Racehorses to Riding Horses
2007 Champions
Commentators Notes
Combined Discipline Winner
Don’t Tell Rosey
7 year old, bay gelding, by Barrathea out of Patsy Western.
Owned by Mrs Susan Avagnano and ridden by Fiona Avagnano, of Faringdon, Oxon.
• Don’t Tell Rosey, known as “Gummy”, won once and was placed 4 times in 15 runs during his racing career in training with Michael Blanshard, but suffered a career ending fractured pelvis. Susan bought him for very little and started his recuperation, slowly bringing the horse back to work after a prolonged rest.
• Susan’s daughter, Fiona, produced the horse and, having won this prize previously with another horse, aimed for it again in 2006 with Gummy. Unfortunately, the horse suffered a further setback when a bone infection in the hock necessitated an operation but after another long recouperation with a slow return to work, he was able to attend his first competition in January 2007. Initially competing in showing classes, they moved on to jumping in the spring and have competed regularly throughout the season in unaffiliated show jumping and novice cross country as well as working hunter and riding horse show classes.
• Fiona says that Gummy is able to do anything at all. They stay in contact with his racing connections and they are all delighted that so much has been achieved with a horse that was so badly injured.
Affiliated Endurance Winner
Maiden Ray
11year old, bay mare, by Gildoran, out of Croix Val Mere.
Owned and ridden by Karen Whittington of Chale, Isle of Wight
• Maiden Ray, known as Mary to her friends, was bred and trained by Harriet Gosling and ran in point to points ridden by Andrew Sampson. Without success, she was sold at Ascot and Karen purchased her in October 2002.
• She really took to her new career as an endurance horse, showing natural ability and going from strength to strength. By the end of 2003, Mary had gained 10th place in the National EGB Novice Award out of around 300 horses, and 2nd in the South East region. In 2004 they progressed to Intermediate level and finished in the top ten nationally, moving up to 8th place nationally in 2005. 2006 was their best year yet, with several grade 1 and 2 finishes, representing the South East group in several team events and being selected for the England team for the Home International in August. During 2007, Karen suffered a back injury and was unable to compete for part of the year, but later in the season they soon caught up. The highlight was becoming the fastest horse on the Lindon Spirit 100km race ride as part of the South East team. Karen says it was a real race all the way, but with 4km to go Mary took the lead, and with the finish on Market Rasen racecourse, she won by 4 lengths in true racehorse style. They have also received a Bronze award for completing 180km, taking them over 2,000 km distance covered during competitions.
• Karen says Mary is very easy and laid back and happily lives in a corral at events. When the lorry broke down on the way to Market Rasen, she stood quietly on the lorry while it was loaded onto a low loader. She really enjoys the racing finish but during long distance rides she stays interested and attentive.
Affiliated Showing Winner
Blue Streak
10 year old, chestnut gelding, by Blue Bird out of Fleet Amour.
Owned and ridden by Miss Joey Ellis of Bungay, Suffolk.
• Having looked after this horse when he was in training, and ridden him in the Diamond Handicap Ladies race at Ascot in 2001, Joey was able to buy him after a claiming race at Plumpton in October 2004. He remained in training with Kevin Bell and Joey rode him in several races under rules. Blue Streak won 4 of his 63 starts and was placed in a further 10 races.
• He retired from racing in 2006 and Joey decided to try showing, winning his first outing at a local show in August of that year. 2007 was his first season showing at County level and he stood Supreme Champion Ex-Racehorse at the Royal London Show and was Ex-Racers Champion of Champions.
• Joey says he has a fantastic temperament and has really taken to his new career, winning 12 times from 16 outings. Their ambition is to get to the Horse of the Year Show.
Affiliated Dressage Winner
Kings Piper
15 year old, bay gelding, by NIckel King out of Lady Cynthia.
Owned and ridden by Miss Liz Harcombe of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
• Kings Piper was given to Liz 3 years ago after a point to point career notable only for its lack of success. He went to the Suffolk Hunt as a hunt horse but was regarded as too timid for the job so Liz took him on.
• After 2 years of re-schooling, they won this prize in 2005, and since then they have continued to move on up the grades and are now well established at Medium level. He consistently gains good marks, winning the East Anglian Dressage Championships at Elementary and Medium levels and has qualified for the Elementary Winter Regional Finals.
• Known at home as “Gawky”, he is still spooky and flying changes remain a bit of a mystery to him, but Liz says it is amazing what fun a 15 year old thoroughbred can bring, especially when occasionally upstaging his more illustrious dressage warmblood cousins on the yard.
Affiliated Show Jumping Winner
Cool Mandy
16 year old, bay mare, by Buzzards Bay out of Petite Mandy.
Owned and ridden by Miss Jodene Tarling of Leominster, Herefordshire.
• Jodene has known Cool Mandy since she was a foal, as she was bred and trained locally by Richard Price. After a spell point to pointing, Cool Mandy came up for sale and Jodene was able to buy her 5 years ago.
• At first steering was a problem as she only knew how to go in straight lines, and fast canter was her only speed. Having worked on this, they discovered a talent for show jumping. She became British Unaffiliated Champion in 2005 and won the Trailblazers ex-racehorse class. In 2007 they won the 1.05m qualifier and were placed in the finals at the Scope festival and were placed in the 1.05m final at the Welsh Masters, being one of only 9 double clears. They won the Amateur Championships Grand Prix at Arena UK and held the lead in the class to win a Car for over 2 hours, eventually finishing 4th.
• Jodene says she is extremely careful and can now turn on a sixpence, although she still will not be interfered with going into a fence. She never stops or hits a fence, and now that she has figured out how to turn, she is unbeatable against the clock.
• Cool Mandy originally had very poor feet and was given 2 months will shoes off for her feet to improve. Jodene noticed that her movement improved and she became freer in her shoulders, so decided to leave the shoes off. She now competes with no shoes, usually aiming for classes held on all weather surfaces, but when she hacks out on the road she wears red socks and “trainers”!
Affiliated Eventing Winner
Native Caption
12 year old, bay gelding, by Be My Native out of Hard Lady.
Owned and ridden by Miss Karen Harrison of Heath End, Cheshire.
• Native Caption was the second to last lot on the last day of the Doncaster Sales and, having been outbid on everything else, the Harrison’s bought him as a 7 year old. He had been in training with Tom Tate but clearly had no taste for racing, finishing once from 4 starts over hurdles.
• The Harrison family brought him on to do a bit of everything, and then go eventing. During 2007, his third season eventing, he won at Solihul, Somerford Park and Kelsall Hill Horse Trials. He was never out of the placings and finished on his dressage score every time in 11 outings, competing at Intro and PN level. He has won the British Eventing points award for the North West and is BE leading overall horse in the area.
• Karen says he has a fantastic temperament and anyone on the yard can hack him out. He is a very honest and uncomplicated horse and snaffle mouthed, but he does like to play in the field.
