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King Erik’s racing career was cut short when injury (a slipped tendon off his hock) meant that his days of cantering and jumping on the racetrack was to be no more. Having found his home with the Boyles’ in County Dunham, Erik is a fully fledged member of the household, who has not only been Pauls best man at their wedding, but is also now a park Ranger, who patrols a 135acre park in County Dunham deterring illegal activity.

This episode will (hopefully) have you laughing at every part and being able to also enjoy hearing the story and journey of King Erik, from the racetrack to his new home with the Boyles’ in County Dunham. 

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Louise instagram: @thoroughbred_dressage

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Amazon Book link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eriks-Hacking-Guide-North-England-ebook/dp/B0CXCLW382/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SBPVJD4ESPJW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._Lyjr2w9XopMQ_pQZo2k6B0N0XmcGPgQaETdrS2eYQQgwO0RHzZS-QCa3THM1AJU_KRR4B0mC9ZC6jhOAJUHNR1I0zDLAxCRfDHuus-a-6FPDtAiJYCm6Dgku9Rao0BkE1UDqe5udpFrA5RSIeZrPeIiV_BAyX_x3ygfFA73NrLMLV62hdc8Qr0P2ApmM9saxqwHu9-u2sCVD_F7Ac1JgbRM2SXm_AkorNZkUq_LaH0.ApzU98nUfqo4M1Qfu2ITbr-eIcE2Q1n7bNJdEdqMTq0&dib_tag=se&keywords=eriks+hacking&qid=1710084757&sprefix=eriks+hacking%2Caps%2C329&sr=8-1&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR75frpwyobOw3UA-vwBBtY-4-VgvooZouJYWcYpX-lJYva97N7DSkfmupKKOw_aem_xTWz4o_OXFP80mE3fh3_nw

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I had the pleasure of meeting Muireann through Instagram a few years back now as she reached out and asked about retraining former racehorses and if I would ever consider coming over to Ireland to teach. I joined her for an Instagram Live where we talked all about retraining racehorses, and I knew straight away that she was nothing bar brilliant. 

Fast forward 6 months and we met in person when I went to Ireland to teach for The Eile and I saw what Muireann and her team were creating and building with Equitas; A media brand championing change and advocating equity for women. 

The other day Muireann put a post up titled:

“Is Mental health Support Failing Women in the Saddle’

It really struck a chord with me and I knew I HAD to have her come on the pod. The first half of this episode s about her journey with her former racehorse and the paths she has had to navigate both mentally and physically on her retraining journey. The second half, we begin to look into how we feel the equine sector is and our concerns and hopes for the future. This episode is insightful, heartwarming, funny and relatable. Please do listen and share and give Equitas a follow and show your support 

Louise instagram: @thoroughbred_dressage

Facebook: Thoroughbred Dressage 

Website: www.thoroughbreddressage.com

Equitas Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equitasworldwide?igsh=MThsdm83c2hmM3Ezbg==

Equitas Website: https://articles.equitas.ie

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One of the most common questions I get asked/I see across social media channels is: Which Bit would you Recommend? 

In this episode I look into different approaches and understanding to improving and developing the contact in our former racehorses. Please do listen, share and enjoy and if you'd like to learn more we have a webinar coming up on Thursday 15th April about finding confidence in the contact. Booking link below 

RoR Webinar 15th April booking link: https://horsemonkey.com/search?s=Lou%20robson

Louise instagram: @thoroughbred_dressage

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Website: www.thoroughbreddressage.com

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I first heard about Lesley and Second Brook, better known as Seb, when they were nominated for the RoR Horse of the Year 2025. I was BLOWN AWAY by their story and their journey together. 

Registered as a blind rider, Lesley and Seb have competed and won at RDA level and their journey together and the highs and lows are not only relatable, but inspirational . Lesley is so honest in this conversation and I love the way she approaches her training, management and development with Seb

Please do listen and share this wonderful story

Louise instagram: @thoroughbred_dressage

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Website: www.thoroughbreddressage.com

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So what does ‘pressure’ look like to your ex racehorse?

The word ‘pressure’ can seem to have a negative connotation surrounding it. Pressure can come in the form of pressure from the leg, pressure from the seat, pressure from one side, pressure from the bit, pressure of the environment they are in. In their first career your ex racehorse isnt used to the ‘pressures’ of the rider being ‘sat on them’ and having themselves, as a horse, to balance the rider. Work riders only really ‘sit on them’ when walking them out, or maybe a tiny bit in rising trot. The rest of the work is done out of the saddle, and more importantly; work riders and jockeys are in their own self carriage.  When pressure is applied under saddle for a racehorse, whether that’s in work riding, or race riding, is when they’re told to ‘giddy up’ (some may refer to it as ‘press on’ ‘quicken up’ etc etc) The position of the rider slightly changes and the horse is asked to extend and ‘push forward’ into the gallop. This is the time when the racehorse can start ‘come off the bridle’ and we as the outside viewer, sees this as long reins and jockeys pushing the horse on to the maximum that they can. 

