Thoroughbreds often become a part of the family for many owners, none more so than Sam Fursdon’s Reet Petite, a retired racehorse thriving in her new career as an eventer.
A seven-year-old by Rip Van Winkle, Reet Petite (Rita) was bred and raised at Valachi Downs where Fursdon worked for nearly a decade as Operations and Yearling Manager. The family’s involvement extends beyond the filly’s birth, with her dam Silk Chardonnay previously trained by Fursdon’s mother-in-law, former trainer Karen Fursdon.
Reet Petite caught her eye from an early stage, and when the filly was presented at the 2018 National Yearling Sales at Karaka, she purchased her for $15,500 alongside her husband Nick and a close friend. She recorded a handful of placings in 14 starts but never thrived in the racing environment, so Fursdon elected to retire her, with a view of re-training the mare as a sporthorse.
“She was born at Valachi while I was working there, she was a lovely little horse,” Fursdon said. “We did a short weanling prep to get them ready for the Karaka Sales, and she was always very sweet and straightforward.
“When we got to the sale, I liked her more and more, and I convinced my husband and a best friend that we should go into partnership to buy and race her.
“She never thrived as a racehorse, she struggled with gastric ulcers and took a long time to mature physically. She did win one trial but wasn’t competitive enough on raceday, so in April of 2023, we officially retired her. She was only lightly raced and perfectly sound.
“After retiring, she let down incredibly well, she was pretty lean so I gave her six weeks in the paddock to just be a horse, to eat and sleep and put on some good condition before I asked anything of her.”
Fursdon reflected fondly on the transition into the next phase of Rita’s career, where a horse that once struggled to adjust in a high-pressure sport, flourished when presented with a new opportunity.
“We took it slow re-training her, taking her out to different places (beach, forest, trails and roads), doing treks, strengthening her up and making sure she was happy,” she said.
“I just did it mostly my own way, but I did get some coaching from people in Cambridge with dressage and jumping, as well as a few weekend clinics at Ohaupo Equestrian and some other places to give her that exposure. It was great to get advice on re-training a thoroughbred from people with good experience because you’re teaching them new aids with your legs and reins and we wanted to be heading in the right direction.
“I was actually going to try targeting her for hunting, which I’ve been doing for the past couple of years, but the more I got out and about with her, everyone was saying that I should give eventing a go because she had that natural ability and classy look.
“She seemed to handle all three disciplines so well, so I felt she deserved to take that route.”
Stepping out with a new show name ‘Margarita Time’, Rita was entrusted to the care of Brittany Fowler, a 4* event rider with a passion for competing thoroughbreds. The pair have attended four events at CNC80 level, including a runner-up finish in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Eventers Stakes at the National One Day Championships at Matamata on March 28.
Brittany Fowler and Margarita Time. Photo Credit: Nicole Troost Photography
“I found out I was pregnant earlier in the year, and then at the 12-week mark, it’s recommended that you don’t ride anymore,” Fursdon said. “I thought she’d come this far and was well and in great order, so knowing the NZTR Eventer Series was coming up, I thought it was a great opportunity for someone to take her forwards on to that.
“I reached out to Brittany and she was super keen, she had previously had her for a couple of weeks before Christmas to do a bit of work with and improve her over the jumps, and she took a big shining to her and said she would happily have her back any time.
“When I did reach out, she was more than happy to give her the experience and she loves her to bits.
While Fursdon knows the thrill of ownership in racing, she has discovered that enjoyment has only continued to grow as she watches Rita in the show ring, having been a part of the journey since day one.
“I feel very proud of her, it’s so gratifying and I feel a sense of responsibility for her as she really is one of my pets,” she said. “It’s great to see her out performing and to know she’s doing well, and being given every chance.
“I didn’t enjoy racing her when she didn’t cope with it, but now I see she’s thriving in her second career so that’s pretty awesome.
“You get a great sense of enjoyment out of racing, but I think that can be transferred into the eventing and there are a lot of good riders out there looking for nice horses to ride. So, if you are in the position as an owner to support those riders and give them fantastic horses to work with, then that’s great.
“If you’ve got the skill and capability to do it on your own, then that is equally as rewarding to take a horse off the track. Take your time, not all horses are suited to it, but it’s pretty incredible how they transform when put in a different environment.
“It’s a cool story because she’s been in my family for such a long time, my mother-in-law trained her mother and she was there on Friday to see her compete. She’s retired from training, but it got her heart pumping seeing a horse compete in eventing, as much as it would seeing them go around the racetrack.
“I think that’s pretty cool.”