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We are post Christmas, post New Year and into January 2026, which quite frankly, can feel like the Hunger Games with horses and life. We talk about; hanging expectations, what winter looks like, how to navigate the tougher months and what ‘belief’ can look like whilst retraining 

Louise instagram: @thoroughbred_dressage

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Its not every day that you see a Thoroughbred being a successful show jumper at International level, so what makes Niven so special?

Hear the wonderful and very exciting journey of Michel and Niven, the dreams and plans that they have and how they navigate training, competing and care at the highest levels of showjumping with a horse that isn’t bred for the job 

Michel instagram:

Louise instagram: @thoroughbred_dressage

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Here we go, 2025 re cap, things we have learnt, seen, experienced and loved for 2025 and how we look forward to 2026

Louise instagram: @thoroughbred_dressage

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Winter, restricted daylight hours, present wrapping, Christmas office parties, nativity plays and trying to ride.........

It can all seem SO MUCH and then add in the 2026/2025 'wrapped/unwrapped' that you're seeing across social media, it can feel like 'where am I?'/'what am I doing?!?!?'

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New Vocations is the largest Adoption programme in the USA. Their approach, rehab and retraining programme has seen them place more than 9,500 former racehorses into adoptive homes. Last year alone they found homes for 600 horses  and have upto 150 horses at any one given time going through their programme. 

Their approach to responsible rehoming is phenomal and I spoke to Anna For, who  is the Thoroughbred Programme Director at New Vocations about why new Vocations exists, and how they have grown throughout the years  

New Vocations website: https://www.newvocations.org

Louise instagram: @thoroughbred_dressage

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Cribbing, weaving, box walking, all vices ‘common’ with the ex racehorse. Why do some people avoid these horses? How do we manage them? What are the pros and cons to having an exracehorse with a vice?

Louise instagram: @thoroughbred_dressage

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Website: www.thoroughbreddressage.com

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Navigating the path of if a racehorse can be retrained can be a tricky one. Knowing when to say ‘enough’ and when to try ‘other things’ is always so hard, not only financially, but emotionally as well. How do we ‘read the signs’ and how do we navigate retiring them? 

Also, over the past year many have asked where Quad is and what is he doing. We share an update on him here 

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In most of the episode we have had with our lovely and fascinating guests , the most common re occurring theme with what advice would be given with these horses is; Time

But what exactly does this mean and look like? How can we see time as a friend and how do we navigate, the possibly daunting timescale of what people describe when retraining an exracehorse? 

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In this episode we get to talk to the brilliant Vicky Leonard who tells us about the new Thoroughbred. Week in Australia and New Zealand. Vicky is truly passionate about the racing scene as a whole (including after care) and her thoughts, knowledge and insight into the global world of Racing is incredible and something I wish to aspire to. 

This conversation has EVERYTHING! Talking about transparency in racing, aftercare programmes, thoughts and discussions around sensitive subject in the racing world and how we can all learn from each other to create the best world possible for these thoroughbreds.

Please share, enjoy and love every second of this episode 

National TB Week Website; https://thoroughbredweek.com.au

National Tb Week Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/nationaltbweek?igsh=NXoydXI1ZGhobXlk

Kick up for Racing Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/kickupforracing?igsh=MTIzejVoY2pqZHRtMg==

Kick Collective Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/kick.collective?igsh=cWM0YzFsM3p4Z2dx

Light up Racing Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/lightupracing_?igsh=MW1wOWszNnJ3ZTk2ag==

Louise instagram: @thoroughbred_dressage

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Website: www.thoroughbreddressage.com

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First Fandango better known as Fred, ran 50 times for trainer Tim Vaughan. He ran both on the flat and over the fences and since leaving racing has turned his hoof to being not only a fantastic jumper/eventer, but also a brilliant dressage and shoe horse, showing the true adaptability of the former racehorse

This year alone, Fred and Hannah have achieved many wins/titles in every discipline and I really wanted to know the journey that these two have been on, intend to carry on and what lies ahead in the future. 

Hannah and Fred are also headed to HOYS this week (8th October 2025) and we are wishing them the best of luck! 

Louise instagram: @thoroughbred_dressage

Facebook: Thoroughbred Dressage 

Website: www.thoroughbreddressage.com

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