All Aboard the Racehorse

Send us Fan Mail Timelines and former racehorses-how long is a piece of string and what to expect when?  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we dive into, what may be perceived as ‘common former racehorse aliments’ from a veterinary perspective; ulcers, kissing spine, lameness and colic.    How can we manage them? How do we need to look at a whole horse approach and how that evens when you have times of ‘everything is going wrong’ how you approach those times, keep the hope alive and how you develop a m...

Send us Fan Mail What Can I Feed to build top line in my Ex racehorse? Unfortunately, eating chocolate bars does not mean we get a six pack- so why do we feel the same is true of our former racehorses? Dengie webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8n2672vLhM Support the show

Send us Fan Mail THIS IS A MUST LISTEN!!!! Do you ever feel like you struggle to communicate or understand your ex racehorse? Whether this is from the floor, or under saddle? I met Tik at the Retired Racehorse makeover Project in 2015, where he won the freestyle section aboard Mr Pleasantree. I was blown away with how Tik not only had. Great bond with Mr Pleasantree, but how he had gone through th...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever feel like giving up? Someone could do this far better than you? Why am I investing so much time and emotion into something that seems to be going no where? Or that you dont feel safe? WE HAVE ALL BEEN THERE,  (we also visit 'that place' on a regular basis...) but what are the steps/what can we do to be able to 'get to the other side' whilst not bank...

Send us Fan Mail Jessica Westwood knew by the age of 8 years old that she wanted to ride racehorses. Her biggest dream was to ride in the Grand National. Sadly, injury meant that her Grand National dream didn’t come to fruition; however, what has blossomed out of this is a yard and life that is dedicated to the ‘full circle’ of the racehorse. From foals, to pre training, rehab and re training Jess...

Send us Fan Mail Across social media groups I always see the question of; ‘My ex racehorse keeps pulling off Shoes-any advice?’ Followed up with comments of; ‘Take them off”…… I am not anti barefoot, I am also not anti ‘shoe’, but I am PRO HORSE Here at team TB we have every type of foot/shoeing/style going; barefoot, shod in front, shod all round, leather pads, aluminium shoes, racing plates, gra...

Send us Fan Mail Emily is a dressage rider and has represented Ireland at the European Championships at Pony, Junior and YR level and now competes at small tour level on her current top (warmblood) horse. She was given the opportunity to help school the horses at Henry de Bromhead yard and started working with A Plus Tard (winner of £957,000 on the track and winner of the Gold Cup, 23 runs, 8 wins...

Send us Fan Mail Here we go.......So I was posed a question during a yard visit during National Racehorse Week if Retraining was a made up role?  This stopped me a little in my tracks and made me slightly question not only what I do, but also if they had a point. I this episode I try to have a look at both sides of the argument surrounding this question and why, retraining is FUNDAMENTAL to the he...

Send us Fan Mail Why does retraining feel so bl***y hard at times? Retraining Racehorses can have its up’s and downs, and can make us questioning both our sanity and our bank balances. It’s very easy to put the face forward of ‘but it’s so rewarding’ (which it is by the way) but what about the times when we feel like giving up is the better/easier answer?  “Over the Rails’ podcasts delve into some...

Send us Fan Mail Hannah's first words to me when I asked her to record on the podcast was 'are you sure, I am no one competing at intro level'.......I bumped into Hannah on several occasions within a 24 hour period whilst at Aintree champs. I had no idea who she was, what classes she was competing in, or her journey. What I did love was how she approached working and handling her ho...

Send us Fan Mail RoR Champs have just been and gone. In part one of our two episodes dedicated to the RoR Champs Sophie and I have a general catch up.  These championships are amazing, but also can be quite daunting for not only people, but the horses as well. Situated at Aintree Racecourse (home of the Grand National) these championships span 6 days and have classes in; dressage, showjumping, are...

Send us Fan Mail Lady Buttons, better known by some as "Queen of the North' became a household name during her racing career, from 33 starts she had 15 wins and the community of people that she had following and supporting her was phenomenal. The colours of purple and white would be seen at every racecourse she attended with her fan base extending far and wide. Post racing Buttons found...

