‘Don’t overlook them’: novice proprietor of multi-talented thoroughbred sings ex-racehorses’ praises

The proprietor of a former racehorse who was “a bit ineffective” on the monitor however has accomplished Badminton grassroots thrice and excelled in showjumping, dressage and exhibiting has urged others to not low cost thoroughbreds.

Claire Lewis instructed H&H she had solely had “what I’d name regular using membership horses” earlier than Grasp Wickham got here into her life eight years in the past. She mentioned “Darsi” has shattered her earlier perceptions of former racehorses, and that he’s a “shining instance” of what they will obtain with novice riders.

Claire’s uncle was in a syndicate that owned Darsi throughout his racing profession.

“However he was a bit ineffective!” she mentioned. “Mockingly, he didn’t have a aggressive edge then, and didn’t wish to win a race. They retired him and needed him to have a second profession and I mentioned I’d have him. I took him on and I’ve had him ever since.”

Claire had not retrained a racehorse earlier than, and there have been challenges.

“He was described as ‘fairly sharp’ by the coach,” she mentioned. “He’s fairly opinionated and is aware of what he likes, they usually couldn’t maintain a jockey on him! However he actually enjoys leaping; that appears to be his completely satisfied place. I spent 18 months doing issues like poles and gridwork, and that appeared to show him round.”

Claire and Darsi gained 21 British Showjumping (BS) lessons final yr in addition to attaining sufficient placings to web them 497 factors. This meant they topped the BS/British Using Golf equipment bronze league for the yr. They’ve BS winnings in velocity lessons, topscores, accumulators and derby lessons, and have additionally had a aggressive eventing profession. They’ve competed within the Badminton BE100 closing thrice, leaping double clear twice and simply notching up 4 showjumping faults on one event, and have competed at one-star stage.

“I’d say he’s now an actual skilled horse,” Claire mentioned. “He doesn’t waste vitality or get labored up; he’s actually calm within the warm-up – as soon as somebody crashed into him and he did nothing – however as quickly as he will get within the ring, he’s on it. He’s an actual show-off and he loves a crowd. I can go as quick as I would like, or soar spherical Badminton, and once we end, he simply switches off.”

Claire added that the flexibility of the thoroughbred is well-known, however Darsi is excelling throughout disciplines, not simply collaborating.

“He’s gained almost £5,000 affiliated showjumping, and there’s the using golf equipment stuff,” she mentioned. “And dressage; he certified for the using membership dressage to music finals and gained a nationwide novice closing. I’d been attempting to qualify for Badminton for 20 years and now he’s completed it thrice, and he went to the Royal Worldwide Horse Present and jumped certainly one of solely three clears within the employees.

“The way in which I checked out ex-racehorses earlier than him; I’d by no means have thought a thoroughbred would ever do all this. I believe individuals overlook them. The variety of advertisements you see, from individuals desirous to do all this, that say ‘Completely no thoroughbreds’, however they will do all the pieces you need.

“This horse is a shining instance of what an ex-racehorse can obtain with an novice – don’t overlook them.”

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H&H information editor

Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Enthusiastic about equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all features of the trade, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of selection is showjumping, wherein she competes her personal horses, and he or she additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping exhibits via to worldwide championships.