Mark's policy is to find as good a home as possible for all our retired horses. He chooses their new owners very carefully and, as you can see from the pictures below, very successfully. He usually has a waiting list of prospective owners but, if you are interested, please e-mail the office for details of any horses needing new homes in the future. Comrade Bond![]() ![]() "Bondi", as Comrade Bond is now known, loving life in retirement.Astroshadow![]() Astroshadow is now really starting to show what she can do in the show ring. She has now got a very good home with Michelle who is producing her as a hack in many different classes. This is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when the ex-racehorses move on from the training yard. A home for life an loved like one of the family.AstrowizardAstrowizard turned out at his new homeSinging Hinnie
Novice Champion and Reserve Supreme of ShowBecky with Singing HinnieAstromajor
UPDATE
Smokey Oakey Smokey Oakey, the winner of the Brigadier Gerard Group 3 and the Lincoln Handicap among other races, enjoyed a wonderful retirement at the Little Brook Equestrian Centre in Surrey. In the picture above you can see him with Dame Judi Dench on his first day at his new home. Sadly he is no longer with us but had a fantastic life after his racing career was over. Dolls House QilinSharon Goddard, a long standing owner, has recently given Qilin a new home. As you can see she has settled in really well and looks a million dollars. She is turned out with another mare, Fortune, and has bonded so well you would think they have known each other for years. Dine Out Dine Out ( on the right) is with Deia Sakal whose father, Peter, bred her. She is really enjoying her new life and doing very well. Mystery StarStar enjoying doing dressageHe is having a great new life in London even coming into the office.
The above two pictures show how versatile Mystery Star has become. Not only has he gone on a sponsored ride around London with a visit to Royalty, he also stopped outside a famous pub and took refreshments before moving on. The other picture shows how well he is jumping, with a great shape over the poles and such an alert head. He absolutely loves life.
____________________________________________________________________________ Cat IslandCat Island is now known as Kitty. She is such a kind filly and is doing really well in her different life. Kitty (on the right) out at exerciseCat Island has got on so well in her new home and showing great aptitude for dressage and jumping, that we are hoping to find someone with a bit more experience to take her to the next level. If anybody knows of somebody looking for a young eventer, please give us a ring.
Sleigh BellsHere is a picture of Sleigh Bells in her new home with her new friend Molly. She will now be turned out for a couple of months with Molly to give her a real chance to relax and get used to her new home before coming in and starting her new training programme. No Rules![]() ![]() No Rules has got a lovely home in the north of England. There are plenty of sheep for him to graze with. Astroverdi, Astrovenus and Bird of Faith![]() These three lucky horses are having the winter off and then will be re-trained to the stick and ball as polo ponies. ![]() ![]() As you can see Astrovenus (above) has really made it as a polo pony, she is happy and relaxed and loved by Holly. Astromoon![]() ![]() Lucky Astromoon has a new home with Jackie, who is a top class rider and is really looking forward to re-training the filly. We have recently heard from Jackie and, as you can see, Astromoon is doing really well. The weather has been on her side and she has been able to stay out. She gets a short feed every day - it took her a while to get used to the system but now she's always first to the gate. She certainly is the boss and has the other two exactly where she wants them. Jackie has now started lungeing her after having her turned out for six months. She's is apparently learning quickly, but can be a bit cheeky when she thinks she's had enough! UPDATEMiss Moon is doing very well as a novice dressage horse. Everyone is delighted with her aptitude for this sport. Finger Spin![]() ![]() ![]() Connect
Spirit Land![]() Spirit Land, above and below, enjoying himself in the snow at the home of his new owner, Anne Ratcliff Captain Clint Captain Clint has settled well into his different life and is enjoying his new role AstrobravaEnjoying her retirement with Becky, who is our blacksmith. Astrobrava was home-bred by Mystic Meg at Dullingham Park. She was from the only British crop of Falbrav, who stood for one season at Cheveley Park Stud before going back to Japan. He was a very good racehorse and won many top races with the Japan Cup, the Juddmonte and the Eclipse among his eight Group 1 victories in five countries. We were very excited about the mating but, unfortunately, he turned out to be a poorish sire and Astrobrava didn't fulfil our hopes. She has found a fantastic home with Becky and is winning competitions galore. It looks as though she is going to make a really good eventer.
WestminsterWestminster with his owner Cheryl Townson and young jockey Westminster was owned by John Bull, a marvellous man who died a few years ago. He ran a family business which still exists today in London specialising in silver. John was the Lord Mayor of Westminster, hence the horse's name, and had racehorses in training for many years before meeting me and purchasing Westminster. He had failed to have a single winner in all those years but this horse gave him his first two in very quick succession. Westminster found a top-class home where, as you can see, he was part of the family. Westminster (left) playing in the snow RingmasterRingmaster, or 'Charlie' as he was known, arrived with at his retirement home as long ago as April 1997 for Emma Tritton, then aged 10, to ride. He enjoyed a wonderful life there until he was 25. 'Charlie' asleep in the shelter with his friendsHe won some nice races but his best effort was in defeat when he was second in the Magnet Cup at York, beaten a head. He was ridden by a Hong Kong apprentice who was substituted at the last minute for Philip Robinson who had hurt himself the day before. Ringmaster made the transition from racehorse to riding horse with no problem at all. I still hold very fond memories of him. Fortune's MaidFortune's Maid, ridden by her owner Sharon Goddard and accompanied by her friend Willow, ridden by Lia. Fortune's Maid ran for one of our syndicates without too much success but was a very kind filly and it was ideal for her to carry on her life as a riding horse. She is very much loved by her new owners which is just as we like it at Flint Cottage. Sky DomeSky Dome at David and Jean Tompkins' home in Yorkshire Sky Dome was one of those horses who never let you down. He won many races and gave so many jockeys marvellous days. He was completely pampered by my sister-in-law and all the family, who absolutely doted on him. Many of my owners went to visit him and feed him packets of Polos as they had as fond memories of him just as we do. Tortola![]() Tortola, or Norman as he is now known, being schooled in preparation for his first show by his new owner, Millie Green Tortola was not very quick as a racehorse and quite difficult to train but he has found a fantastic home with the Greens, who are relations of Michael Bowring, one of our stalwart owners. He is loved and cherished and the time he has had out of training has enabled him to mature and become what he is today. Babodana![]() One of Babodana's first crop, the young stock champion at a show in Somerset
Babodana was bought as a yearling at Fairyhouse sales in Ireland and, as Angie keeps reminding me, it was she who spotted him. What a fantastic racehorse he turned out to be. Owned all his life by Michael Bowring, he won the Lincoln and was placed so many times in Group races they are too numerous to mention. A very sound horse who was a great character, he is now at stud in Somerset with Rosie and Derek Scott. His foals really look the part, as the photo above shows. He was just a pleasure to train Blurred![]() Blurred being ridden by Sarah Hilton, Mark's niece
![]() Blurred was a great big, gentle giant, who was a good racehorse and always did his best. He found a lovely home with my sister in Derbyshire with both mother and daughter riding him out among the sheep and the hills.
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