Ex-Racehorse Crosses Rainbow Bridge

Though the ex-racer farm seems to have come through this long wet winter pretty well, there has been one big sadness; we lost Magic in January.

Magic was the big, bay lug of a chaser, who had the conformation of a show hunter (middleweight!) and the lower legs of a war zone. No problem, he was sound as a pound despite all his old battle-scars, and we all loved him dearly. He was a gentle giant, 16.3 hands and built like a bullock. In the field he liked to think he was herd leader, though in fact he was only No 2 to H, delegated to do all the strong-arm stuff with any newcomers or upstarts. But with people, Magic was gentle, sweet and kind, and always willing to do whatever you asked him. Even if he wasn't quite sure what you wanted or how to do it, he'd give it a go for you anyway. He was especially good with children, who could, and did, climb all over, and under, him, sing songs to him, brush him and feed him endless titbits, all of which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Magic was nineteen years old. Not a bad age for a Thoroughbred. TB's as a breed seem not to be as long-lived as tough little native ponies. (Although some do live amazingly long lives. National Hunt fans will remember that brilliant chestnut, Olympian, who managed the rare feat of winning both the Imperial Cup at Sandown and then the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival both in the same year, 1993, when trained by Martin Pipe. For the past 20 years Olympian has been an ex-racehorse in enjoyable retirement on the farm of Alan and Sue Williams. Sadly the old boy contracted colic a few days ago and had to be put to sleep, at the grand age of 31. Not a bad innings!)

Our Magic had summered well, as usual, being so fat at rugging-up time in October that we had to lengthen all the straps. He was hale and hearty, even though for eighteen months he had been developing sarcoids, various types in various parts of his body. They didn't bothered him at all, but then an especially big and ugly one appeared on the inside of his stifle, and it began to bleed every few days. The vet refused to operate, partly because Magic was old and a general anesthetic would be risky, and partly because, the vet was adamant, the sarcoid would soon come back again, worse than ever. And there was no telling what nasty stuff was on the inside of it... “Leave well alone,” was the advice. “Just keep it clean. Magic's a happy horse – let him enjoy his retirement.” Which he was certainly doing, his life consisting mainly of eating, sleeping, petting and Polo mints. He didn't race around the field in giddy sessions quite as much, but then his field-mates – some even older than him – didn't either. The equine geriatric wing was all contentment.

One morning, a mild one for January, we found Magic laid dead beside the big hay bale, his field-mates beside him. It must have been recent. And quick. There was no sign of any injury, nor any struggling or scrabbling on the ground – he had not died in pain. It looked like he had eaten his fill, laid down and dozed off – for ever. Since eating and dozing had become Magic's favourite activities, it was a fitting way for him to go. And it was a small comfort to realize that he had not been in any distress, and falling asleep on a full belly with your mates beside you is not a bad way for an old ex-racer to go out. Even so, there were many tears. He was not the greatest racehorse, but he was loved. And in his honest, lumbering way, he did a lot of good for the people around him. We will all miss our Mr Magicals.

         Magic never did Wimpy Thoroughbred....But what a honeycake he was....!

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People's Favourite Cue Card Now an Ex-Racehorse!

Hot on the heels of Saint Are's retirement yesterday comes news that another great and charismatic chaser, Cue Card, has run his last race. As his owner, Jean Bishop said, “It's a bit of a shock”, for all of us. For while everyone guessed this would be Cue Card's last season – he is 12 ( the same age as Saint Are) and had not been running with his old brilliance – he was penciled-in for one last farewell race at Sandown at the end of April. A great celebratory goodbye was planned for this most popular of horses, but it was not to be.

Thankfully, it's for the best of reasons – trainer and owner putting the horse's interests first.

Cue Card's trainer, Colin Tizzard, explained: “In the end he wasn't showing the sparkle he's shown. It was a lovely decision to make. He's fit and sound. It's a weight off my mind. It would have been too big a call to race him again. He has been a fantastic horse all the way round. He cantered this morning and jumped. I kept looking at him and thought this is not the Cue Card we know. He had a hard race the other day [when he was pulled up in the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival in March] and in any other year we would have turned him out and had him in next season.” But Tizzard saw the writing on the wall. “He's 12 and he was still very good at Ascot, but time is catching up. It's a lovely time to retire him.”

