Some great publicity for retraining of racehorses on TV
today! At The Races did ex-racehorses proud by giving us not one, but two,
separate features on them during the channel’s lunchtime programme.
First, the opening slot on the coverage of racing from Plumpton
was Mick Fitzgerald introducing the demonstration of ex-racehorses given there
today by Moorcroft, the racehorse rehabilitation centre based in West Sussex . There was an interview with the Manager,
Mary Henley-Smith, about Moorcroft’s work, and the on-going need to fundraise.
(That’s one of the reasons why displays such as this one are so important, to
show people just what can be achieved.) Then the horses were introduced and
shown being ridden (one more calmly than the other, admittedly!) round the
parade ring. They looked well and, as was pointed out, now that they were
almost fully retrained, they had acquired a very different shape to in-training
racehorses. Not only were they both flexing their necks well and coming down nicely on the bit, but
they had considerably more flesh on their necks, bellies and quarters! They
looked like proper riding horses – exactly as they should.
Straight after this feature came another, this time a report
from Luke Harvey on the work of Greatwood – another of the big racehorse
rehabilitation centres in the UK .
Helen Yeadon was shown explaining how racehorses are re-schooled - with some good clips of the work in progress
- and then rehomed into hand-picked loan-homes. Importantly, the feature also
showed the brilliant work Greatwood has developed with equine-assisted learning
at its base in Wiltshire. Greatwood uses some of their ex-racehorses in
specially devised programmes to help both children and adults overcome various
learning issues. ATR showed some tantalizing glimpses of this work in action.
For a more in-depth look, though, go to Greatwood’s website to see videos of
this fantastic horses-helping-humans education – it really is amazing and
heartwarming. Who said ex-racers can’t do other jobs? How does racehorse-to-special-needs-teacher
grab you?
Well done At The Races, and thank you, for giving
rehabilitated racehorses a good chance to show off before a wider public. And
for anyone who missed it – it’s well worth seeking out on catch-up TV.
Moorcroft - www.mrwc.org.uk
Greatwood – www.greatwoodcharity.org
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