Racehorse Rehoming Centre - Open Horse Show

The Racehorse Rehoming Centre is based in the village of Combe St Nicholas, near Chard, in south Somerset, some 12 miles from Taunton. Run by Clive and Tessa Westlake, ( helped nowadays by a loyal band of volunteers), it was set up some 16 years ago to take retiring racehorses direct from trainers and rehabilitate them for useful second careers. Starting small, as such projects usually need to, it’s now a registered charity with Stan and Elaine Mellor as patrons. It remains a relatively small operation, compared to some of the perhaps more famous TB rehabilitation centres like TRC, but it specialises in providing a quiet and homely environment, set in gorgeous countryside, where stressed-out new ex-racers can relax, chill out, and gain confidence in their new lifestyle.

The horses all get loads of individual attention, so that the centre quickly gets to know their characters, foibles, strengths and weaknesses. Then the re-training can concentrate on the areas best suited to each horse, with a good idea of its future career possibilities. As well as doing basic flatwork in the school, all the horses are regularly hacked out. Then, when they are ready, they are taken on outings – local shows, hunting, pleasure rides, etc – so they are as prepared as they can be to start their new lives in suitable loan/foster homes.

If you want to know more about the Racehorse Rehoming Centre, check out their website here : www.racehorserehoming.co.uk

The important thing right now is that the centre is having an OPEN HORSE SHOW next Saturday, 23rd August – and it is GOING AHEAD, whatever the weather !
Obviously there are to be classes for ex-racehorses, but there are open showing and jumping classes too: - showing starting 9.00am, jumping 10.00am, minimus jumping 12 noon, and clear round jumping all day.( Great for introducing ex-racers to coloured fences). There is also going to be a BBQ and photographer. It should be a great fun day out for all, whether ex-racers or not.

More to the point, Tessa tells me that, due to the awful weather, they have just lost their whole winter haylage crop. Now this would be rotten for anyone, but for a small charity like RRC ( that receives no funding from any welfare organisations, can pay no-one any wages, and relies on goodwill donations) it’s a disaster. SO …. They are hoping for a flood of entries on Saturday, to fund buying in their winter fodder. So come on, all you folks in Somerset and all around – get yourselves over to Combe St Nicholas this Saturday, swamp them with entries, deluge them with donations, barrage the barbie with demands for double burgers….. and help fill that haylage barn to the rafters !