Over the years, Nigel has been an important part of the Centre, bringing an exceptional knowledge of thoroughbreds, professionalism, kindness and energy to the role. Nothing has ever been too much trouble, and his dedication and care have made a real difference to the horses and the day-to-day running of the yard. We have been incredibly fortunate to have him as part of our team and cannot thank him enough for everything he has done.

We wish Nigel a very happy and well-deserved retirement, with plenty of time to enjoy a new chapter away from the daily demands of the yard. He leaves some very big boots to fill!

As Nigel hangs up his boots, we are delighted to welcome Barry Smith, who is taking the reins as our new Yard Manager.

Barry brings with him a lifelong connection with racing. Born in Canada, where both his parents trained racehorses, he moved to England at 11. By 16, he was already working in racing and had also experienced the thrill of riding in flat races.

His interest in retraining racehorses began when he and his wife took on their first ex-racehorse, who proved to have a real talent for showing. That first experience sparked a passion which has continued to grow. Two of their horses have since competed in the main ring at the RoR Championships at Hickstead. Barry particularly enjoys watching each horse develop, gain confidence and flourish in a new career.

Looking after the horses is, of course, only one part of the Yard Manager’s role. There are tack repairs, farriers, dentists and vets to organise, as well as feed, hay and straw to order. Then there’s the never-ending battle with the mud, not to mention harrowing, rolling, strimming and mowing – the list really does go on!

We are very much looking forward to working with Barry at the Centre as part of the team and wish him every success in his new role.

The post A New Chapter at the Racehorse Sanctuary and Rehoming Centre appeared first on The Racehorse Sanctuary.

The Racehorse Sanctuary hosted its second charity race day on Monday, November 18th at Plumpton. We were thrilled to see so many loyal supporters and to welcome many new faces.

Lunch at the Final Fence restaurant was excellent, and it offered a fantastic view of the course. Our guests enjoyed tipster Colin Brown’s insights on the race card, and quite a few were lucky enough to collect their winnings after each race.

The “Heads or Tails” game was as entertaining as ever, alongside a raffle and a live auction. Tara kindly took on the role of auctioneer and did a brilliant job.

Pete the Feat, our retired racehorse, was a hit in his stable, graciously meeting many people who remembered him from his racing days.

The event had a wonderful atmosphere, and we’ve received great feedback. All in all, everyone had a fabulous day.

Our horses are looking fantastic, which is especially pleasing as we head into winter. Recently arrived Ollie and Run have settled in nicely and are now retired, set to enjoy the rest of their days with us.

Mouse has been re-homed and is happy with her new keeper, Cailin. They are truly a perfect pair. Cailin is a talented young rider preparing for several outings in 2025.

A big thank you from all at the Racehorse Sanctuary and Rehoming Centre must go to Joanna Wyatt from The ROG for her generous donation of £1,000 on race day.

The post A great day at Plumpton for our charity Raceday appeared first on The Racehorse Sanctuary.

Our charity fundraising Raceday is confirmed and we’re delighted to be heading back to Plumpton Racecourse, in Lewes, East Sussex, on Monday, the 18th November 2024.

This Raceday is our main fundraising event of the year, where we bring together a great group of people to raise vital funds for our charity. This will be the second year of hosting this November event, and after the success of last year, we knew we needed to go back!

Plumpton is the hidden gem in the world of horse racing. With a stunning rural backdrop, you can enjoy delicious food and drink whilst having a memorable sporting experience. And it’s for everyone, from novice to racing expert.

This fixture combines seven brilliant races with key fundraising for us. Our charity lunch will be held in the Final Fence Restaurant. This is located on the lawns of the racecourse alongside the final fence and last furlong. It’s the best spot to have a great day, and be right at the heart of the action.

Tickets are £110 per person, which includes a welcome drink on arrival, delicious 3-course lunch and half a bottle of wine per person, a silent auction, fundraising games and a main auction with some exciting lots, plus a raffle. There will also be a tipster to help us hopefully back a few winners!

Our superstar Pete The Feat will also be there! Find him in the Retired Racehorse Stable on the day.

Approximate timings TBC –

Gates Open – 10:30 AM
First Race – 12.30 PM
Last Race – 3.55 PM

Please secure your place by booking online here. Or alternatively email Catherine and she will be happy to help.

The post Raceday at Plumpton – 18th November 2024 appeared first on The Racehorse Sanctuary.

– your donation will make all the difference.

To donate £5, text HORS001 to 70970
To donate £10, text HORS001 to 70191

Please support our Winter Feed Appeal to keep all our ex-racehorses in good health during these cold winter months.

Winter has really hit the Racehorse Sanctuary and Rehoming Centre hard with the extended freezing conditions on top of the usual cold, very wet and windy weather. This has led to the horses needing extra feed, supplements, and in some cases, medication which is essential in keeping them healthy and happy during these long winter months.

The increase in costs comes in the form of extra good quality hay, plenty of fibre rich feed and bedding such as straw and shavings, all of which have dramatically increased in price since the summer due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the cost of energy crisis.

In parallel to this, the horse’s wellbeing relies on them being able to have a degree of turnout every day so that they can move freely and have the all important grazing time which helps keep their gut and mental health at its best. This daily turnout helps avoid stress and joint stiffness as well as gut issues such as colic and excess acid, which some ex-racehorses suffer from, a legacy from their time in racing. So to keep the paddocks in a fair and safe condition regular maintenance of the fields such as repairing fencing is essential. And with the cost of post and rail also increasing dramatically we really need your help.

Please donate now whatever you can

Every donation, whether £5, £10 or any amount of your choice will quickly add up and mean so much to us and the horses. We don’t have a crystal ball to see if the weather will continue to be as bad as it has been so far this winter so, if you can, please help us with a donation today. Thank you.

DONATE ONLINE

To donate any amount, please visit our Winter Feed Appeal Just Giving Page.

DONATE BY TEXT

You can TEXT donations to The Racehorse Sanctuary’s Winter Feed Appeal.

• To donate £1, text HORS001 to 70201
• To donate £3, text HORS001 to 70331
• To donate £5, text HORS001 to 70970
• To donate £10, text HORS001 to 70191

Please follow the message instructions to register for Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer.

DONATE BY POST

You can send a cheque payable to The Racehorse Sanctuary to us at:

The Racehorse Sanctuary
Admin Office: 2 Crouch Farm Cottages,
Barlavington
Petworth
West Sussex GU28 0LQ

DONATE BY BANK TRANSFER

Please state Winter Feed Appeal in the payment reference and transfer to:

Account name:             The Racehorse Sanctuary
Account number:             03592497
Sort code:                         30-94-41

Fundraising, payments, and donations will be processed and administered by the National Funding Scheme (Charity No: 1149800), operating as DONATE. Texts will be charged at your standard network rate. For Terms & Conditions, see easydonate.org.

The post Our Winter Feed Appeal 2023 appeared first on The Racehorse Sanctuary.