RoR Heart Awards 2011

Judge of the overall winner of the 2011 RoR Heart Awards, Jilly Cooper OBE, told the RoR that this has been the most inspiring, yet impossibly difficult competition to judge. She has great admiration for everyone who entered and has written her own personal recollection about our final shortlist as featured below. To view the stories for all the shortlised nominations click here.

"This has been the most inspiring, yet impossibly difficult competition I have ever judged. Every horse entered would be a worthy winner.

For whether he is displaying extraordinary courage and stoicism as he battles to overcome terrible illness or injury, whether he is showing immense kindness and gentleness to children or smaller horses, or by his silent strength and ability to listen, comforting people with broken hearts or whether he is displaying remarkable adaptability and versatility as he masters polo, show jumping, eventing, team chasing, endurance or shining in the show ring, or being the most popular member in the pony club camp, or merely bewitching by his astonishing beauty, the Thoroughbred racehorse is king.

What is also touching about these stories is the incredible bond forged between the rescued racehorse and the owner who rescues him. So thank you everyone for letting me share this love.

In the Heart Stopper class, I so admired “Lloyd” Adlam and “Pilot” Crusty’s ability to fight off horrible accidents and return to showing and dressage. “Maggie” Falcus also showed incredible courage and so did her owner Nicola in nursing her back to health. 

Beautiful dark brown “Obern” Dinning again battled to overcome appalling injury and to return triumphantly to showing and dressage, as did “Rashie” Titterton, who through his amazing bravery won the heart of his owner Dan.

I loved “Mason” Trevett, such a beautiful horse, who four months after being crippled, was winning a riding class, and ravishingly pretty “Space To Run” Lebutt, who was found abandoned in winter in deep mud and with no shelter, but was soon competing in dressage and showing.

The Heart Throb competition threw up some amazingly beautiful horses.  "Banji" Cartwright , a ravishing pensioner of 24, “Bob” Thurtle, halts motorists in the lanes because of his good looks, “Chunky” Walby from Gloucestershire has been described as a George Clooney look-alike. Light bay “Bonnie" Rigg”, if he were human is the sort of glamour boy who would never need make up. “Campbell” Godfrey, lays them in the aisles in the show ring, and “Dazed and Amazed” McCleod good looks are the only thing that gets his mistress up in the morning.

“Fortis” Watts is adored by his mistress Kimberley, not just for his pretty face, but because he is the kindest animal she knows. While “Solar” Garrard, who wins prizes for looks everywhere is also competing in show jumping and cross country. His extraordinarily famous father, "Galileo” would be very proud of him.

I was equally moved and delighted to read all the finalists in the Biggest Heart category.

“Inca” Mordey comforted his mistress, Rachel when her marriage broke up and even though her next suitor, Neil was petrified of horses, he was soon so won over by Inca’s gentle friendliness, that the lovely chesnut gelding was guest of honour at their wedding.

Another ravishing chesnut “Billy” Fisher is so loving and gentle he looks after nervous children when they are hacking round the field. His leading role, however, has been to bond and comfort his owner’s autistic brother, Dominic, resting his head in Dominic’s arms for hours and listening while Dominic pours out his troubles.

“Blaise” Cross, an adorable bay, keeps everyone in stitches while he pulls faces and shakes hooves: he is also ace at teaching nervous horses to lead.

“Charming Fellow” Pashley is well named. Known as a stress monster by his previous owner, he has been changed into the gentalist of giants, even falling asleep while three little children spend hours brushing him.  The common denominator of the rescued racehorse seems to be trying really hard to please and learn new disciplines. “Charming Fellow” is no exception.

“Fundy” Barnes, an adorable dark bay, who broke down three times as a racehorse, but moving to a new owner has been hunted every season. With his kind nature and generosity “Fundy” allows anyone on his back whether at the pony club or at riding for the disabled and is a great ambassador not only for the underrated ex-racehorse but for all horses.

Unwanted at a sale, imprisoned in a tiny cattle pen, “Scally” Dent a lovely grey, touched the heart of Paula, who returned to buy her later in the day and never regretted it. Now she is triumphing at showing and at dressage and has developed a wicked sense of humour, rolling just after she has a bath for a show, so she can enjoy another one.

Finally “Rambo” Scott, belies his name by sweet and gentle nature. This beautiful horse overcame injury and gave his owner such confidence they are now an amazing eventing team.

In the Healthy Heart category, one marvels over the incredible versatility of the ex-racehorse, “Alfie” Coady, a joyful bay, came third in a point-to-point Members race, before switching to and excelling at team chasing, and even holidaying in the Pyrenees, where he bounds up steep mountain tracks and camps out on the mountain tops with horse friends.

