Showjumping & Eventing
The Human Team
The Showjumpers
The Eventers
Retraining Racehorses
Showjumping News Allan Bloodlines in
association with Bernice Cuthbert provides an opportunity for owners who are
attached to their racehorses to ease them into a new life when it comes time to
retire from the racecourse. At Aston Park in Oxfordshire, a scheme has been put
in place whereby thoroughbreds are assessed for potential in those disciplines.
The list of retrained and rehabilitated - and very happy - thoroughbreds is
long.
Amongst Cuthbert s own thoroughbreds converted to
eventers, two have been considered for separate Olympics and a number of
others have been successfully ridden by such luminaries as Andrew Hoy and
Leslie Law. By such achievements are our standards set.
The TP Story
TONIGHT S PRIZE
( TP ) is an exemplary graduate at Aston Park. He is an
extraordinary horse.
Bred, raced, evented and showjumped by David
Allan, TP is by NIGHT SHIFT out of a SHIRLEY HEIGHTS close relative of SEATTLE
SLEW and SEATTLE DANCER. Born at Cleaboy Stud in Co. Westmeath then farmed by
the late Patrick Clarke, quirky wasn t the word. TP imagined that evils
lurked everywhere but patience did the trick and, once he got the hang of the
racecourse, there was no braver trier. Trained by Chris Wall and ridden more
often than not by Seb Sanders, TP won three times and placed on many occasions
in nearly thirty races over 8-10 furlongs.
A collision with a wall at
speed in Newmarket left more damage than was obvious at the time but he still
managed a resolute run in the John Smiths Cup at York on unsuitable ground,
emphasising real courage. When Allan retired him, he moved TP to rest at Aston
Park and eventually for an assessment there for alternative activities whilst
remaining in the family . Bernice Cuthbert was immediately excited
by what she saw. Eventing was going to be his game.
The efforts made
to help TP through residual back, neck and poll related problems, not to
mention the application of equine psychiatry, whilst changing his physique to
suit new disciplines were intense, continuous and dedicated. Gradually new
practices were accepted and more humans trusted but all the while, the
horse s willingness to try and keep trying and his undoubted intelligence
provided all the motivation that Cuthbert and her team needed to keep at it.
As TP progressed through eventing s lower levels, Allan asked
if he could be showjumped in the winter. Thus was the seed for
The Showjumpers sewn. Imagine the thrill
when this horse nearly won a Foxhunter and placed in a Newcomer s Derby,
and the even deeper satisfaction of him becoming the regular eventing ride for
two seasons of our double Olympic Silver Medallist Jeanette Brakewell. Now, it
is recent Under 21 champion Abigail Walters who rides him and together they
have attended a World Championship Training Camp.
After several years
of expert eventing training, dressage is no longer a mystery to TP. Showjumping
is fun and his Cross-Country is thrilling. With the occasional Novice or
Intermediate Novice to build confidence, Intermediate competition is his
present level and Advanced remains on the cards. |
TP and Abi at Gatcombe
TP and Jeanette
make light of Novice water
I can do this
I used to do this |
Other Allan Bloodlines Retrained Racehorses
SCHOLARSHIP was rated 91 at 2, finishing 2nd on his debut at Newbury to a
Coolmore blueblood now standing as a stallion in Kentucky. Never getting his
preferred soft ground again, SCHOLARSHIP strained a tendon and went to Aston
Park to recuperate. There he showed such aptitude that he could go far either
showjumping or eventing.
In contrast, multiple winning sprinter/miler
MR SPEAKER thought that kicking poles all over the landscape was the greatest
fun. He was prepared for happy hacking and local dressage which he enjoys
whilst living on a farm in Suffolk. Another similar unfocussed fellow
now rising 20 HASTY SPARK has the same sort of life in Devon whilst
sweet natured WHISTFUL, still only 5 and a fair sprinter on her day, has been
retrained at Aston park as a lovely ride for her racing owners in
Herefordshire. Amongst others is LOGIQUE, moderate on the track but having a
good life in dressage in Ireland with his owners after a year of retraining
body and mind at Aston Park. Just the sort of place that you d like to be
sent to if you were a retiring racehorse.
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