Thoroughbreds are well-known for their versatility off the track, and seven-year-old gelding Good Country has showcased that with his success in endurance riding this past season.
The son of Frankel has been a dominant force in his first season competing in endurance events, with owner Kiri Rhodes, winning four awards at the recent Distance Riding AGM, including the Ride To Time Senior Horse Award (422km), Ride To Time Senior Non-Arab Award, LOVERACING.NZ Thoroughbred Award, and Ride To Time Senior distance Combination.
Bred and raced by the late Kevin Hickman, Good Country had three unplaced starts for trainers Stephen Autridge and Kris Shailer before Rhodes acquired him through Valachi Downs’ dispersal.
Rhodes had become familiar with Good Country while working as a driver for Majestic Horse Transport, and when he was offered for sale, she thought he would be the ideal horse for her.
“I used to work full-time for Majestic (Transport) and that is where I came across him,” Rhodes said. “I took him to the races and I really liked his temperament, he was calm and relaxed.
“He was the right size for me, because I don’t like a big horse, he is only 15 hands. I managed to get him through the Valachi dispersal.”
While he didn’t fire on the track, Rhodes said he has taken to endurance riding and has made an instant impact in his debut season.
“For any horse that is not an Arab, it is quite outstanding what he has achieved in one season,” she said.
Kiri Rhodes & NZTR Welfare Coordinator, Tracey Oakes. Photo supplied.
“With distance riding you do ride to time. You pick a distance and they give you a time to do that in. If you come in under that time you get penalties and if you come in over that time you get penalties, but you get less than if you go too fast, and we didn’t incur that many penalties.
“We won nine of the 12 rides this season. Our biggest achievement was the Makahiwi Challenge, which is 120km over three days. The first day is a 50km ride and then 40km and 30km. We were the only thoroughbred in the ride to time senior division, and we won that.
“No non-Arabs really win that, so it was a big thing for the thoroughbred.”
Heart rate is a major factor in endurance racing, and Rhodes said Good Country has the ability to recover quickly following a race.
“To be able to vet through and having a good heart rate is really important,” she said. “We have to be 64 beats per minute or under within half an hour of the finish. He has the uncanny ability to bring his heart rate right down.”
Rhodes, who now works for Prima Park, said while thoroughbreds make up a small percentage of the horses competing in endurance events, they are well-suited to the discipline.
“I think the smaller thoroughbreds adapt well to it,” she said. “Their brain works quite well in this endurance field. There are not a lot of people that are riding thoroughbreds off the track (for endurance events), but they need to as they do really well.
“They are very versatile and they try their hardest. Generally, they are a good ride and they will go all day even though they are supposed to be fast over short distances.”