The Retraining of Racehorses Elite Dressage Performance series reached its much-awaited championship final on the ultimate day of the Vale View High Profile Show, 30 October to 2 November 2014.
The versatility of the thoroughbred race horse was in evidence at the Leicestershire venue, as more than 80 combinations came forward to contest the final, each having qualified at one of the 20 UK-wide qualifying rounds. Although bred for speed, the day showed what can be achieved with the re-education of these Weatherbys registered and UK-raced athletes. It demonstrated the adaptability and work ethic of this sensitive breed, and their willingness to turn their hoof to a second career.
From those that never took to life in the fast lane, to celebrated household names, the horses at Vale View on Sunday had one thing in common – a talent for, and enjoyment of, dressage.
The biggest scorer of the day was preliminary winner Amy Ferris with Sandmartin, her 14-year-old bay son of Alflora (pictured with RoR chief executive Di Arbuthnot). The pair scored 75.67% to take the class in commanding style, as well as achieving third place in the novice final with 70.71%. Amy, 26, who works for Mike and Emma Winter at Wayfarer Eventing in Chedworth, Gloucestershire, qualified Sandmartin at Abbey Dressage back in the summer.
The intro B class, for those on the first rung of the dressage ladder, was won by Jacqueline Almond from Durham riding Beautiful Life II, a 4-year-old mare by Footsteps in the Sand. The pair scored a strong 67.93% to head the 13-strong leader board. And in seventh place was Verity Green aboard David Johnson’s National Hunt hero Comply or Die, the horse who famously partnered Timmy Murphy to win the 2008 John Smith’s Grand National. Verity and the strapping bay four-time Grand National contender scored a creditable 64.67%.
At novice level it was Suffolk-based Steph Cason and Harland, her 10-year-old Halling-sired gelding, who stole the show. The pair scored 72.05%. And at elementary, Nicole Turner and Galileo Figaro triumphed, with 70.70%.
Nicole expressed her delight via her Facebook page: “Winner winner chicken dinner....so super-duper proud to report that my polly pocket pony won the Retraining of Racehorses Elementary Championship class on a stonking 70.7%!!!!!! He was wonderfully well behaved and took the huge atmosphere in his stride. Love him. Massive thanks to Fran [Nicole’s sister] of course, and all the smiley happy faces who have made today a fantastic event.”
The day, totally dedicated to the Retraining of Racehorses dressage final, proved to be an inspiration to anyone offering an ex-racehorse the chance of a career beyond the racetrack.
As Debbie Tooth, a competitor in the preliminary and novice put it: “It was a great day out and fantastic to see what can be achieved on a race horse! I watched some of the elementary and was really impressed, a real credit to the owners and trainers.
Thank you to all at BD and RoR for starting to put the ex-racehorse on the map and giving people like me who work with them something to aim and work towards. I’m looking forward to next year on my rescue racehorse!”
For full results click here