Thoroughbreds entering the sporthorse space are full of promise moving into their second career, a transition that is made seamless with the assistance of passionate horsewomen like Donna and Elise Edwards-Smith, who recently held the first of the Know Your Thoroughbred Clinics at their Waerenga property.
These education clinics are designed to improve horsemanship and knowledge for those who decide to re-train a thoroughbred off the track. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, through the The 1% Equine Welfare Levy, proudly funded by the thoroughbred industry, subsidise the clinics, with an aim to create awareness, promote thoroughbred versatility and further develop the understanding of the breed.
Donna and Elise have a multitude of experience in this field, competing at the highest levels of eventing aboard off-the-track thoroughbreds and were passionate in getting involved in the vision of NZTR.
“The reason why we are really keen on doing these clinics is because we love the versatility of thoroughbreds, so when they (NZTR) approached us, we were so pleased to get involved, we jumped at it,” Donna Edwards-Smith told Sport Nation’s The Rural Roundup.
“We absolutely love the idea of moving them forward and getting them out in the competitive world after racing.
“They learn so fast, and for us personally, in our sport of eventing we thrive on quick-footed and quick-twitch horses, which is essentially the thoroughbred. They are forward-thinking, willing horses.
“When you leave for the start of a cross-country, you want to feel like your horse is 100% in it, which is how a thoroughbred feels. They are there to play and are in the game as much as you are.
“The top of our sport is five-star, and what has been proven time and time again, especially this year, is the finishing numbers of five-star thoroughbreds. Their footwork is amazing over cross-country.”
The Edwards-Smith’s staged a two-day clinic on November 16 and 17, and despite the clinic being fully-booked with 35 horse and rider combinations, the individual focus was evident from the outset. Each rider was given a solo warm-up with Donna or Elise, providing the opportunity to explain the story behind their thoroughbred.
After moving into a group setting, the combinations enjoyed show jumping schooling, and on day two, they headed away from the arena on to the more open environment of the cross-country.
Among the participants was Lana Korsten, an NZTR Acknowledged Retrainer under her LK Sporthorses banner based in Tokoroa. Korsten has been competing her thoroughbred Battle Front (by Battle Paint) at one-star level, and took another horse she is producing to the clinic for experience.
“I’ve always done eventing, and when I was younger on ponies, they didn’t have the stamina or endurance on the cross-country,” Korsten said. “My first hack was a thoroughbred, and since then, I’ve just kept with them.
“I find they are so willing, they will always try their best with anything and everything. I had a couple of really nice thoroughbreds along the way including LK Super Deluxe, a gelding by Super Easy who I sold on. From there, I got in touch with trainers and starting rehoming, then got on board with NZTR.
“The clinic was really good. I think out of all of the horses, I probably had the greenest one and it was a lot for him to take in, but he handled himself really well. Donna and Elise thought there was a lot of potential in the horse, which was really nice to hear, as he was one I picked out to produce and keep for myself.
“All of the horses there handled it really well, it was a very supportive environment and Donna and Elise have a lot of experience and knowledge. They would be able to provide tips and feedback for every single horse, giving everyone something to walk away with at home and at shows.
“I’m really hoping to have a three-star run in the autumn or early spring season with my main thoroughbred, who we call Battle Front. With my young one, who is by Burgundy, I just want to continue his education and then by the spring, I’d like to have him out in the eventing circuit doing the lower levels to start with.”
Outside of the riding sessions, NZTR’s Thoroughbred Welfare Coordinator’s Tracey Oakes and Kristin Boyce met with the participants to scan microchips, as a part of the “Know Your Thoroughbred” component of the clinic. This initiative offered the riders a more extensive insight into the background of their horse, while also introducing them to the Companion Animal Register.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing is committed to lifetime traceability and setting the standard for responsible ownership by providing the opportunity for retired thoroughbreds to be part of the Companion Animal Register (CANZ). CANZ is a national database that links your horse’s unique microchip number to you, the new owner. This makes it easier for you and your horse to be reunited should they become displaced due to a natural disaster, or if they are lost or stolen. In the future, it will also help contribute to the protection of your horse and the entire NZ equine herd in the face of an equine disease outbreak, with the introduction of the National Equine Identification & Traceability (NEIT) System planned to launch in August 2025.
NZTR are committed to running further Know Your Thoroughbred Clinics nationwide, so if you would like to learn more please send through your name/horse's name, breeding, location and the level of riding you are currently working at, to traceability@nztr.co.nz.