DI ARBUTHNOT, CEO of the charity, Retraining of Racehorses, is the special guest on the latest episode of the podcast, “Inside The Rails”, the podcast co-hosted by Phil Boyle of BG Racing and yours truly.
Di talks about her equestrian story, a farmer’s daughter who was “pony mad” as a child who went on to ride as an amateur jockey and was instrumental in the setting up of Retraining of Racehorses in 2000.
The charity provides help to those who are looking to re-home ex-racehorses or those who have just taken on ex-racehorses. While it does not take in the horses themselves, the charity is very procactive in organising equestrian events which allow retired racehorses to show their skills in a different discipline. Eventing, hunting, showing, polo, polocrosse, dressage, showjumping are just some of the many different equestrian disciplines which racehorses can go on to pursue. In fact Di said she had counted 14 different activities! Who’d have thought it?
Di Arbuthnot has been CEO for the last 20 years and although she has a relatively small team, the RoR does extraordinary work in facilitating a new life for the racehorses when they retire and the charity has been associated with some big names in racing including Champion Hurdle winner, Make A Stand and Grand National winners, Bindaree and Royal Athlete.
“They’re incredibly versatile and intelligent,” says Di of racehorses which is why they can adapt to a new way of life. She rattled off a list of famous ex-racehorses who have found a new lease of life and who participated in a recent parade at Cheltenham racecourse. No spoiler alert…you need to give the podcast a listen!
Phil and I also look back at the festive season’s jump racing and hopefully there are one or two horses for you to follow from the PBN….the Phil Boyle Notebook!
You can listen to “Inside The Rails” on various platforms including Spotify and Apple. Just go to the home page of this website to click on your preferred platform…and if you enjoy what you hear, please do subscribe to future monthly podcasts and perhaps give us a friendly review?
