful transition to the showing ring on retiring from racing. 

The runner-up prize went to last year's winner Another Man, owned by Sara Hartland and ridden by Claire Oliver.  He is another ex-racehorse related to a talented racehorse as his half brother is Champion chaser One Man.     

Many congratulations to all the connections.  Twelve horses came before the judges, conformation judge David Ringer and ride judge Sarah Leatherbarrow, and the standard was extremely high.  "This was a good class and we were delighted with the way they were produced.  All the horses were in super condition and a credit to the people who brought them," said David.

All the horses responded well under rider judge, Sarah Leatherbarrow, who was delighted with they went.  "These horses are a credit to the thoroughbred breed and showed how well they can cope with the different environment and a different job.  They were great ambassadors," she said.  

Full results:

1st IRONMAN MULDOON - owned by Mrs Amanda Bowlby, ridden by Jayne Webber 
2nd ANOTHER MAN owned by Sara Hartland, ridden by Claire Oliver
3rd FAST MIX owned by Caroline Cowlard, ridden by Wendy Gibson
4th BLACKCURRANT owned by Mrs Di Haine, ridden by Chantal Wootten
5th DIVINE DANCER owned and ridden by Hannah Horton 
6th MISS CAPRICORN owned by Diane Stennett, ridden by Katie Jerram
7th MICKEY CROKE owned by Charlotte Sailsbury, ridden by Lian Watson 
8th AMEZOLA owned and ridden by Dawn Bacchus
9th WHISTLE UP THE WIND owned by Catherine Altham, ridden by Heather Rothwell
10th GUAR DU LUC owned by Lisa Farqhuar, ridden by Juliette O’Brian 
Other Finalists:
ROGERS REVENGE owned by Mrs Vicky Smart, ridden by Simon Charlesworth
TONY TIE owned by Frank Berry, ridden by Charles Le Moignan

(photograph by Real Time Imaging)

^ Back to top

Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) is pleased to announce that HRH Princess Haya has agreed to become its first Patron.

As British Horseracing’s official Charity for the welfare of horses which have retired from racing, it is very fitting and a privilege to have such a highly regarded Patron, particularly within the equestrian world. Her Royal Highness has an in-depth knowledge and passion for thoroughbreds and horseracing, as does Her husband His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Peter Deal, Chairman of RoR, said: “We are delighted and honoured that Princess Haya has kindly agreed to be our first Patron. The extensive equine knowledge and experience that Her Royal Highness will bring to the role will be invaluable to this important Charity, which continues to gain support from both the racing industry and the wider equine world.

HRH Princess Haya, said: “It is a particular pleasure for me to support Retraining of Racehorses, whose work I much admire and I hope that through my involvement I can assist them to raise awareness of the vital work they do in giving racehorses a career after racing. Many of HH Sheikh Mohammed’s racehorses are being retrained as are my own. It is a great pleasure for His Highness and myself that from our stables retrained racehorses are now competing in dressage, show jumping, eventing and showing classes.”

Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) was founded in 2000. It raises funds from within racing to provide and maintain facilities for the care, retraining and re-homing of former racehorses and to promote awareness of the suitability of the retrained racehorse for other equine careers.

Working closely with the sport horse organisations and media, RoR also promotes the adaptability of racehorses to other equestrian activities and has a well-established programme of competition sponsorship. In addition, RoR holds clinics across the country to help owners look after and train their former racehorses.

^ Back to top

Swift Alliance ridden by Jonathan Martin won the final of the RoR Retrained Racehorse Challenge at the National Hunter Championship Show, Addington, on 9th September.  Many congratulations to them both, and indeed to all the qualifiers.

Full Results:
1st SWIFT ALLIANCE - Mr J Martin, 2nd MISTER JULIUS - Miss K Slater, 3rd OLIVER CROMWELL - Rebecca Middleton, 4th DOE NAL RUA - Hetty Stearn, 5th PRESTON MAGIC - Sally Bateson, 6th PEACETOWN - Tracy Hammond

Swift Alliance was winning his second Retrained Racehorse Championship having won last time in 2007.  Born in 1997, as an ex-racehorse he won one race at Folkestone but lacked speed for any major races and was sold ‘out of training’ by trainer Lady Herries.

Jonathan Martin who runs a livery yard bought Swift Alliance in 1999 and after re-educating the horse tried him in Riding Club competitions. He won his first dressage test with 75%, followed by two clear show jumping rounds. He went on to win with the West Sussex Riding Club team at the Royal International Horse Show, and went jumping at Foxhunter level.

In this Series, the former racehorses are asked to jump a small course of up to 3’0" mixed fences (with two 'optional' bonus fences of up to 3'6"). This is followed by an individual freestyle show, and then the conformation of the horse is judged.  The judges will forgive racing injuries as the emphasis of this class is on the retraining of the former racehorse. 

^ Back to top

Polo pony Marmite ridden by Mark Tomlinson was the inaugural winner of the £5,000 first prize in the new RoR Polo Series. 

The prizes were presented yesterday at the pre-Cartier Day HPA dinner, with Marmite being judged the most successful ex-racehorse on the polo circuit this season.

This eleven-year-old mare raced five times on the Flat under the racing name of Fille de Dauphin without troubling the judge.  She was bought by Bruce Urquhart, who won the RoR 'producer/sources' prize, from her trainer.  Following which the Bromley Martin family retrained her to play regularly in Low and Medium Goal polo matches.  

Mark Tomlinson then took Marmite on, and has now had her for two seasons, playing in the Queens Cup, Gold Cup and Cartier.  She is his second best pony and Mark will be playing her in the International this Sunday. 

Other RoR prizes awarded at the dinner were £2,000 each to Dashfa Baileys ridden by Henry Brett, and Crafty Politician ridden by Max Routledge who has excelled as both a playing pony and a polo stallion.

Finally a prize of £1,000 was awarded to United Onion (Onion) ridden by Robin Spicer, a former junior RoR winner (pictured).     

^ Back to top

Corofin Flyer ridden by William Fox-Pitt won the Retrained Racehorse Event Championship, sponsored by RoR and the National Trainers Federation (NTF), at Barbury Castle on 10th to 12th July 2009.

This ten-year-old gelding is clearly thriving in his eventing career, much more so than during his racing days having raced three times without any success.

Full results of the Championship which was open to all at Intermediate Novice Level were:  

1st COROFIN FLYER - William Fox-Pitt (pictured)
2nd SCOTTIE DUCATI - Austin O'Connor
3rd ALLIGATOR ALLEY - Matthew Heath
4th DRY OLD PARTY - Pippa Funnell
5th VALDASHO - Zoe Wilkinson
6th SEPTEMBER BLISS - Elizabeth Power 

In addition, double points were awarded for those that are qualified for the RoR Elite SEIB Eventing Performance series in this event.  Any thoroughbred that has raced in the UK, and is registered with the RoR and BE is eligible for this series. Points will be accumulated by BE from their results tables starting in Pre-Novice up to Advanced, and will be awarded from 1st to 6th place.

The winning prize of £5,000 to the ex-racehorse with the most points will be awarded at the British Breeding Awards in London in January 2010. Two runners-up prizes of £3,000 and £2,000 will also be awarded.

^ Back to top