WRITTEN FOR STORY.WAIKATO
Retired racehorses are trading racetracks for ribbons in careers as sport horses, and they are dominating the competitive world.
Due to their natural athleticism and willingness to learn, retired racehorses have been used as sport horses for some time. The thoroughbred's ability to adapt to varying disciplines has signified a long-standing reputation as becoming the ideal equine athlete.
New Zealand's first organised sport, horse racing dates back to the thoroughbred's first arrival to our shores in the 1830s. Now, almost 200 years later the racing industry continues to thrive, with just fewer than 5000 horses racing during the 2017-18 season. Anatomically, the thoroughbred is built for speed and stamina, traits which are often sought after within the sport horse world, particularly eventing.
This, and their willingness to learn, helps make the thoroughbred one of the most agile, intelligent, and trainable breeds. New Zealand's equestrian scene is filled with retired racehorses who have become highly successful sport horses at a number of different disciplines, some up to Olympic level. In recent years, this includes World Cup winning show jumper 'Kappatack', former Auckland Cup winner turned two-star eventing horse 'Showcause' and 18-year-old 'Untouchable', who has won multiple New Zealand show hunter and working titles. And then there is equestrian legend Blyth Tait's thoroughbred 'Reddy Teddy', which represented New Zealand in three Olympic Games during the late 90s and early 2000s.
It's results such as these which prove thoroughbreds as highly versatile and capable of success in various disciplines. In recent years, it is events such as Dunstan Ex-Factor which has taken the thoroughbred's success to the next level.
Established by Gina Schick and Nicky Wallace, Dunstan Ex-Factor is a competition which helps to showcase the versatility and trainability of retired racehorses once their racing career is over. Held each year at Equidays in the Waikato's Mystery Creek Event Centre, the highly competitive event sees a number of hand selected equestrians and their ex-racehorses as they battle it out for the Dunstan Ex-Factor title.
Competitors range from professional full-time riders to amateur hobbyists, the youngest competitor being only 12-years-old. The catch is, every single horse competing in Dunstan
Ex Factor has only been retired for 12 months or less from racing.
Over the course of three days, each rider competes in varying disciplines, showcasing the versatility and trainability of the thoroughbred. These events, which alternate each year, have included dressage, show hunter, cowboy challenge, and even a 3- minute freestyle routine.
The one compulsory class for each competitor is the best presented and conditioned, where each horse must pass a trot up in front of judges and a vet in order to compete.
Held at Equidays, the event sees large crowds and a busy atmosphere compared to ordinary equestrian competitions, so the horses must be in top shape and form. The rider then has the option to select another three events to compete in out of a possible six, the total of which are accumulated to determine the winner.
This year's Ex-Factor winner was Miranda Horton on her 8 year old gelding 'Cuzzie Charlie' who is by Thewayyouare.
Now in its fifth consecutive year, Dunstan Ex-Factor's creators Schick and Wallace have been heavily involved in both the racing and sport horse worlds for a number of years. Together, they found New Zealand has a significant lack of competitions or opportunities which showcased ex-racehorses and their versatility as a breed. This inspired them to establish Beyond The Barriers, a non-profit organisation which helps to promote the thoroughbred's capability as successful sport horses due to their natural athleticism and willingness to learn.
“This competition was designed to show people what they [thoroughbreds] can do within a short period of time, and to help increase the demand for them.”
Over the years, the Dunstan Ex-Factor competition has seen a wide range of horses, some of which had prolific racing careers to those who never even made it to the races. Some of these more prolific competitors include New Zealand Derby winning horse Military Move and Group 1 winning horses Fritzy Boy and Sacred Star. There have even been past competitors who have still been racing while also competing in the event at the same time.
One of this year’s returning competitors Kelly Stevens discussed how Beyond The Barriers and their Ex-Factor competition helps to showcase thoroughbreds as an amazing breed.
"They have so much to offer, and the track career ending is usually the beginning of a really big career doing something else" -Kelly Stevens
New Zealand Throughbred Racing (NZTR) are great supporters of initiatives such as Beyond The Barriers and their Ex-Factor competition. The organisation understands how important it is to help promote the breed as sport horses once their racing career is over. Often, we associate the term ‘retired’ with elderly, but often retired racehorses can be as young as three.
NZTR wants to ensure that when these horses are rehomed and retired, they go on to the best possible life. In 2014, alongside Equestrian Sports New Zealand, NZTR created the ‘Thoroughbreds In Equestrian Sports’ intuitive, which aims to increase opportunities for thoroughbreds competing in equestrian sports. As well as Dunstan Ex-Factor, NZTR’s sister company LoveRacing NZ also sponsors and supports a number of other thoroughbred competitions held throughout the country.
NZTR’s general manager of welfare Martin Burns discussed at a public seminar held at this year’s Equidays what is being done within the racing industry to ensure thoroughbreds are getting the best possible treatment during and after their racing career.
Burns explained how peak performance and welfare are closely connected, and the industry works closely with equine professionals to ensure a high standard of welfare is maintained. Using scientific and veterinary research and assistance, NZTR can ensure treatments are ethical, legal and medically justifiable.This research is based upon the five domains of equine welfare and, by adopting this model, NZTR aims to reduce negative experiences and ensures thoroughbreds are well-treated.
In terms of welfare once their career is over, NZTR is introducing improved popularity traceability of thoroughbreds from birth to death. While thoroughbreds can be easily traced through their brands and microchips which are enlisted within the New Zealand studbook, these do not determine their fate once they have been rehomed. With improved traceability, an appointed person of each retired thoroughbred must provide retirement details to ensure they are being rehomed appropriately to knowledgeable and responsible homes.
“A thoroughbred should be provided a good life, with the care and conditions that will allow the horse to thrive and perform to its natural abilities, with minimal discomfort and an absence of suffering.” -NZTR
As well as establishing the initiative that is Dunstan Ex-Factor, Beyond The Barriers creator Gina Schick also established EventStars, a business which retrains and rehomes retired racehorses.
Based in the Waikato, EventStars was established to assist with the overflow of retired racehorses urgently seeking homes, and they have sold thousands of horses. There are many trainers within New Zealand who greatly support the initiative of rehoming their racehorses, and many continue to follow their progress as sport horses.
In some instances, the process of rehoming can be a grueling decision as they are often vital members of the family, but witnessing them go on to pursue a new career can be greatly rewarding. Cambridge trainer Andrew Campbell has rehomed a number of his retired racehorses over the years to pursue careers as sport horses, including through EventStars. One of these horses he rehomed known as Cossastock even competed in this year’s Dunstan Ex-Factor competition. Campbell ensures that he aims to re home all his retired racehorses in the future as he has done in the past.
Thoroughbreds have proven for many decades that they are a truly versatile breed with the ability to adapt to many different disciplines throughout the sport horse world. Although they are built and breed to race, these same anatomical traits often makes them hard to beat as sport horses and the results prove this.
It is events such as Dunstan Ex-Factor which give riders the opportunity to showcase the versatility and trainability of the thoroughbred. With support from the racing community, New Zealand thoroughbreds are able to gain a second chance at a new career once their racing days are over. This ensures that these thoroughbreds, no matter how little or well they performed on the track, are given a second chance at life after racing.
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