A former racehorse from Wiltshire has been crowned a national champion.
Gaelic Surprise, owned by Patricia Haskins and based in Chippenham, claimed the title at the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) National Championships in Aintree.
The mare, who retired from racing in 2019, has achieved great success in her second career as a dressage horse, winning the RoR Elite Performance Award for Dressage.
The RoR National Championships is recognised as the largest event for former racehorses in Great Britain.
It showcases the adaptability and skill of thoroughbreds in various second careers.
Gaelic Surprise, now 13 years old, was trained by Chris Down and raced nine times under National Hunt rules, finishing in third place at Newton Abbot in 2017.
Since her last race in November 2019, she has been thriving in her new career in dressage.
Ms Haskins, the owner and rider of Gaelic Surprise, said: "I originally purchased Gaelic Surprise to sell, but decided to keep her.
"She has been one of the hardest horses I’ve ever had to work with, but once she understands something and enjoys it, she’ll give you the absolute world and she just loves being between the dressage boards."
The Jockey Club RoR National Championships, a six-day event, took place from August 19 to 24 at the Aintree International Equestrian Centre.
The event featured classes in showing, dressage, arena eventing, and showjumping, with 341 former racehorses entered to participate.
David Catlow, managing director of RoR, said: "To see so many former racehorses together – from those who were superstars on the track to those who only ever made it as far as training – all looking so well and thriving across such a wide variety of disciplines, perfectly demonstrates both the versatility of these horses and the dedication of their owners."
RoR, British racing’s official aftercare charity, is committed to ensuring the welfare of racehorses after their retirement from racing.
It provides training and education to owners and promotes the versatility of horses in various equestrian activities, facilitating their participation in competitions.
The event also coincided with the start of National Racehorse Week, which celebrates racehorses and provides an opportunity for communities to learn about their care.
The 2025 National Racehorse Week has more than 90 events and 12,000 free places for people to experience the life of a racehorse at training yards and retraining centres.
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