EX-RACEHORSES Following the success stories of horses after racing

RIDING TO RACEHORSES

SUCCESS STORIES

SARAH SANDS FROM TREO EILE HIGHLIGHTS SOME EX-RACEHORSES WHO HAVE MADE THE TRANSITION FROM THE RACE TRACK TO THE SHOWING ARENA

Mossbank

Mossbank was bred in Co Down by William McGladdery. He came to Sarah Sands approx 10 years ago after the loss of an exceptional ex-racer we had called Ledsome Lad. Mossbank is better known as Gums, he is owned by Gigginstown House Stud and was trained in Limerick by Michael Hourigan. He was stabled in the number 2 box to Beef Or Salmon and was once considered to be the young pretender until as favourite an accident at the starting post caused him to finish third under a Stewards’ enquiry. He was out of training for approx one and a half years and though he did race again he never reclaimed his best form and rating of 170. His racing career saw him start 26 times and to have 11 placings with his most notable win being the Munster National. Since coming to us he has been ridden and retrained by Chloe Thompson who has been very successful in the show ring with him. He has won a number of ex-racehorse classes and will happily take the top ribbons in Show Hunter classes too, his most recent finish was Reserve Champion at Balmoral. Mossbank would also compete in XC, Derbys and Dressage. Mossbank is now 21 and hacks out at home as a school master with some youngstock. He is now semi-retired but we will continue to show him on occasion as long as his health and fitness stays with him.

Whydah

Sarah Wardell has represented Ireland eventing at World championships and European championships and was reserve for two Olympic Games. Having completed Badminton and Burghley on a number of occasions, her love of thoroughbreds started with her first horse who began in the Pony Club and reached 4 Star level eventing. Her latest thoroughbred, Whydah, was trained by Jessica Harrington for three seasons for owner, Geoffrey Ruddock. By Black Sam Bellamy he has been hunted and gently reschooled, and has now completed four competitions with Eventing Ireland. He has been a pleasure to retrain and a really lovely character to have around the yard. His next appearance will be at the Treo Eile Pro-Celebrity Show Jumping in December.

Getadate

Hailing from an Aga Khan family background, Gatadate (by Getaway) ran twice in two Pointto-Point races. However, he hasn’t looked back since and reached a pinnacle this year as an 8YO with Michael Boyd aboard, placing third in the medium class at the National Championships against some of the country’s best dressage horses. “This little horse always tries his heart out, he was up against the best horses at his level and finished in a fantastic third place and also won a rug and rosette from Treo Eile in recognition of his success.” Getadate has been consistently placed at regional and national competitions from Preliminary level up to Advanced Medium level. Over the winter, Michael, based at the Narrow Water Equestrian Centre in Newry, plans to have him more established at Advanced Medium and also do some show jumping as he enjoys that too.

CLEBOURNE

Clebourne is a Flat-bred 6yo by Camacho. Trained by Darren Bunyan for Mrs Ciara Carty as a 2YO, he then transferred to Brian Bunyan and got off the mark winning a Dundalk maiden as a 3YO, achieving a best rating of 61. Unable to repeat his performance in the following seasons, it was decided his work partner, Liam Hayes, would take him for retraining. He was a lovely model and moved well so an ideal candidate for junior eventing. Liam and his talented family at the Curragh Rehabilitation Centre nurtured his flatwork over a few months during Lockdown. He then showed a liking and an aptitude for jumping and is currently schooling over poles for the winter before starting his eventing career in 2022.