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Why does retraining feel so bl***y hard at times? Retraining Racehorses can have its up’s and downs, and can make us questioning both our sanity and our bank balances. It’s very easy to put the face forward of ‘but it’s so rewarding’ (which it is by the way) but what about the times when we feel like giving up is the better/easier answer? 

“Over the Rails’ podcasts delve into some of the topics that surround retraining and the life with former racehorses. In these episodes we aim to talk about our; problems, fears, woes and worries across varying topics. Hoping to create some ‘normal’ to the ‘not so great times’, but also highlight how we work through them and how to know what a great time is, you have to have the direct opposite of a bl***y hard time. 

www.thoroughbreddressage.com

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Hannah's first words to me when I asked her to record on the podcast was 'are you sure, I am no one competing at intro level'.......I bumped into Hannah on several occasions within a 24 hour period whilst at Aintree champs. I had no idea who she was, what classes she was competing in, or her journey. What I did love was how she approached working and handling her horse Atheby and I wanted to know more and also tell her what a phenomenal job she was doing with him. (and she isnt 'no one' and we all start somewhere) 

I LOVE Hannah's 'process' of her path to the championships and how she approached every single step. This was not a path to win, but to get to Aintree and lay the foundations for the YEARS ahead that she has with Atheby

This conversation is relatable to every single person with an ex racehorse and I spent this whole conversation; smiling, laughing, nodding my head in agreement and am desperate to hear more from Hannah on her journey with Atheby and her approach to training throughout their years ahead. 

This is a MUST LISTEN to anyone with an ex racehorse. please share it far and wide, I promise you won't be disappointed 

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RoR Champs have just been and gone. In part one of our two episodes dedicated to the RoR Champs Sophie and I have a general catch up. 

These championships are amazing, but also can be quite daunting for not only people, but the horses as well. Situated at Aintree Racecourse (home of the Grand National) these championships span 6 days and have classes in; dressage, showjumping, arena eventing and showing. The Elite dressage and Showing champions are crowned here and its a week full of love for the wonderful ex racehorses. 

In this episode Sophie and I have a chat about our horses performances, the highs and lows and learnings that come with getting to a championships and how we look forward to the future 

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Lady Buttons, better known by some as "Queen of the North' became a household name during her racing career, from 33 starts she had 15 wins and the community of people that she had following and supporting her was phenomenal. The colours of purple and white would be seen at every racecourse she attended with her fan base extending far and wide. Post racing Buttons found her way to one of her original work riders, Jenni Durrans, who now works alongside her partner Adam Nicol ( trainer) who was Buttons' prominent jockey in her races. 

This conversation is so inspiring, humble and fascinating in the way that Adam and Jenni approach their training of their racehorses. We talk about the importance of schooling racehorses and how this not only benefits them in their racing career, but also sets them up well for their lives/careers post racing. 

We talk about; management, training, turnout and how Jenni and Adam's approach of; cross training and exposing their racehorses to lots of different elements in the world help develop them as not just racehorses, but horses as well. 

I hope you enjoy and please do share

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We hit the ground running in this episode! Lottie is an amateur rider, who took on a ex racehorse as she ‘liked the look of what she saw on social media posts.’ Her story and journey with Bonner is something that I think we can ALL relate to at various stages and I LOVE how Lottie explains how she and Bonner navigated and are still navigating their way through their re training journey. 

This conversation is nothing bar honest, hilarious and uplifting and definitely has something for everyone. I really do hope you enjoy this conversation with Lottie and appreciate that everything she has done and is doing is for the benefit and wellbeing of Bonner at all times 

Instagram handle: @isidorbonheuryes

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Kerry is Full time groom and Head travelling girl for Roger Varian. One of Kerrys highlights for 2024 is leading up Elmalka, who went onto win the 1000 Guineas this year. 

Kerry talks to us about riding out, what its like to work in racing as a work rider, how horses are prepared and looked after on race day and the ups and downs that come with working with horses and how you mentally cope and develop. Kerry also has two horses that are both former racehorses; One Pekan and Gorgeous General,  and we talk about how she works with them as horses and who they are and how to develop them into their second career post racing. 

www.thoroughbreddressage.com 

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Richard is a Cheltenham Festival and Listed Flat winning trainer with over 30 years experience of training racehorses to the highest level, both over jumps and on the Flat.

With the well-being of our horses at the heart of everything we do, Richard and his team offer a unique, professional, friendly service to all our owners and are proud of giving every horse bespoke care and attention to maximise their potential.
 
 We talk about the importance of mentors, and the important part they play in developing trainers, jockeys and everyone who works in the horse industry, how we can use riders from other disciplines to enhance training horses as a whole,  the role of confidence when working with horses how national Racehorse Week came to be and how it has grown over the years, how we work with varying characters of horses, how to encourage more people into the world of horses and how horses can improve their lives. 

If you would like to know more about National racehorse week, please visit the link below. The dates for 2024 are 7th-15th September

https://nationalracehorseweek.uk

Richard Phillips yard/website: https://richardphillipsracing.com

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Smad Place won £493,976 in prize money across his eight seasons running over hurdles/chaser for trainer Alan King. While racing he won nine of his 37 starts and retired due to injury. 

Following his retirement in 2018 he found Sarah Haydon to become his new partner in his second career. Sarah combines being a mum, wife and horse owner whilst also working full time. 

In this conversation we talk about the work/life balance, the retraining journey with Smad, the pressures that come with retraining a superstar of the track and how you can start to develop horses into their second career, whilst keeping their health and happiness at the centre of it all

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Claire Taylor is the Managing Director of EBN. EBN is one of Europe’s largest online Bloodstock publications with a daily worldwide readership of 10,000+ in addition to thousands of hard copies being distributed daily at all the European Thoroughbred Sales.

This episode isnt about Bloodstock, or breeding, it is SO MUCH MORE. We talk about how European and American racing looks, various umbrellas of aftercare systems that are throughout the world, how the industry as a whole *(racing and retraining) can develop as a united front and how funding of the aftercare system can be improved, developed and find a place for the future. 

This episode is JAM PACKED with information, ideas and thinking about the bigger and whole picture of the racing industry and the aftercare world. 

Please share and enjoy! 

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Shoeing (or not to shoe) the ex racehorse is one of, probably, our biggest, potential, frustrations and headaches when it comes to owning our former stars of the track. It seems that, at times, we cant do right from wrong. 

In this conversation we talk about shoeing vs barefoot, when to X-ray, what the ‘timeline’ of developing your ex racehorses feet from racehorse to sport horse looks like, how does their shoeing timeline evolve as their training develops and progresses, and most importantly, how do we best communicate with our home team in a good, calm and efficient manner to help these horses the best we can.

I have known Phil for many years and in this episode we do reference the horses that are based here as examples of what we have done with particular horses to develop them along their retraining journey. This is a view from what we know, have learnt and experienced. 

I really hope you love this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it and getting to talk to Phil

www.thoroughbreddressage.com

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