RoR pilot scheme sees first horse rehomed

A former racehorse has been rehomed and given a new career, thanks to a new alliance between WorldHorseWelfare and Retraining of Racehorses (RoR).

Pilot scheme

Wold’s Agent (Ollie) is the first ex-racehorse to complete the pilot scheme run by the two charities.

Ollie had a short racing career, running just five times before he was sold on for retraining. Unfortunately, due to an injury his owner became unable to care for him, so Ollie joined theWorldHorseWelfare RoR scheme in January.

Within a few months the thoroughbred was taking part in low-level dressage competitions and always in the ribbons.

When Ollie was ready to join the rehoming scheme he received a lot of interest, but Rachel Clay was deemed the perfect candidate.

Dressage career

A secretary at RossdalesEquine Hospital in Suffolk, Rachel has been riding for 30 years, but since becoming a mum took a break from competing.

“Now the children are older I was keen to find ahorsewhich would help me get back into competing and rehoming seemed like the ideal solution,” she said.

“Ollie has settled into his new home with us beautifully and it is clear that he has been impeccably schooled during his time atWorldHorseWelfare. I’m really excited for us to start our dressage career together.”

Expert care

The pilot scheme, which is funded byRoR, is run in addition to WorldHorseWelfare’s existing rescue and rehoming operations. To help with the task of retraining the ex-racehorses a specialist groom has been employed.

Emma Sawyers, who previously worked at the Darley Racehorse Rehoming and Retraining Centre, now retrains thehorseson theRoRpilot scheme at Hall Farm in Norfolk.

RoRchief executive Di Arbuthnot is “very pleased” with the success of the pilot scheme so far.

“We are delighted that Ollie has been found a new home following his spell under the expert care ofWorldHorseWelfare and we hope the pilot scheme will evolve into a longstanding alliance and working relationship,”she said.