When did you first become involved with thoroughbreds?
My parents were both heavily involved with horses when I was young (Dad was a jockey) and I rode at a trekking company through my teens to pay the grazing for a horse I was gifted by my cousin. Paddie (my first horse) wasn't a Thoroughbred, but we had Thoroughbred trekking horses at the stables who were brilliant. When I was looking for a horse to get back into riding some 20 years later it seemed the mighty Thoroughbred was an 'affordable' option and it was familiar to me. I only had my own experience with them as a guide so didn't really have the choir of negativity on my shoulder like many do today.
How did you come to have Sarge?
I purchased Sarge from Lucy Dagnall Equestrian after two horses prior simply didn't work out. Both prior horses were Thoroughbreds too - one just didn't click and one became injured with a paddock accident so is living his best life as a paddock mate on the coast. I fell in love with Sarge's cheeky attitude and striking looks that Lucy showcased. She also showed his ability to change to suit his rider and I resonated with someone who rode him as a 'returning to riding' adult. I thought, perhaps if she can - I can too! When I bought him, his name was Ginge but that didn't really work well with our family 'hair' traits, and his presence is quite humbling at times - so I thought Sarge suited him nicely. His race name is 'Always on Time' - which we never are, so his show and registered name with ESNZ is now 'A Moment in Time'. He's by Reliable Man out of Simmonstar. He was unplaced in five starts.
What do you do with him?
We live our adult pony club life, without the pony club. I have flat work and jumping lessons on him, enjoy show hunter and very low level show-cross days and also do endurance riding. We are pretty determined to place in the TiES Endurance Competition for the 2024/2025 season, but above all in everything we do - we just have fun. He is very expressive so I can tell if he's loving his work or not and I'm guided by that always.
Goals for the future?
We'd love to place in the TiES Endurance Competition for the 2024/2025 season and also both gain more confidence together in jumping. We've competed to 60cm together and it was just the best feeling - you don't need to compete at big heights or on grand stages to feel like you've won I can tell you!
What do you love about thoroughbreds as a breed?
They're expressive and curious - which is a double edged sword.
What is one thing you wish everyone knew about thoroughbreds?
There are so many transferable skills that these horses have on the track or in training that make them wonderful partners in equestrian sports. They thrive in routine, they love to work, typically they're quite social as they've lived with and trained with other horses, they're expressive (which I personally love) and they've got lots left to give in a variety of different ways.
The negative stereotypes that Thoroughbreds are tarnished with aren't tolerated in regards to human race - and I don't feel like we should tolerate it in 'breed bashing' either - it's the same thing.
Advice for someone getting an off the track thoroughbred?
Give it time and slow down. And when you think you've given enough time and gone slow for long enough, double it.
Surround yourself with support worthy of an off the tracker. These horses are having a complete life change - I can't even think of a 'human' comparison. I have the best crew around me from my stable family, our body worker, my wonderful instructors, our farrier who is a wealth of knowledge and friends who are more experienced with horses than I am. We wouldn't be having the success we are if we didn't have these people around us and we're so grateful.
Be careful who you buy from and be honest about your abilities and intentions. A great seller will match the horse with the rider’s ability and be supportive post sale too. I think these two elements are what generates negative stereotype stories in the market place. Do your homework on the seller and on the horse. Ask plenty of questions (I had a list of about 25 things I asked including saddle type, bit type, feed routine, likes and dislikes) and try and find out what they've done before coming for sale. You've kind of got to treat it like you're going on a date... You don't just rock up for a drink with anyone who asks right? So why buy a horse without researching?
Sarge and I 'on paper' are the worst combination ever - he is quite sensitive and I am a worrier/quite anxious... We shouldn't work! But we do thanks to the people around us reassuring us both and helping us grow together. In 18 months we've gone from being paddock/arena bound because I couldn't get him on the float to, just last weekend, going away on our own for a weekend of endurance riding. This meant camping and riding on our own in a new environment both days and we nailed it! But that's taken 18 months... And we still need more time!