A new START

MEET THE TRAINER

CLARE POOLE is a specialist in retraining and re-educating racehorses. She has specialised in ex-racehorses for the past nine years, with many of them achieving success in Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) classes and open showing classes at county level. She has successfully qualified horses for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and is on the RoR judges panel.

RACEHORSES CAN BE very rewarding to retrain. They are often sensitive and quick to learn, but they can also be anxious and spooky about new situations. When working with racehorses, it’s really useful to have an understanding of what their former life was like so that you can be understanding when they find certain situations challenging.

When I take on an ex-racehorse, I always ask the previous carer what the horse is like to ride — they will be able to tell me the horse’s quirks and any issues they may have, and any injuries or physical issues that may affect his training. This forearms me with knowledge that helps me offer the horse the support he needs from day one.

Getting started

Once the horse