Taking on a former racehorse requires plenty of time, patience and skill —but it’s a great option for many riders and so shouldn’t be discounted, finds Mel Beale
PART TWO
EVERY YEAR THOUSANDS of Thoroughbreds, who have exerted every muscle on flat racetracks or over hurdles or steeplechase fences, bow out of life in the fast lane and head for a slower existence in new homes across the country. With new careers beckoning, many such horses embark on retraining journeys as a route into other sports.
One such route is through dedicated former racehorse charities, such as The British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre (BTRC).
Nestled in the Lancashire countryside, the BTRC was set up in 1991 and is the UK’s original charity for racehorse welfare, dedicated to the rehabilitation, retraining and rehoming of former track stars. Whether they have come straight from trainers or via the centre’s vulnerable horse programme, each individual is assessed, rehabilitated (if required), retrained and, if possible, rehomed.
Taking on a former racehorse has benefits for both horse and human, but it isn’t a decision to be taken lightly as a horse who has been required for his entire life to go at speed and in a straight line can be a handful for a new owner, particularly when it comes to exercise and management, as the BTRC’s chief executive, Gillian Carlisle, explains…
The next chapter
There are plenty of benefits involved in taking on an ex-racehorse…
■ They have seen a lot of the world and are usually fairly unf lappable.
■ They are well handled and generally easy to work with.
■ They can turn their hoof successfully to most disciplines.
However, the transition from racing to riding is a huge step, and it encompasses everything from a change of tack to wearing different types of shoes, being turned out rather than spending a lot of time in a stable, and finding new types of food ‘on the table’.
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LIFE AFTER RACING
The Royal Veterinary Collage (RVC) is calling on owners and previous owners of former racehorses in the UK to participate in a new online survey and s