Trainer and owner are in full agreement. Mrs Bishop said “it was not a hard decision because apparently Cue Card has not been working well. Normally we would just leave him to get over it and wait for another race. But because this was his retirement race we decided he wouldn't be 100% so wouldn't be entered.” Mrs Bishop's regret at the end of a glorious time was clear as she added: “It's the end of an era. I felt quite sad about it, but all good things come to an end. We knew it was imminent, but happening like it did was unexpected.” Full marks to her for taking her trainer's advice and drawing stumps. Some owners with a still-wonderfully capable horse might have been tempted to insist on another race or two, or even have changed trainers to one who would be more accommodating, who would try for a few more glory days, even if that meant greater risk for the horse. Mrs Bishop, though, put Cue Card's welfare first and foremost.

Colin Tizzard's relief is evident – and understandable. Cue Card is a huge favourite with the public, a real 'People's Horse', and even non-racing enthusiasts know of him. His flair, his courage, and his gallant come-backs from temporary defeats warmed everyone's hearts. He never lost his will to win, even when battling against far younger rivals. He was a true champion. If he had been raced when not quite right, and been injured, it would have been horrendous for everyone. Fortunately, all involved with this horse think the world of him. And Tizzard for one is also very grateful to him! “He set up my career,” he said, “ he's been my flagbearer. To be fair to him he's paid for a lot of these new buildings that are going up. He's done everything for all of us.”

And, yes, Cue Card has certainly done well for all his connections. He's run in 41 races, including seven times at Cheltenham, and won 16, of which 9 were Grade 1, including the 2010 Champion Bumper, the 2013 Ryanair Chase, 3 Betfair Chases and a King George VI Chase. His prize money winnings total £1,147,454. He's certainly bowing out at the top, and owes nobody anything.

So, what next for Cue Card? Firstly, he will keep his appointment at Sandown races at the end of the month, but to parade before his adoring fans rather than race. There will be many cheers and quite a few moist eyes. And after that – it will be back home, to his own stable and the people who love him most. “He won't leave the farm,” Colin Tizzard affirmed. “He's going to stay here. I'm going to ride him round a bit to keep him active. He can stay here as long as he lives.”

Which is great news for Cue Card. All horses thrive on routine and are most comfortable with the familiar. Some horses that have been in training many years can be unhappy and unsettled in the more relaxed, less structured environment outside racing, and don't always take easily to being inactive domestic pets. Whether Cue Card is one of these or not, it is lovely that he will be ending his days in the place he knows as 'home', surrounded by people who know and love him. And chief among those will be Hamir Singh, who has looked after Cue Card since he arrived in the Tizzard yard as a three-year-old and rides him out every day. Hamir has often been interviewed for TV, beaming proudly as he holds Cue Card's lead-rein. “He's my boy,” he has said many times, his self-effacing voice full of unconcealed affection for the horse. No doubt Hamir was dreading the day retirement came for 'his boy', wondering what would happen and where the horse might go. Well, now he knows; Cue Card is stopping at home, and Hamir Singh will be smiling broadly tonight!

                           Cue Card strutting his stuff, with regular partner Paddy Brennan aboard

 

Cue Card, Paddy Brennan, and Hamir Singh

Colin Tizzard and Cue Card contemplate a quieter life            

   

Grand National Runner Retired

Here's a happy post-script to this year's Grand National. Saint Are – the horse who gave us all a scare when needing extra veterinary attention after the race – is not only back home safe and sound, but has been retired from racing to start a new, but somewhat easier, career as an ex-racehorse.

12-year-old Saint Are, a beautiful dark bay gelding, was running in his fourth Grand National. He had done really well in the race before, coming second by just 1¾ lengths to Many Clouds at his first attempt in 2015 and being third to One For Arthur in 2017. He was a very talented racehorse, winning some £500,000 during his career, including a Grade 1 over hurdles at Aintree in 2011. But in this year's National it all went wrong. First he was brought down at the 15^th fence, The Chair – not his fault, but it resulted in a crunching fall over the other horse. Then, getting up and running loose, Saint Are jumped and fell again

His trainer, Tom George, later tried to explain what happened: “I think he had slight concussion from the first incident which meant he didn't jump well loose. I saw him come past me and he was OK, but then he fell again and that isn't like him. I think he overheated a bit. The vets were quick to him and he had magnificent care.”

