Where Are They Now

Mark's policy is to find as good a home as possible for all our retired horses. He chooses their new owners very carefully and, as you can see from the pictures below, very successfully. He usually has a waiting list of prospective owners but, if you are interested, please e-mail the office for details of any horses needing new homes in the future.

Dine Out

Dine Out ( on the right)  is with Deia Sakal whose father, Peter, bred her. She is really enjoying her new life and doing very well.

Mystery Star

Star enjoying doing dressage

He is having a great new life in London even coming into the office.

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Cat Island

Cat Island is now known as Kitty. She is such a kind filly and is doing really well in her different life.

Sleigh Bells

Here is a picture of Sleigh Bells in her new home with her new friend Molly. She will now be  turned out for a couple of months with Molly to give her a real chance to relax and get used to her new home before coming in and starting her new training programme.

No Rules

No Rules has got a lovely home in the north of England with the mother of Rachel, who works for us at Garrowby. There are plenty of sheep for him to graze with.

Astroverdi, Astrovenus and Bird of Faith

Astromoon

Lucky Astromoon has a new home with Jackie, who is a top class rider and is really looking forward to re-training the filly.

We have recently heard from Jackie and, as you can see, Astromoon is doing really well. The weather has been on her side and she has been able to stay out. She gets a short feed every day - it took her a while to get used to the system but now she's always first to the gate. She certainly is the boss and has the other two exactly where she wants them.

Jackie has now started lungeing her after having her turned out for six months. She's  is apparently learning quickly, but can be a bit cheeky when she thinks she's had enough!

UPDATE

Miss Moon is doing very well as a novice dressage horse. Everyone is delighted with her aptitude for this sport.

Finger Spin

Holly Butler schooling Finger Spin.  Holly says: "Finger Spin has taken to polo as if she's done it all her life".

Connect

                                                       Tracy Robinson on Connect, competing at her local hunter trial.

Spirit Land

Spirit Land, above and below, enjoying himself in the snow at the home of his new owner, Anne Ratcliff

Captain Clint

Captain Clint has settled well into his different life and is enjoying his new role 

Astrobrava

Enjoying her retirement with Becky, who used to be our blacksmith.

Astrobrava was home-bred by Mystic Meg at Dullingham Park. She was from the only British crop of Falbrav, who stood for one season at Cheveley Park Stud before going back to Japan. He was a very good racehorse and won many top races with the Japan Cup, the Juddmonte and the Eclipse among his eight Group 1 victories in five countries. We were very excited about the mating but, unfortunately, he turned out to be a poorish sire and Astrobrava didn't fulfil our hopes. She has found a fantastic home with Becky and is winning competitions galore. It looks as though she is going to make a really good eventer.  

Westminster

Westminster with his owner Cheryl Townson and young jockey

Westminster was owned by John Bull, a marvellous man who died a few years ago. He ran a family business which still exists today in London's New Bond Street specialising in silver. John was the Lord Mayor of Westminster, hence the horse's name, and had racehorses in training for many years before meeting me and purchasing Westminster. He had failed to have a single winner in all those years but this horse gave him his first two in very quick succession. Westminster has found a top-class home where, as you can see, he is part of the family.

Westminster (left) playing in the snow

Ringmaster

Ringmaster, or 'Charlie' as he is now known, arrived with his present owners as long ago as April 1997 for Emma Tritton, then aged 10, to ride. He is still going strong,  aged 19, and enjoying life as much as ever.

'Charlie' asleep in the shelter with his friends

He won some nice races but his best effort was in defeat when he was second in the Magnet Cup at York, beaten a head. He was ridden by a Hong Kong apprentice who was substituted at the last minute for Philip Robinson who had hurt himself the day before. Ringmaster has made the transition from racehorse to riding horse with no problem at all. I still hold very fond memories of him. 

Fortune's Maid

Fortune's Maid, ridden by her owner Sharon Goddard and accompanied by her friend Willow, ridden by Lia.

Fortune's Maid ran for one of our syndicates without too much success but was a very kind filly and it was ideal for her to carry on her life as a riding horse. She is very much loved by her new owners which is just as we like it at Flint Cottage.

Sky Dome

Sky Dome at David and Jean Tompkins' home in Yorkshire

Sky Dome is a very special horse. He was owned by Dena and Leslie Arstall who race their horses under the name Pollards Stables. He was one of those horses who never let you down. He won many races and gave so many jockeys marvellous days. He is now being completely pampered by my sister-in-law and family, who absolutely dote on him. Many of my owners go and visit him and feed him packets of Polos as they have as fond memories of him, just as we do.

Tortola

Tortola, or Norman as he is now known, being schooled in preparation for his first show by his new owner, Millie Green

Tortola was not very quick as a racehorse and quite difficult to train but he has found a fantastic home with the Greens, who are relations of Michael Bowring, one of the stalwarts of Flint Cottage. He is loved and cherished and the time he has had out of training has enabled him to mature and become what he is today.

Babodana

One of Babodana's first crop, the young stock champion at a show in Somerset 

Babodana was bought as a yearling at Fairyhouse sales in Ireland and, as Angie keeps reminding me, it was she who spotted him. What a fantastic racehorse he turned out to be. Owned all his life by Michael Bowring, he won the Lincoln and was placed so many times in Group races they are too numerous to mention. A very sound horse who was a great character, he is now at stud in Somerset with Rosie and Derek Scott. His first foals are on the ground and really look the part, as the photo above shows. I am hoping I can acquire some of the offspring and have his first runners from Flint Cottage. He was just a pleasure to train

Blurred

Blurred was a great, big, gentle giant, who was a good racehorse and always did his best. He has now found a lovely home with my sister in Derbyshire with both mother and daughter riding him out among the sheep and the hills.

Etoile d'Or

She was another of the syndicate horses who gave her band of supporters a great day at Yarmouth when she won by a very long way. She could be a little bit headstrong but had no malice and she has taken to her new career with zest,  as the picture above shows.