In times of ‘giddy up’ your ex racehorse is allowed to do what came most naturally to them, what they’re bred to do and what they enjoy doing-to run. We, as retainers, need to try and avoid the ‘straight and go’ pressure/aid as this will only lend to your ex racehorse doing what comes most naturally to them, and what previous ‘pressure’ has meant: go flat and down. In their new role, when we feel this ‘flat and down’ feeling in front, we can , without intention, grip, pull, try and ‘lift up’ and apply ‘more leg’, which will; only exacerbate the feeling we are not hoping/seeking for. 

In this episode we explore what ‘pressure’ is, how we apply their first career knowledge and understanding into our retraining and what tips/pieces of advice can be given to keep a happy horse and rider 

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Sam Dracott is one of the ‘original’ farriers of social media. Having now 4 million followers on Tiktok with 61.5million likes, along with  296k followers on Instagram, but who exactly is he? 

Sam works closely with Great British Racing and was recently at the RoR awards held at Cheltenham Racecourse earlier this year, but what is his connection to racehorses/former racehorses? This episode is full of insights into understanding the Thoroughbred, how they move, what their feet are like, but also full of how Sam came to the life he currently lives and how education, support and understanding is at the heart of the work that he is doing, whether that be as a farrier, or at various events across not only the UK, but a also the world

I LOVED talking to Sam, he is a wonderful bloke, who is very humble and loves what he does and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do

Louise instagram: @thoroughbred_dressage

Facebook: Thoroughbred Dressage 

Website: www.thoroughbreddressage.com

Sam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samdracott_farrier?igsh=dDA0ZGx0eDUzcTR5

Sam TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/samdracott_farrier?igsh=dDA0ZGx0eDUzcTR5

Sam Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCagqv4S7VxqNClNiS5Vhonw

Contact Links for Sam: [email protected]

Website: https://www.samdracottfarrier.com/

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Pam and Kevin Atkinson formed New Beginnings Retraining Centre in 2010. Based in the North of the UK, they started off with the main focus of retraining and rehoming former racehorses, but as they’ve grown they still continue their fabulous work in retraining and rehoming, but have expanded to working within the community and are due to open their new Education Centre later this year

Pam and Kevin are nothing short of inspirational and have been ‘ahead of the curve’ in terms of having horses out in the community, featuring at local racecourses and encouraging and helping educate the public on what happens to these horses post racing. 

Pam and Kevin were awarded the RoR Community Impact award in 2024, their vision for 2025 is incredible and they have changed the lives for horses, but also hundreds of people (and this number continues to grow) 

This episode is JAM PACKED of information, insights and highlights and its one not to be missed. Please do share so more people can see what fantastic work they do 

Louise instagram: @thoroughbred_dressage

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If you haven’t heard of Minella Rebellion before, where have you been? Known as Rebel to his friends has become one of the VERY few (and by that I mean one other possible) horses to win, pretty much everything going in the showing world of RoR. Not only that, but he has won against horses bred for showing and taken the Champion Title of Riding Horse at Horse of the Year Show in 2023. This horse is an utter legend and there is no denying it

In this episode Katie and I talk about her journey with Rebel, the highs and the lows, training, feeding, exposing and training in new environments post racing and what the future looks like for her and Rebel

I am beyond thankful to Katie for her time, fantastic words and openness and I really do encourage you to listen and share this podcast so all who have not just former racehorses, learn about Minella Rebellion and the standard that he has created in the showing world 

Louise instagram: @thoroughbred_dressage

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"Finding relaxation' with our ex racehorses can be tough and challenging and make us feel like we are eternally searching for it. It can also become frustrating when it feels like no matter what we do makes little /no difference and what worked once before doesn't work now

So how about we take a slightly different approach and consider being able to focus on their heart rate and being adaptable to each situation to help us work towards the relaxation of the body and the brain?

In this episode I talk through different ideas of; do we 'walk it out' with our thoroughbreds, or do we 'work it out' by working through our problems and keep our horses moving more freely forwards? 

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Louise instagram: @thoroughbred_dressage

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Annabelle is a Veterinary Physiotherapist and runs her own business; AG Veterinary Physiotherapy, which is an experienced and professional team dedicated to providing a bespoke service to improve animal performance, recovery from injury, reduce pain and improve mobility. AG Veterinary Physiotherapy focus in equine and canine patients and provide mobile work and also have awell-equipped clinic and hydrotherapy facility based between Banbury and Leamington Spa for canine patients. 

Annabelle and her team are vital to helping me develop the horses we have here at Thoroughbred Dressage and I thought it would be interesting to hear what the 'timeline' looks like from transitioning form the track to a riding horse and what to expect from your horse at each stage and what challenges may come along and how to work with your home team to help develop our horses

This episode is jam packed of information and passion that Annabelle shows for all horses, but especially the former racehorse as she owns one herself and has seen Highland Patriot form the racetrack to 4*eventer.  

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