Even so, it was a worrying time for all watching, as well as those directly involved, especially when it was reported that Saint Are was being treated by the vets on the track, and then was not allowed home from the racecourse stables that night. Many feared the worst, and some social media sites even reported, wrongly, that the horse was dead.

Thank goodness they were mistaken, and Saint Are ate up his breakfast the next morning before being taken home to his Gloucestershire stable and being allowed out in his paddock, where he was soon enjoying a roll and a buck. 'Arnie', as he is known at home, was back! Tom George posted some lovely video shots of Arnie enjoying his turnout, and thanked all the people who had sent anxious messages and best wishes.

His trainer also announced the news that Saint Are, having run 13 times at Aintree with enormous credit and success, had sailed over those famous fences for the last time and his racing days were over. Tom George explained that the owners, David Fox and Lystra Adams, had decided it was time the horse had an easier life while he's still young and sound enough to enjoy a new career. “Their priorities have always been his well-being,” Tom George said of Saint Are's owners. “Thus they have taken the decision to let him enjoy an active retirement after a summer at grass here at Down Farm.”

Clearly 'Arnie' is a much-loved lad. Tom George said: “The most important thing is he is OK. He's been a great horse for us, and will have a well-deserved retirement now.” He added: “It is yet to be decided in which sphere, however he is sure to excel in whatever is chosen”

So Saint Are is now joining the ranks of ex-racehorses! It will be interesting to see in which direction his talents take him for his life-after-racing career.

                          Saint Are in his pomp, about to come 3rd in the 2017 Grand National

                           Now 'Arnie' heads for pastures new.....    

Grand National Winner Brings Smiles to Alder Hey

The Grand National was run at Aintree at the weekend, giving us yet another thrilling finish after a gruelling battle to the line between Tiger Roll, the tenacious but tiny winner, and the gallant close second, Pleasant Company. It was wonderful to watch as these brave elite athletes, equine and human, gave the race, and us, their absolute best. Even better, all horses and jockeys made it safely back home. Sometimes Grand National winners are retired on the spot, having achieved the pinnacle of prizes at the culmination of their careers – but Tiger Roll is only only eight years old, and Pleasant Company ten (his real birthday is today, 15^th April), so we'll no doubt be seeing more of them on the racecourse before they retire from racing and move on to their second careers.

It is unusual to have a photo finish like we had in this year's Grand National, but one did happen in 2012, when the race was won by the lovely grey, Neptune Collonges. He was then immediately retired and, now 17 years old, is well into his second life as an ex- racehorse. He started by trying his hand at showjumping, and is still happily going out on jollies doing showing and dressage with his doting owner Lisa Hales, as well as attending ex-racehorse parades around the country. And, as if to prove he is still a headline-grabbing star, he turned out again for a Personal Appearance at Alder Hey Children's Hospital the day before the Grand National.

Over the past 14 years it has become a tradition for the Grand National jockeys to visit sick children at Alder Hey the day before the big race. The jocks may be tough and brave, but they all say they find these visits very moving. The kids, on the other hand, seem to find it nothing but great fun. For many years an equine celebrity or two has gone along as well, former winners of the race, for a meet-and-greet with the young patients and staff outside the hospital doors. Since 2013 this has been Neptune Collonge's regular gig, though he has sometimes shared it with Amberleigh House, the National winner of 2004. Neptune – known as 'Nipper' at home - is perfect for the assignment – partly because he is grey and gorgeous, and mostly because he is so very quiet and kind, adores being patted and given mints, and is not at all bothered by excited, squealing children, or even by wheelchairs in his personal space. Who says ex-racehorses are skittish, nervy and unpredictable? Well, some may be; so are some cobs, and many ponies! But ex-racers can be as sweet, gentle and affectionate to humans as a well-loved old lapdog. And they can give the same pleasure and therapeutic benefits – just ask the children at Alder Hey Hospital !

