Yet another great career opportunity has opened up for ex-racehorses, encouraged by The Queen. First Love - once one of the late Queen Mother's favourite racehorses and now owned by Queen Elizabeth II - is joining the army.
Twelve-year-old First Love - a huge but surprisingly nimble brown gelding - enjoyed a sparkling racing career. He won nine races, over both hurdles and steeplechase fences, and in 2002 became The Queen's first winner over jumps in more than forty years. ( Some comfort there for less exalted owners !) First Love retired from training at Nicky Henderson's Lambourn yard in March this year, and is now moving to London to take up his new post with the Household Cavalry.
According to the Royal Stud at Sandringham, the plan is for First Love to take part in ceremonial occasions like Trooping the Colour once his retraining is completed. So much for all ex-racehorses being nutters ! ( Though I have to say, having watched the Queen's Birthday Parade on TV the other day, and seeing how beautifully behaved the cavalry horses were, I will be interested to see how an ex-racehorse copes with having to stand still for one-and-a-half hours ! The most mine can manage is fifteen minutes - on a good day.)
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
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