Send us Fan Mail We hit the ground running in this episode! Lottie is an amateur rider, who took on a ex racehorse as she ‘liked the look of what she saw on social media posts.’ Her story and journey with Bonner is something that I think we can ALL relate to at various stages and I LOVE how Lottie explains how she and Bonner navigated and are still navigating their way through their re training jo...

Send us Fan Mail Kerry is Full time groom and Head travelling girl for Roger Varian. One of Kerrys highlights for 2024 is leading up Elmalka, who went onto win the 1000 Guineas this year.  Kerry talks to us about riding out, what its like to work in racing as a work rider, how horses are prepared and looked after on race day and the ups and downs that come with working with horses and how you ment...

Send us Fan Mail Richard is a Cheltenham Festival and Listed Flat winning trainer with over 30 years experience of training racehorses to the highest level, both over jumps and on the Flat. With the well-being of our horses at the heart of everything we do, Richard and his team offer a unique, professional, friendly service to all our owners and are proud of giving every horse bespoke care and att...

Send us Fan Mail Smad Place won £493,976 in prize money across his eight seasons running over hurdles/chaser for trainer Alan King. While racing he won nine of his 37 starts and retired due to injury.  Following his retirement in 2018 he found Sarah Haydon to become his new partner in his second career. Sarah combines being a mum, wife and horse owner whilst also working full time.  In this conver...

Send us Fan Mail Claire Taylor is the Managing Director of EBN. EBN is one of Europe’s largest online Bloodstock publications with a daily worldwide readership of 10,000+ in addition to thousands of hard copies being distributed daily at all the European Thoroughbred Sales. This episode isnt about Bloodstock, or breeding, it is SO MUCH MORE. We talk about how European and American racing looks, va...

Send us Fan Mail Shoeing (or not to shoe) the ex racehorse is one of, probably, our biggest, potential, frustrations and headaches when it comes to owning our former stars of the track. It seems that, at times, we cant do right from wrong.  In this conversation we talk about shoeing vs barefoot, when to X-ray, what the ‘timeline’ of developing your ex racehorses feet from racehorse to sport horse...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we talk to one of the yard instructors and manager of the horses at the British Racing School.  The British Racing School, in Newmarket UK, is home to 70 ex racehorses who teach people to not only ride, but also a lot about themselves as people and give these people access to various career paths within the equine industry as well as the arcing industry.  Lydia and...

Send us Fan Mail We all know about the love and heritage for the Racehorse in Ireland, but what does the ‘retraining scene’ look like across the water? Louise Duffy is an amateur event rider, and has the honour to be considered for horses from trainer Willie Mullins. Louise is probably more recently known for having Dual Gold Cup winner, Al Boum Photo, but her relationship with ex racehorses and t...

Send us Fan Mail Denman, Silviniaco Conti, Saphir Du Rheu, Ulck Du Lin and Cyrname all have two things in common; their trainer, Paul Nicholls and their rider past the post, Charlotte Alexander. The company that these horses have raced in is stuff of HEROS; Altior, Kauto Star, Thistlecrack, Cue Card, Rule the World, Coneygree, Menorah, The Giant Bolster, Mad Moose, Tea for two,  Native River, One...

Send us Fan Mail Rebecca Court is a Showing Rider and has much success on her former racehorses. Aboard Beware Chalk Pit they took the SEIB Racehorse to riding horse Crown at HOYS in 2017, before being crown RoR Horse of the Year. Her other stars are: Desert Joe, Saint Are (winner of £495,195 on the track, 5 time Grand National runner) and now on Festive Fare (trained by Charlie Appleby and part o...

Send us Fan Mail Joe Grimwade is one of the most noted people in the Thoroughbred Breeding industry. His former professional roles include: Broodmare Manager - Whitsbury Manor Stud; Stud Manager at The National Stud, Stud Director at Carisbrook Stud; RoR Yard Manager at Palace House (the National Horseracing Museum).  One of his most coveted positions was Stud Manager at the Royal Studs at  Sandin...

Send us Fan Mail So first up, someone who needs absolutely no introduction- Bob Champion CBE Whilst probably most famously known for his win of the Grand National aboard Aldaniti in 1981, which was then made into the film ‘Champions) (which I have watched COUNTLESS times) Bob came third in the 1977/78 jockeys’ championship riding 56 winners. His first significant success came when he won the 1978...