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We are delighted to follow Ouzbeck, a winner ten time over hurdles and fences (!), new career with the brilliant rehoming Charity Greatwood, as he leads a new pilot run by Racing Together where former racehorses will be be visiting care home residents.  We couldn’t be prouder of him as well as seeing him looking so happy and well.  Great job Ouzbeck!

Charity pilot to introduce former racehorse Ouzbeck to Care Home Residents

Racing charities Greatwood and Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) are working with the Racing Together team to deliver a pilot programme at a care home in Marlborough, Wiltshire.  Greatwood was the first charity to use former racehorses to educate children, young people and adults with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

Coinciding with the inaugural National Racehorse Week (12^th– 19^th September), Greatwood is now revisiting its original concept of developing and measuring the benefits of introducing former racehorses to the residents of care homes. The six-week pilot programme, working alongside both RoR and the sport’s community partnership, Racing Together began on 2^nd September.

Emotional wellbeing, mindfulness and inclusion are at the heart of all Greatwood’s programmes. This pilot aims to explore and measure the impact on, and the benefit to physical and mental health of the residents in the care home, and to use these findings to build and promote wider support.

Helen Yeadon, Founder and MD of Greatwood Charity, said: “Following a successful career on the racecourse, Ouzbeck embraces his new path in helping children and young people at Greatwood, and he is enjoying venturing further afield and improving lives within the older community.”

This pilot aims to celebrate the racehorse, showcase their versatility and provide another way to connect horseracing with its communities and to the public nationwide. Once evaluated, it is hoped that the programme will be extended to connect more former racehorses with community groups.

Lucy Gurney, Community Engagement Manager for Racing Together, added: “The horse-human bond is unique to racing as a large spectator sport, and equine-assisted intervention is a field that is going from strength-to-strength. We are delighted to be growing the knowledge-base in this area alongside RoR and Greatwood.

“The pilot focuses on a key area of Racing Together’s strategy. We are so pleased to be providing our support, and to be exploring how former racehorses can help people.”

The visits enable the residents to interact with Ouzbeck in a way that suits them, by watching and stroking him, by grooming him and chatting to the Greatwood team. The visits take place across six mornings, where residents can come out to see him in small groups, assisted by care home and Greatwood staff to make the most from his time spent on the lawn in front of their home.

The Care Home team said: “We are very excited about being involved – both residents and staff. The residents will be talking about Ouzbeck’s visit all week. One lady is really excited, having been involved in racing. It is a great confidence boost after Covid and a huge boost for all of us.”

Boomarang was retired from racing in 2019 and is now enjoying his second career with Emily Louisa Bakes.  She says:

I got Boomarang following the loss of my old ex-racehorse. He’s an absolute sweetheart with manners to die for! We’ve only just started his retraining giving him some time “to chill”. He’s proving to show a real can do attitude and tries his hardest at everything asked of him.  I couldn’t be prouder to own him ❤️

Fortunate George was owned by The George Inn Syndicate, who enjoyed some wonderful success’s and days on the racecourse with him.

He recently retired from racing but everyone still love visiting George at home with his new owner Juanita, and he especially enjoys all the carrots and polos he receives!

The past few months George has loved learning dressage and jumping with Juanita, coming fifth at his first competition – go George! The pair of them hope to compete at Eventing but they’re also very happy enjoying each other with George also being rather talented at posing!

Smarter was rehomed with Molly King earlier this year.  Molly was a rider here for several seasons and formed a particularly special bond with Smarter.  When Molly moved onto pastures new, Smarter’s owner kindly agreed that he could also go with Molly!

Smarter seems very happy learning all his new talents – particularly jumping and hacking with Vixen the Jack Russell!

Dollnamix and Lisa have always been inseparable, with Lisa riding him on the yard nearly every day, and also taking him to the races.

After winning over hurdles Dolly was retired by his owners this year, and Lisa was obviously the first in line to have him.

As you can see they both seem very happy with their situation!

Reelingintheyears (Arbie) left us in 2018 and was re-homed by Rachel Sharp.   Together they are having a lovely time as pictured here during their first dresssage competition, where they warmed up beside Olympic event rider Alex Hua Tian, so they really are rubbing shoulders with some the very best!   Don’t they look a happy couple.

The fabulous Junction Fourteen left us last season and is now very happy with his new owner Tilly Knowles. Tilly tell us:

Junction has been brilliant learning his new job whipping in for the Tedworth hounds. He’s a gentlemen with the hounds and is happy going off in front or staying behind. He also has regular flat work lessons and enjoys flying round fun rides and hunter trials. 

Junction recently competed at the Barbury Horse Trials (July 2021), finishing third in the racehorse challenge and also winning a combine training class at West Wilts – very impressive Junction! 

Parish Business was re-homed in 2017 to the Royal Artillery Saddle Club at Lark Hill, and subsequently Monique Hurrell took him on and fell so in love – she bought him! Clearly they are having a smashing time and look rather good over a fence together!

At the ripe age of 27 Banjo Hill is now enjoying a full retirement with Sam Clark.  But, here is in showing days (above) cutting a serious dash! He also was a smashing racehorse winning six times under rules.

This photo tells a thousand words – that Fix It Right and Danielle Bailey are very happy together!

Danielle has had this chap for four years now and don’t they look good together.  He was another very successful syndicate horse we trained up until 2015.