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In this episode we talk to one of the yard instructors and manager of the horses at the British Racing School. 

The British Racing School, in Newmarket UK, is home to 70 ex racehorses who teach people to not only ride, but also a lot about themselves as people and give these people access to various career paths within the equine industry as well as the arcing industry. 

Lydia and I talk about how these horses shape and develop peoples lives, but also how their ridden and cared for, which helps those who are looking at developing the racehorses second career. 

This episode is so insightful, heartfelt and truly wonderful as the understanding, love and care for the horses is at the centre of it all

I hope you enjoy

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We all know about the love and heritage for the Racehorse in Ireland, but what does the ‘retraining scene’ look like across the water? Louise Duffy is an amateur event rider, and has the honour to be considered for horses from trainer Willie Mullins. Louise is probably more recently known for having Dual Gold Cup winner, Al Boum Photo, but her relationship with ex racehorses and the team at Willie Mullins’ yard started way before Boum.  

 In this conversation we cover; what the ‘timeline’ of retraining can look like, and how it is different for each horse, the possible pressure of riding a Dual Gold Cup winner in Al Boum photo, her various approaches to being able to work with these horses and their characters to get them to thrive, love and enjoy their second career with an eventing focus.

The two horses that focuses on in this episode are: Arvika Ligeonniere who's a 2 miler and earnt £298,802 in his racing career under Willie Mullins. The second is Al Boum Photo, who earnt £1,051,557 in his career and raced amongst the likes of A plus Tard (now in retraining showing and dressage) Clan Des Obeaux, Santini (William Fox Pitt eventer) Kemboy and became the first horse since Best Mate to win back to back Gold Cup's

I could talk with Louise for HOURS! I love the honesty pf this conversation and the adaptability and patience that comes with these wonderful horses. 

I hope you enjoy and please share!

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Denman, Silviniaco Conti, Saphir Du Rheu, Ulck Du Lin and Cyrname all have two things in common; their trainer, Paul Nicholls and their rider past the post, Charlotte Alexander.

The company that these horses have raced in is stuff of HEROS; Altior, Kauto Star, Thistlecrack, Cue Card, Rule the World, Coneygree, Menorah, The Giant Bolster, Mad Moose, Tea for two,  Native River, One for Arthur, Sizing John, Cue Card and Smad Place,  but what does their second career look like when they have had such an impressive first career?

What are the possible pressures that come from riding these legends? What can we learn from these horses? and how do you know what second career to develop them into?

A wonderful conversation with Charlotte where the love and welfare of the horse is always put first and how we, as riders adapt along the journey

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Rebecca Court is a Showing Rider and has much success on her former racehorses. Aboard Beware Chalk Pit they took the SEIB Racehorse to riding horse Crown at HOYS in 2017, before being crown RoR Horse of the Year. Her other stars are: Desert Joe, Saint Are (winner of £495,195 on the track, 5 time Grand National runner) and now on Festive Fare (trained by Charlie Appleby and part of the Godolphin Lifetime Aftercare programme)

In this episode we discuss training methods and ideas, the pressures that possibly come from riding 'the famous ex racehorse', adapting to your horses environment, what it is that you look for in a possible good RoR show horse and how we are looking to develop the ex racehorse beyond the RoR classes

This conversation is just two women, discussing all things 'ex racehorse' and our love for the breed. 

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Joe Grimwade is one of the most noted people in the Thoroughbred Breeding industry. His former professional roles include: Broodmare Manager - Whitsbury Manor Stud; Stud Manager at The National Stud, Stud Director at Carisbrook Stud; RoR Yard Manager at Palace House (the National Horseracing Museum).  One of his most coveted positions was Stud Manager at the Royal Studs at  Sandingham, United Kingdom, for HM Queen Elizabeth II

Joe has also worked on a voluntary basis as a TBA Board Member and Chairman of their Veterinary and Education & Employment Committees,  RoR Trustee and Chairman of the Beaufort Cottage Educational Trust.

In this episode, we talk about what it was like to work at the Royal Studs, but more importantly, talk about the welfare, traceability and the second careers that these horses ago into post racing.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this conversation with Joe and hope that you do too. 

Joe currently is The Director of Stud Management Advisory Ltd.;  Industry Retention and consultant  for The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association. He still carries out his work with Thoroughbreds with such care and devotion.

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Part of the aim of this podcast is to see the thoroughbred in all stages and walk of their lives. A big part of their journey is the life after the post. The accolades and achievements of Master Wicken aka Darsi post racing supersede his achievements on the track. 

Trained by Paul Webber Master Wicken assessed £157 in Earnings, yet post racing his winnings come close to that of £6,000 (and the prize money in various horse disciplines are vastly smaller than  that of racing) Calling Darsi an ‘all rounder’ does, what I think, to be a disservice to what him and Claire have and are achieving. 

I am SO excited to bring this episode forward as we discuss; the journey, the highs and lows, how to deal with disappointment, how to train the horse you have in front of you and how to celebrate your horse and your journey in whatever form that may take/look like. 

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Based in West Wales, Sophie Spiteri has rehomed over 250 former racehorses. Much respected and sought out by some of the UK and Ireland’s top trainers to send their horses to for ‘life after the post’ Sophie not only brings a vast amount of knowledge, but a vast amount of compassion and care for these horses. 

Sophie calls her self a ‘matchmaker of the racing world’ and is the ‘middle man’ between racing and the horses new home. 

I’m a big advocate in ‘bridging the gap’ between the racing and retraining world and Sophie does just that. We discuss various ‘myth busting’ notions surrounding racehorses, talk about how they’ve been trained and cared for in their first career and how we can apply that to their second career. 

A must listen for all thoroughbred lovers ❤️❤️

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Tara is a business and mindset coach with an equestrian journalism and marketing background. She loves helping her clients in the equine world and beyond with creating more sales, growing their business and building their brands and loves to do this through her proven mindset and marketing framework. She's also a very proud ex-racehorse owner, having owned 22 year old Ollie since 2015. He is her second ex-racehorse, having had great success Eventing her first ex-racehorse as a teenager. 

I couldn’t start the podcast without a talk with Tara as I feel that our mindset is one of our biggest assets, but also, potentially, our biggest thing that may hold is back, make us question everything and leave us feeling alone, frustrated and deflated. This conversation is just pure fun from start to finish with the welfare of people and horses being at the centre of it all. ❤️❤️

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So first up, someone who needs absolutely no introduction- Bob Champion CBE

Whilst probably most famously known for his win of the Grand National aboard Aldaniti in 1981, which was then made into the film ‘Champions) (which I have watched COUNTLESS times) Bob came third in the 1977/78 jockeys’ championship riding 56 winners. His first significant success came when he won the 1978 Hennessy Gold Cup, now the Coral Cup at Newbury on Approaching for trainer Josh Gifford. Bob Champion has also won BBC’s sporty personality of the year Team Award and was chosen by Channel 4 viewers in 2022 as on of the 100 greatest sporting moments. 

In 1983 Bob Champion founded the Bob Champion Cancer Trust. To date the Bob Champion Cancer Trust has raised in excess of £15million towards cancer research. 

There is no doubt that Thoroughbreds are in Mr Champions blood. He is still a regular at the Tattersalls sales, watching horses work up Warren Hill in Newmarket and at the races. I was so excited and honoured to be able to talk to him about his insights into training, horses, understanding horses and how to work with these wonderful horses 

To support or see more information about BoB's charity please follow the link below

https://www.bobchampion.org.uk/index.html

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Why this podcast and why now? A quick insight to the start up idea of this podcast and who I am 

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