Overcoming post racing hurdles

The Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) is a charity set up to find new homes for those whose time on the  course has ended or who have been deemed unsuitable for the sport. Kathryn Warnett runs a satellite branch based at Richmond Equestrian Centre and told reporter Wendy Short about the charity’s work.

ORIGINALLY from Sedgefield, Kathryn Warnett has always had a passion for thoroughbreds and after leaving school, she worked for her local racehorse trainer, Ray Craggs, as a groom, riding on the flat, where she achieved several second and third placings.
Her next move was to Lambourn, in Berkshire, where she was employed by Karl Burke, a noted trainer with whom she has established a long-term working partnership which still exists today.
Mr Burke is now based at Spigot Lodge, in Middleham, and Ms Warnett spends her mornings fulfilling her duties as his racing secretary, travelling to Richmond Equestrian Centre (REC) in the afternoons and getting home to Leyburn just in time to pick up her eight-year-old twin girls from school.
“Working in the racing industry, I could see the potential in a number of horses which didn’t make the grade as racers,” says Ms Warnett.
“The first two horses I took for rehoming were a couple of geldings and they adapted to life away from the track very easily, going on to become good all-rounders.
“I have up to four boxes at Richmond and I rehome one horse each month on average, although it is much easier to find new owners in the summer.
“Horses are sent to me at any age from two years and upward, but the cut-off is about 14 years, because at about that point they can be more difficult to retrain, and because adopters are usually looking for younger horses for competition purposes.”
Horses taken on by Ms Warnett for her satellite RoR enterprise are generally sold at an agreed price, which goes towards the livery fees they incur at REC and for feed and any veterinary treatments, although the latter are a rare occurrence; they are usually very fit on arrival.
The highlight of the year for local RoR members is the annual show she puts on at Richmond and she is grateful to the racehorse trainers at Middleham, who are very generous in their sponsorship of the event, she comments. Open to all RoR horses, it is a qualifier for the organisation’s national championships, which are held at Aintree.
The most recent national show attracted almost 300 entries and included classes for showing, ridden and dressage, as well as for jumping and novelty events. In addition, RoR also runs training camps and clinics.
The most common reason for horses being moved on from racing yards is for being too slow and Chin Up is a typical case.
Fresh from the track on her arrival at Ms Warnett’s yard, the three-year-old grey filly is already producing an outline in the school.
It will take time for her to settle, says Ms Warnett, but she is showing great promise and will very likely go on to have a successful career in an alternative equestrian discipline.
Chin Up was the only horse on Ms Warnett’s yard when the Mercury visited and was being schooled by Courtney Watlin, a competitive sports rider who also volunteers her free time to help retired racehorses.
The thoroughbred’s reputation for great intelligence and supreme athletic ability means it can turn its hoof to almost anything, according to Ms Warnett. While RoR horses are much sought-after for eventing, they are also used for dressage, show jumping, polo, hunting and team chasing and endurance competitions; the list goes on.
Duke of Wellington, a grey gelding which left Ms Warnett’s yard at five has excelled at showing and dressage and won a place at the national RoR championships. Further afield, the former racer Midnight Robbery has been retrained for Western riding and is now jogging and loping with enthusiasm.
Meanwhile Phai Mai, which won three races in his heyday, has qualified twice for the British Riding Club championships.
Last, but definitely not least, are the many hundreds of ex-racehorses which are simply “happy hackers” or compete at local shows, giving a great deal of pleasure to their owners. A minority will go as field companions, as long as the adopter agrees to provide a rug in bad weather.
“Local trainers are very supportive of RoR and they will hand-pick sensible horses to send to me,” Ms Warnett says.
“Thoroughbreds learn quickly and sometimes it only takes a matter of weeks to prepare them for their alternative lifestyle.
“It gives me great pleasure to match a horse with a new owner and I like to follow their careers, if they are used for competition.
“It is not easy to describe why I like thoroughbreds so much, but anyone who has ever owned one will know that the bond they form with their owners is something unique and very special.”

IFAR
RoR was integral to the establishment of IFAR, the International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses.
Set up in 2016, it aims to promote the welfare of thoroughbreds on a global scale. Working with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, it provides education and strives to increase the demand for former racehorses in other equestrian sports.

What to expect
GENERALLY, a former racehorse will be good to load, clip and stand for the farrier and should have good stable manners.
The horse will not be used to being tied up outside the stable and may become anxious. Lads and lasses tend to mount the horses while they are on the move, so they may require training to stand still.
One the most common difficulties lies in establishing contact and several bit changes may be necessary, before finding one which suits.
Shortening the reins and leaning forward will encourage the horse to go faster, so the braking system may be limited at first.
The horse will be used to being ridden in company and it may take time for it to hack out alone in a calm manner.
RoR horses can live out all year round, but they must be rugged and an adjustment period will be needed.
Thoroughbreds are very sensitive and can be more prone to showing signs of stress, compared with other breeds. They can easily become flustered if they fail to understand what is being asked of them.

REHOMING AN RoR HORSE
RoR runs the Source a Horse website, where owners and trainers can advertise their retired racehorses for loan or sale to new owners.
It can be found at www. rorsourceahorse.org.uk
Kathryn Warnett can be contacted on 07734 246236 or kathrynwarnett @hotmail.co.uk