“Lucius” Saunders was a strong contender for first prize in the competition. This gorgeous red bay started out hunting, at team chasing , pony club and BSJA showjumping, where he clears his fences by metres. He has twice won best veteran in the show ring, tried his hand at barrel racing and sweetly nannies all the younger horses.

“Pip” Robertson, had a demoralising career on the flat when he was used, because of his lack of speed and sweet nature, to train jockey’s how to go faster. In a new home with a loving, understanding owner, Pip flourished, turning his hoof to absolutely everything, polo, dressage, showjumping, eventing and hunting with the Cottesmore, proving to be a jack of all trades and master of all of them.

Who could resist “Wally” Livingstone, a bay joker, who lets himself out of his stable and who when his mistress puts on his rug, he mischievously tugs it off on the other side. Wally excels at showjumping, won a silver award on Exmoor and claims, at over 18 hands, to be the biggest horse in Endurance.

Another charmer is dark bay “Reggie” Cross, who loaned to Alice Graham, has competed in dressage, eventing, showing, nannying small children on their naughty little ponies, and even going to pony club camp and winning best all rounder at his riding club.

Having torn my hair out choosing a winner, because all the entries deserve recognition, I finally decided unconditionally that the star of the whole show is “Charlie” Yarham from Norfolk, who formerly ran on the flat and over hurdles. A stunning chesnut, Charlie looks so youthful at 22, he must have been at the botox.

His owner Paula Yarham , must be applauded for an act of faith, rescuing him 14 years ago when re-homing racehorses wasn’t nearly so popular.  Another one hundred percent trier, Charlie has had a shot at everything: dressage, cross country, endurance, showing, hunting and even gymkhana races.

His gentle sense of responsibility is remarkable. He has carried Paula’s seven year old son, on a lead rein since he was 2, and when the child was 6, even competed in a 5 mile fancy dress trek. Over the last few years Paula has been ill and in and out of hospital, but was able to ride, even when she shouldn’t have, because Charlie took such good care of her.
As she proudly claims: He is that rare combination, family pet and successful competition horse.

Displaying as he does, outstanding versatility and kindness, Charlie, I feel is the worthy winner."

Jilly Cooper OBE

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You can nominate your horse for one or more of the four awards.

Simply tell your story including why you believe your horse should win any of the awards. Each nomination should include the following information:

• Your name, address, e-mail and telephone number

• Horse's name (racing name), age, RoR registration number

If you are not already registered with RoR click here to register now via our home page, using the second option 'Please register your ex-racehorse'.  Horses must be registered with the RoR and have formerly raced in the UK.

• Which award do you wish to nominate for and why

This could include how your horse fits the category, how you have worked together and why your horse deserves to win. What makes your horse extra special? (maximum 300 words)

• A maximum of 2 photographs of your horse

• Send your entry by email to awards@ror.org.uk

The closing date for entries is Wednesday 1st June 2011

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On 13th June 2011, the shortlist for each of the four awards will feature on the RoR website and Facebook site.  Click here to read the full stories of those chosen and to vote for your favourite.

Everyone will have the chance to vote for their favourite horse through our online poll.  The winner for each award will be the horse with the most votes.

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• Winners Prizes

Each of the four winners will receive a trophy, a RoR rug for their ex-racehorse and £100 worth of Baileys Horse Feeds.

In addition, superstar novelist and horse lover Jilly Cooper OBE will play a special part in the judging process by deciding, as well as presenting a trophy to, an overall winner of the RoR Heart Awards.

• Prizes for shortlisted entries

All shortlisted entries will each receive a RoR hoodie and a ‘Racing to Riding’ DVD.

• Prizes for entries

All entries will be entered into a draw to win a fabulous Woof Wear olive waxed cotton hat bag and boot bag worth £68, a RoR hoodie (5 on offer) or a RoR ‘Racing to Riding’ DVD (10 on offer).

• Prizes for voters

All voters will be entered into a draw to win Woof Wear Socks and Phone Pod, a RoR hoodie (5 on offer) or a RoR ‘Racing to Riding’ DVD (10 on offer).

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All entries received by the closing date of 1st June 2011 will be submitted to the RoR judging panel. The RoR panel will then decide a shortlist for each award.

The shortlist for each award will be featured on the RoR website and Facebook site from 13th June to 30th June 2011. The winner of each category will be decided by an online voting poll. The winner of each award will be the horse with the most number of online votes.

Winners will be announced on Tuesday 5th July 2011.

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The winners will be notified in writing by Tuesday 5th July 2011, and a presentation will take place at a venue to be confirmed on a suitably convenient date.

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