Book Review - 'Re-educating Racehorses'

I spend so much time these days writing about ex-racehorses, as well as actually doing things with them, that I confess I don't seem to get much time for reading. So, I've only just discovered this book, even though it was published in 2012.

 'Re-educating Racehorses' , by Fred Cook and  Rowena Jane Simmonds

I have to say I really enjoyed it. Sometimes I get cross, reading, or listening to, people telling me how they do things ( and often, how their way is the best/only way.) We all develop our own methods of working with our horses ( and dogs), building a relationship, and getting the best out of them. I really do believe there are many ways up the mountain, and if it works, it works. But I also have to admit that, in my experience anyway, horses ( and dogs) are a never-ending learning-curve. There is always something new to try.

So I was very pleased to discover that a) 'Fred and Rowena' talk a lot of common sense, clearly based on a lot of direct personal experience, that I didn't feel called on to argue with at all, and b) that they also came up with suggestions I've not tried before and sound like good ideas.

The book is written in a clear, accessible style, with some nice humourous touches as well, of course, as lots of useful information. It covers the timeline from a horse being in training, and the physical and mental issues of its lifestyle there, to sourcing and ex-racehorse, the first few days in a new, non-racing home, and measures to help the ex-racer adapt to its new life and job. These include in-hand exercises and the sort of simple schooling that are vital in the early days, going on to tackling jumping poles later on. Everything is explained clearly, with useful illustrations.

There are also some lovely photos of the horses themselves. My favourite is one of the amazing Brave Inca, at an ex-racer parade with his 'new Mum' in showing gear and his former jockey, AP McCoy, in the famous green-and-gold hooped racing colours. Both humans had achieved so much with this great horse, and both clearly thought the world of him.

I found this book both informative and entertaining – even, in places, rather touching. I can certainly recommend it. It's available in hardback, paperback, and kindle formats, so whatever your preference you can give it a go.

New! First-ever auction sale JUST for ex-racehorses

Thanks to the work of organizations such as Retraining of Racehorses in the UK, and CANTER in the States, ex-racehorses are increasingly in demand for non-racing activities such as showing, eventing and showjumping. Now the respected bloodstock auctioneer company, Brightwells, is to hold the first ever public auction sale in Britain specifically dedicated to ex-racehorses.

The sale will take place on Wednesday, 20^th May, 2015, at Brightwells' salesground in Malvern. Organized in conjunction with ROR, the concept of the sale was recommended in the strategic overview of ROR conducted in 2014, and is supported by the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) and the National Trainers Federation (NTF). Everyone hopes it will be a great help in finding new homes and careers for retired racehorses.

The new sale has been designed to help buying, and selling, an ex-racehorse become as happy an experience as possible. The entry fee is only £50 ( + VAT) – far less than the fee for other bloodstock sales. Importantly, unlike at most horse sales, Malvern offers excellent facilities on the salesground for the horses to show off their paces under saddle, including rustic and coloured jumps. Potential buyers can even try out the horses themselves. (So, buying should be a bit less of a gamble than at other sales!)

Moreover, every horse sold will have a non-racing agreement clause stamped in its passport, so vendors can be reassured that the horse they are retiring will never be allowed to race again.

Andrew Elliot, Bloodstock Manager and Auctioneer at Brightwells says: “We are very much looking forward to the sale and we hope it will be the beginning of a long-term alliance with ROR. While Brightwells already conduct successful thoroughbred sales at Ascot and Cheltenham, this new ROR sale is specifically aimed at horses leaving the racing industry that have more to give as future competition or riding horses.

“Not only do owners get a subsidised entry fee, they also get peace of mind in that every sale will be accompanied by a change in the horse’s passport ensuring that it can’t subsequently be raced. We have received positive feedback from trainers regarding the initiative and we believe the venture will prove really useful for trainers and owners and, most importantly, for all suitable horses.”

Di Arbuthnot, Chief Executive of ROR, said: “In recent years ROR has focused on increasing the demand for former racehorses within the sport horse and leisure market. The charity stages competitions for thoroughbreds across a dozen different equine disciplines, and following the success of these classes demand for former racehorses has increased. There are now over 10,000 horses registered on ROR’s database as active in a second career and the sale is intended as another step towards facilitating the transfer of horses from a training yard to a life after racing.”

The sale is to be held at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern. Viewing and trying of horses is from 8.00 – 11.am. The sale starts at 11.30am.

It will be interesting to see how it goes, and to get feedback from buyers and sellers. I don't know if similar ex-racer sales are held anywhere else. If there are, perhaps someone can post in with info on how they do?