All Aboard the Racehorse

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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. 

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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

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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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