Racehorse to Riding Horse?
A Plus Tard with Emily Kate Robinson
We love to see our horses go on to new pastures so we work with Treo Eile to do this.
Treo Eile assists owners to rehome and retrain horses once their racetrack careers are complete. Their website allows parties to connect and match horses to homes where they can retrain for new disciplines.
Treo Eile is a not-for-profit organisation. The aim is to increase the retraining of ex-racehorses, once their racetrack careers are concluded. Their goals are threefold:
CONNECT > racehorse owners with retrainers/new owners
SUPPORT > ex-racehorses with a prize-based thoroughbred event program
PROMOTE > the versatility of the ex-racehorse and their sucessful stories
Emily Kate Robinson and A Plus Tard's achievements:
• Won at Dressage Ireland regional shows
• Won Racehorse to Riding horse showing classes
• 5th at the National Dressage Championships in the preliminary category 3
• Reserve champion at Balmoral show
• Reserve champion at the Treo Eile showing series final (novice)
• Reserve champion racehorse to riding horse of the year at the showing Ireland points awards.
Jane Davis & Tiffany's Gold who won the Treo Elle Final in 2024
Where are they now?
We are happy to report that the following horses have progressed to the following pursuits:
BENRUBEN - now ridden by Katie Vickers 5th in Tattersalls Ireland Showing Pathway Series Qualifier at Clonmel Show (Open), 2nd: Racehorse to Riding Horse class at Rathdowney Show
COLD WAR - now ridden by Orlagh Halliday - competes at EI110 level Eventing Ireland
BALKO DES FLOS (FR) now ridden by Kate Molony 3rd in the Open section of the Tattersalls Ireland Showing Pathway Series Qualifier 2023 at Clonmel Show.
HIT THE TAR (GB) now ridden by Vinny Phelan Winner Open Tattersalls Ireland Showing Pathway Series Qualifier 2023 at Sceilig EC, 3rd Open Tattersalls Ireland Showing Pathway Series Qualifier 2023 at Glandoran
TIFFANYS GOLD (FR) now ridden by Jane Davis - Winner of the Open Final of the Tattersalls Ireland Showing Pathway Series 2024, Second in the Novice Final of the Tattersalls Ireland Showing Pathway Series 2023
MILLINER (IRE) - now ridden by Phillipa Scott Winner of the Open Final of the Tattersalls Ireland Showing Pathway Series 2023. Champion Racehorse to Riding Horse at Athenry Show 2023.
Cappucimix is now a very Happy Hacker in Country Mayo.
A PLUS TARD is enjoying Dressage and Showing with Emily Kate Robinson (see below)
MOON OVER CLADDAGH is also becoming a Dressage & Showing Diva and will compete at the RDS Racehorse to Riding Horse class this year.
MONALEE has also been happily re homed.
Nicki Russell and Sizing Australia's story
I acquired Sizing Australia after he finished a long and successful career in National Hunt racing. He won the 2011 Glenfarclas XC race at the Cheltenham Festival and won many Punchestown festival XC races. I had ridden him many times up the gallop and on flatwork sessions in Henry’s yard and was then gifted him when his career finished at 14.
He took to showing well only ever out of the ribbons twice, both being at the RDS show. In 2017 he was Reserve Supreme Champion in the RH2RH Championship in Iverk. In 2018 he won Balmoral racehorse to riding horse class amongst many other wins. In 2019 he was Supreme of Show at The Show of the East. He then went on to come 3rd in the riding horse class in the RDS and also won the Racehorse class that year. He then travelled to the ROR championships in Aintree and came 7th in the Veteran championship. Currently aged 19, Sizing Australia will do some Dressage Ireland this year. He is as fit as ever which can be credited to the treatment he got whilst racing and came to me very sound and fit for another career.
Here is a link to a fun interview with Noel Meade and Rachael Blackmore after Sizing Australia's win in RDS