Grand National Heroes - still going strong

For me one of the highlights of the TV coverage of the Grand National is always the parade of former winners – super-star ex-racehorses! This year the parade included :

Lord Gyllene ( 1997 winner – now a grand old man aged 27 – and looking fantastic!), Red Marauder (2001), Bindaree (2002), Amberleigh House (2004), Hedgehunter (2005), Numbersixvalverde (2006),

Silver Birch (2007), Comply or Die (2008), Mon Mome (2009), Don't Push It (2010), Ballabriggs (2011), Neptune Collenges (2012) and Aurora's Encore ( 2013).

It was a delight to see them all looking so well – more portly, certainly, than in their racing days, but still sprightly, glossy and looking ready, mentally at least, to give it another go.

(And the 2014 winner, Pineau de Re, did exactly that – though didn't manage to do a Red Rum and win a second time on this occasion.)

It was heartwarming, too, to watch and listen as prolific National Hunt owner, and winner, J P MCManus, described how his equine retirees spend their days on his farm – we should all dream of such a retirement! It was a privilege, he said, to see them every day – “They're heroes”. True enough.

Of course, heroes  never give up, and many of these old warriors have been highly successful in their new lives after their racing days ended.  Some have proved remarkable versatile, like  Neptune Collonges, and even done off-the wall stuff , like Royal Athlete ( winner in 1995), who proved settled and sedate enough to compete at junior side-saddle in the showring. (And I can't resist adding - though not actually a Grand National winner, having come fourth  in 2007, Philson's Run did ex-racehorses proud by becoming a wonderful ladies' hunter - so good, that his new owner rode him to her wedding, escorted by a pack of hounds!) 

So when they are not revisiting Aintree and signing autographs for their devoted fans, what do these retired Grand National heroes do these days ?

Quite understandably, several of the older ones spend most of their time lolling in their retirement paddocks, though even then they are doing some good work. Lord Gilleyne is a gentleman-companion to broodmares, as well as doing charity appearances. Similarly, 25-year-old Red Marauder supervises young horses in the fields of his former Grand National jockey, Richard Guest, and still does the occasional 'photo opportunity'.

Bindaree was retrained to be an eventer, and in 2007 won 4 out of the 6 one-day events he entered. He was also successful at pure dressage. He is now is a field-friend to fellow-National hero, Hello Bud at trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies' yard. Amberleigh House, meanwhile, resides at the National Stud in Newmarket, where he is adored by visitors and the only horse there allowed to be fed Polo mints.

Hedgehunter and Ballabriggs both belong to Trevor Hemmings, the owner of this year's winner, Many Clouds. Both the old boys have paraded many times for the delight of racegoers and charity supporters (and Many Clouds is already learning the ropes for it too!.) They live mainly in some style at Trevor Hemmings' farm on the Isle of Man, where they enjoy pampering and luxury leisure time. Then each spring they travel to mainland UK to lead out youngsters at the Hemmings' Gleadhill Stud near Chorley.

Numbersixvalverde and Silver Birch both live in Ireland with their former trainers. Numbersix was re-schooled for dressage, at which he excelled for some years. Over the past eighteen months, though, he's taken a rest from that and keeps himself fit on Martin Brassil's horsewalker. Silver Birch, meanwhile, still enjoys riding out with Gordon Elliot's string, giving a lead and word of wisdom to the younger generation.

Comply or Die, who won the National in 2008, and came second in 2009, had another two goes at it after that! In his fourth attempt, though, he was pulled up, it all getting a bit much for his 12-year-old legs. He was retired to the Gloucestershire farm of his National jockey, Timmy Murphy, where he now helps out with the young horses when he's not enjoying the pastures.

Don't Push It,  who 'just lost his sparkle' for racing, retired safe and sound and now lives in Ireland, enjoying the luxury of J P McManus' Martinstown stud farm there, along with so many other of McManus's retired 'heroes'.

Aurora's Encore did his share of parading after his Grand National win, whilst continuing his racing career. But then he sustained a small leg fracture in his last race at Doncaster, and needed surgery to pin it together. Aged twelve, it was obvious he should not race again. He spent many months in the field recuperating. Thankfully he is now sound once more, and ready to consider what he wants to do next.

Neptune Collonges has got it all well organised. His owner John Hales retired him the moment he passed the winning post a nose in front in his National. After a short wind-down period, he was taken under the wing of John Hales' daughter, Lisa, and re-schooled for dressage and showjumping. Well, we all know he can jump! But he's also done really well at dressage too, and won another local competition only four weeks ago. He also leads out young horses, and does a host of parades and charity appearances. Apparently he is 'still a total idiot' whenever he sees a racecourse ( and he had two handlers during this year's Grand National parade). Yet he is really well-behaved and gentle in other situations, and especially good with children – and wheelchairs! His fund-raising appearances for health charities, such as Alder Hey Hospital, are therefore real successes and much enjoyed by all.