Perhaps there might be a way to get the equine visitors indoors, and upstairs, to meet more patients, like with Patdogs....? Now there's a thought for second-career ex-racehorses!

   'Nipper' chats with folks at Alder Hey

 

Amberleigh House joined Nipper to entertain young patients in 2015

With thanks to Alder Hey Children's Hospital for the lovely photos

Ex-racehorses enjoy winter!

It's been a long, hard winter in the UK. As well as some serious blasts of Siberian cold, we've had never-ending rain that's making all the fields waterlogged and the farmers despair. Not that the ex-racehorses at the farm have been in the slightest bit bothered!

While we have all fought and sloshed our way through floods and mire and snowdrifts to tend to them every day, the horses have all been very happy and have never looked in any way troubled by the weather that was such a trial to us two-leggeds.

Even though they are former racehorses, used to a pampered existence, here at the farm our retirees are 're-trained' to tough it out a bit and live like normal horses again – which means a lot of being outdoors! It's becoming fashionable now for trainers to turn their horses-in-training out in the paddock after their work sessions, if only for an hour or two a day. And many racehorses are turned away to grazing for a few weeks in their holidays between race seasons. Even so, not many horses during their racing careers are asked to live out 24-7, unless they have some health or personality issue which means that is the only option. Once out in the 'civilian' horse world, though, ex-racers have to learn to rough it a bit and fit in with the lifestyle on normal livery yards, stud farms and private paddocks. So, after some phased roughing-off and acclimatizing, we like our ex-racers to live as naturally as possible, with the bulk of their time being spent out in the fields.

As usual, our boys and girls have spent most of their time this winter out in the fields, with constant big-bale hay as well as their bucket feeds to supplement the winter grass. They've been double-rugged (with a third on top during the very cold spells) and they've all kept dry and warm as toast the whole while. They had a whale of a time playing in the snow – the aim of the game seemingly to be to get as much snow as possible in your own and everyone else's mane and ears. They love rolling in the mud, too – the deeper and sloppier the better, with mud-holes of choice being dotted around the fields. Whether the rugs will ever be cleanable remains to be seen. The field shelters so thoughtfully (and expensively!) provided have mostly been shunned. Even when we put haylage inside, the horses prefer to eat with their back-ends standing outside in the rain.... I guess it's a horse thing. And when they are brought in to the stables in the yard – because we feel sorry for them out in the severe elements – they quickly eat their feed and then boot the stable doors indignantly until they are let out again. Yes, they're trying to tell us something! “We may be ex-racehorses and used to a gilded, luxurious lifestyle – but, hey! We're just regular kinda neds and we love being out and getting dirty.”

Great for them, but it's meant a lot of extra work for their humans. Keeping the water supply going has been a big headache, especially during the times when all the water pipes to the troughs were frozen up. Then it was a case of ferrying drums of tapwater from home, and lugging them across the snow to the troughs. And in the milder times, the mud and waterlogging has been a constant worry, especially regarding protecting the horses' legs and feet. Some people tried mud-boots, but they were a mixed blessing and came off eventually (some in the field, never to be seen again.) The same applied to shoes – even one newly-shod lad, who classes as an 'ex' but not a 'retired' racer, only kept his new shoes on for a fortnight. Some future metal-detector will find them no doubt.... Everyone has been fretting about mud-fever, and copious amounts of Vaseline and mud-guard creams have been applied, and so far all horses seem to have escaped that particular problem.

The other big worry has been how to let the boys and girls have the exercise they need, and enjoy, without them hurting themselves in the tricky underfoot conditions. Simple answer; whatever you do, however careful you try to be, it doesn't seem to make much difference. Three of the old boys – retired chasers, who spent ten years each in training in big yards and now throw a complete strop and nervous breakdown if asked to stay in overnight - spent many happy hours playfully galloping over the frozen mud and nothing ever went amiss. On the other hand Sal – a flat-bred mare with a doting Mum – was kept stabled during the worst of the weather. When she was later turned out, well duveted and booted-up, she rolled, raced round the paddock giddily for ten minutes, slipped on the mud and lamed herself. Back to the stable and box-rest....

