Horse’s age

DRESSAGE - SAINT GREGOIRE - ridden by Louise Robson

11-year-old gelding by Le Havre Formerly trained by Saeed bin Suroor Breeder: S A Franklin Finance

Dressage is the most popular discipline for former racehorses and there is an extensive RoR programme that caters for every level, from grass roots to elite. More thoroughbreds now do dressage each year than run in steeple chases under rules. Representing dressage in the parade is Saint Gregoire. Originally trained and raced in France, where we won six times, he came to Louise Robson via the Godolphin Rehoming Programme. Louise says he has a natural talent for ‘dressage flare’ and ‘dance’ and enjoys doing dressage to music classes the most. He recently finished third at The Jockey Club RoR National Championships at Aintree in the Novice class and Louise says: “Saint Gregoire shows real potential for the higher levels of dressage, and I am really excited to see how far up the levels he will go. He is qualified for the British Dressage associate championships and Winter Regionals 2023 at Elementary level and will soon step up-to Medium level dressage.”

ENDURANCE - ART MAURESQUE - ridden by Hayley Gilmore

12-year-old gelding by Policy Maker Formerly trained by Paul Nicholls Breeder: Michel Parreau-Delhote

Endurance riding is competitive long-distance riding, often across stunning countryside, and several former racehorses find their niche doing it. Distances vary from the entry level of 16km right through to elite level where horses will do a 160km in a day. Art Mauresque enjoyed a successful NH career, winning nine races under rules, before being retired in December 2020, after which Hayley Gilmore took him on. Initially, Hayley and Art Mauresque did a bit of everything, including show jumping and cross-country, but it soon became apparent that endurance is what he loved, so they started on their endurance adventure. He qualified for the National Novice Championships in Lincolnshire and for the team RoR endurance championships in Wales. Hayley says: “Art Mauresque has really taken to endurance, and he enjoys going to new places. Next year our plan is to increase our distance and move up to open and maybe advanced, I am very much looking forward to that with this special horse.”

EVENTING - MOUNT CONERO - Ridden by Hetty Keyes

14-year-old gelding by Fruits of Love Formerly trained by Mrs S J Stearn Breeder: Paddy Walsh

Comprising three different disciplines, dressage, show jumping and cross-country, eventing is a demanding discipline, but one at which many former racehorses thrive, including at Olympic level. Mount Conero was family owned and trained for a somewhat undistinguished point-to-point career. Retired aged nine, owner Penny Stearn decided to give her daughter Hetty the opportunity to see what Mount Conero could achieve in an alternative career. Mount Conero quickly showed an aptitude for eventing and took to cross-country like a duck to water. He has competed at BE90 and 100 and has been placed nearly every time, with a highlight being third in the RoR Eventing Championships at Tweseldown. To date he has competed at 19 BE events and numerous unaffiliated events and has never had a fault cross-country. Hetty says, “Mount Conero really is a horse of a lifetime and he holds a special place in all our hearts.”