Rescue horse finds unusual new vocation

A rescue horse is making waves in an unusual equestrian sport called horse boarding – which involves a horse and rider towing an off-road skateboarder at speeds of up to 35mph.

Weak and emaciated

Candy was found when she was a neglected 14-month-old foal. Her mother was so weak and emaciated she couldn’t stand, and during the early stages of her rehabilitation a sling was used to hold her up.

Thanks to the hard work and experience of the staff at World Horse Welfare both made a full recovery.

In 2012 Candy was rehomed to Rachel Simington, after a friend told her about the charity’s rehoming scheme.

Very honest

“Candy is different from any other horse I’ve ridden – she’s very honest and tries her very best to please,” Rachel said. “She’s so chilled out and sleeps a lot, even at shows with all the commotion going on around her, she just lies down and falls to sleep. I would never try to change her quirky ways because that’s Candy.”

Rachel soon discovered the mare, who is now seven years old, had a natural affinity to horse boarding. The sport involves the rider and boarder working together to control speed and acceleration. It started out as a bit of fun, but before long the pair were winning at top competition level.

Focus and think

“Candy, could barely even canter before we started boarding together, she just didn’t like doing it, which limited us when it came to activities like jumping and dressage,” says Rachel.

“With the boarding though, it’s different, because she has to focus and really think about turning and moving through obstacles with the boarder behind her, so she doesn’t worry about the cantering part.”

Achieve anything

Fancy trying out this new, exciting sport? World Horse Welfare holds ‘Have a Go’ sessions in conjunction withHorse Boarding UKat its Hall Farm rescue and rehoming centre in Norfolk on selected Sundays.

“You don’t need a certain type of horse to compete at this sport and has taught me, that with time and patience, anything can be achieved,” said Rachel. “After all, my horse is a rehomed rescue horse and now she is winning at top competition level, and to think, this all started out as just something fun to do with my horse.”

Check out a video of Candy in action here