The lesson seems to be, ex-racehorses may come to you as pampered TB wimps, but basically they are simply horses and soon come to happily enjoy simple horse pleasures – like rolling in mud and playing in snow and causing their humans anxiety-nightmares!

It's been a long, hard winter in the UK. As well as some serious blasts of Siberian cold, we've had never-ending rain that's making all the fields waterlogged and the farmers despair. Not that the ex-racehorses at the farm have been in the slightest bit bothered!

While we have all fought and sloshed our way through floods and mire and snowdrifts to tend to them every day, the horses have all been very happy and have never looked in any way troubled by the weather that was such a trial to us two-leggeds.

Even though they are former racehorses, used to a pampered existence, here at the farm our retirees are 're-trained' to tough it out a bit and live like normal horses again – which means a lot of being outdoors! It's becoming fashionable now for trainers to turn their horses-in-training out in the paddock after their work sessions, if only for an hour or two a day. And many racehorses are turned away to grazing for a few weeks in their holidays between race seasons. Even so, not many horses during their racing careers are asked to live out 24-7, unless they have some health or personality issue which means that is the only option. Once out in the 'civilian' horse world, though, ex-racers have to learn to rough it a bit and fit in with the lifestyle on normal livery yards, stud farms and private paddocks. So, after some phased roughing-off and acclimatizing, we like our ex-racers to live as naturally as possible, with the bulk of their time being spent out in the fields.

As usual, our boys and girls have spent most of their time this winter out in the fields, with constant big-bale hay as well as their bucket feeds to supplement the winter grass. They've been double-rugged (with a third on top during the very cold spells) and they've all kept dry and warm as toast the whole while. They had a whale of a time playing in the snow – the aim of the game seemingly to be to get as much snow as possible in your own and everyone else's mane and ears. They love rolling in the mud, too – the deeper and sloppier the better, with mud-holes of choice being dotted around the fields. Whether the rugs will ever be cleanable remains to be seen. The field shelters so thoughtfully (and expensively!) provided have mostly been shunned. Even when we put haylage inside, the horses prefer to eat with their back-ends standing outside in the rain.... I guess it's a horse thing. And when they are brought in to the stables in the yard – because we feel sorry for them out in the severe elements – they quickly eat their feed and then boot the stable doors indignantly until they are let out again. Yes, they're trying to tell us something! “We may be ex-racehorses and used to a gilded, luxurious lifestyle – but, hey! We're just regular kinda neds and we love being out and getting dirty.”

Great for them, but it's meant a lot of extra work for their humans. Keeping the water supply going has been a big headache, especially during the times when all the water pipes to the troughs were frozen up. Then it was a case of ferrying drums of tapwater from home, and lugging them across the snow to the troughs. And in the milder times, the mud and waterlogging has been a constant worry, especially regarding protecting the horses' legs and feet. Some people tried mud-boots, but they were a mixed blessing and came off eventually (some in the field, never to be seen again.) The same applied to shoes – even one newly-shod lad, who classes as an 'ex' but not a 'retired' racer, only kept his new shoes on for a fortnight. Some future metal-detector will find them no doubt.... Everyone has been fretting about mud-fever, and copious amounts of Vaseline and mud-guard creams have been applied, and so far all horses seem to have escaped that particular problem.

The other big worry has been how to let the boys and girls have the exercise they need, and enjoy, without them hurting themselves in the tricky underfoot conditions. Simple answer; whatever you do, however careful you try to be, it doesn't seem to make much difference. Three of the old boys – retired chasers, who spent ten years each in training in big yards and now throw a complete strop and nervous breakdown if asked to stay in overnight - spent many happy hours playfully galloping over the frozen mud and nothing ever went amiss. On the other hand Sal – a flat-bred mare with a doting Mum – was kept stabled during the worst of the weather. When she was later turned out, well duveted and booted-up, she rolled, raced round the paddock giddily for ten minutes, slipped on the mud and lamed herself. Back to the stable and box-rest....

The lesson seems to be, ex-racehorses may come to you as pampered TB wimps, but basically they are simply horses and soon come to happily enjoy simple horse pleasures – like rolling in mud and playing in snow and causing their humans anxiety-nightmares!

A brisk snow-roll before lunch...






Then hay-glacee for dessert....