Ex-racehorse Showing Time is Here

It's Easter - here comes Spring, and with it, in the UK at least, the ex-racehorse showing season really gets going.

Now is the time to check show dates for amendments, and send for show schedules. The Retraining of Racehorses website ( www.ror.org.uk) is a good place to start, especially if you are taking it seriously this year and aiming at the big shows. Novices – horses and people – and just-for-fun competitors should keep an eye on local riding club publicity, as well as the usual social media advertisements.

Here are 10 things you should have been doing over the winter (and if you're like me, probably haven't!)

1 Planning your show campaign - show dates, venues, and likely classes.

2 Organizing transport – either checking and maintaining your own trailer or horsebox, arranging shared transport with friends, and/or booking dates with professional horse transporters. (Bad idea to leave it to the last minute.)

3 Adjusting your horse's diet to help produce show condition – 'topline' and a lovely glossy coat.

4 If necessary, gradually working on your horse's mane to get it the right length and thickness for neat plaiting.

5 Ex-racehorses often associate plaiting with going racing, so if yours is likely to do this, and so get stressed or over-excited on show-day, try plaiting up a few times and then simply doing some circles in the school, or going for a quiet bimble round on his favourite hacking route. You'll need to give him a new set of mental associations.

6 If you plan to use a different saddle in the showring, try it out a few times first, so both you and your horse get used to it. Remember you probably won't be using a lot of padding underneath ( if you're doing things correctly, anyway), so make sure the saddle fits well. Ex-racers may have residual back or shoulder issues, which could be aggravated by ill-fitting tack and spoil their performance.

7 And while you're at it, check out your own togs. Does your show jacket still fit? Does it need cleaning? (Or it it still covered in old slobber, with crumbled horse-treats in the pockets, from last year?) Same goes for your breeches, and any elegant trousers you plan to wear for in-hand showing. And, for in-hand classes, make sure you have some good ankle-boots, preferably waterproof, that you can run in without slipping or tripping . If the soles have gone worn and slippy, get them repaired or replaced.

8 Better check your own fitness too, especially if you'll be showing in-hand, which involves a lot of running! If you're a bit creaky and breathless, time to do some jogging or cycling

9 Introduce your ex-racehorse to small ponies. Although some ex-racers will have had a pony – or even a goat - as a companion during their racing days, most won't have. Many ex-racers are totally taken aback at the sudden sight of very small equines – especially Shetland ponies, which TB's seem to regard as some weird alien species. And as for donkeys... ! And ex-racehorses will certainly not be used to small ponies ridden by giddy children careering madly about in all directions – which tends to happen a lot at 'quiet' local shows. Be prepared!

10 Some things to practice with your ex-racehorse: ( and if you haven't already started, best get cracking!)

• Standing still, both in-hand and under saddle. (Not as simple as it sounds, for ex-racers!
• Walking and trotting in-hand, in straight lines. ( Ex-racehorses should have done this before, if only for vetting, but they may not have done it going away from other horses in the arena.
• Standing still to be mounted, and using the stirrup to get on board. ( Judges may want to do this in the ring – not good if your horse walks all over them.)
• Riding in circles, at walk, trot and canter, or both reins. Remember that being on the right leg at canter is vital in the showring, but your ex-racehorse may find this hard.
• Riding in circles with other horses in front and behind you.
• Transitions up and down the paces – aim for smoothness with no head-tossing!
• Working 'in an outline', with your horse going forward with nice self-carriage.
• Using the bit and bridle you intend to show in, both in-hand and ridden. You'll need to check the rules of each class first, as they can vary a lot. Then, if you're wanting to use something different to everyday, give you horse plenty of practice with the new kit before you get to the show. (Remember that most ex-racehorses will never have encountered a double bridle, and won't automatically know how to deal with it.)
• Your individual show display. Best to keep it simple – walk away, trot back, trot a circle on each rein, canter a circle or each rein ( or at least part of a circle, enough to show your horse can do it!), only gallop if you have to, walk back to the judge, halt ( preferably before mowing the judge down), and a nice smart salute.
• Different styles of show turnout – sown-in plaits, or plaiting with rubber bands? If so, what colour? Tail pulled, or plaited? What pattern of quarter marks? With a brush,, or a fancy stencil? Experiment beforehand, and see which best suits your horse (and your dexterity!) And if you fancy a glitzy coloured browband,( very fashionable for showing ex-racehorses at the moment) try a few returnable ones beforehand to see what matches his eyes!

So, if you haven't been hard at work with all this stuff all winter ( yes, of course you have!), there's plenty to catch up with and now's the time to start.