Minella Rebellion takes the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse HOYS title

SEIB Insurance Brokers Racehorse to Riding Horse championship

In what she has described as a ‘bucket list achievement’, Katie Dashwood’s stunning bay ex-racehorse, Minella Rebellion, took the 2021 SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse title at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) on the 6th October, 2021.

This was the first appearance for the combination in the popular HOYS final and a first win at the show for Katie after years of campaigning in the Racehorse to Riding Horse classes.

By Kings Theatre, the nine-year-old gelding, Minella Rebellion was in training with Nicky Henderson during his racing career. Katie and Reg became a partnership last year. Following the launch of the series in 2006 Katie said:

I’ve spent a long time trying to qualify with various racehorses, so it was a real thrill to qualify with Reg. This has been on the bucket list for a long time. He is a lovely horse and just enjoys his work and being in the ring.”

The final was judged by Jerome Harforth (conformation) and Jo Hales (ride). Jerome said:

We were both in agreement about our winner. He caught our eye from the start and we were not disappointed. It was a lovely class to judge and there were some lovely types, the majority of animals went so well. I was very impressed by the horses’ limbs; all had good clean limbs. Which for the amount of races they had been in between them, was great to see. The SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse class is a great initiative and it is great to see these horses having a new career as show horses.”

Katie and Minella Rebellion secured their HOYS ticket at the Onley qualifier. Katie continued:

Looking ahead, I hope that I will be able to enjoy lots more fun with Reg. He really enjoys being a show horse and is just such a good boy. I think it is really important to give racehorses a chance to learn something new.”

Minella Rebellion is a full brother to the Cheltenham Festival winner Balthazar King and was bought by Katie following a suggestion by Henrietta Knight.

Sharing her thoughts about giving racehorses a job after the track, Henrietta said:

I love showing. I think that if the animal has a lovely temperament and enjoys the ride, it is great for them to go and do something else that they enjoy. Showing gives them that opportunity and allows them to be cared for in the way that they were accustomed to being looked after when they were in training.”

Runner up

The runner up spot went to another familiar pairing on the R2R circuit, Abi Sole riding her own ex-racer Hero Worship. This is their best result so far, having finished in third place in the HOYS final in 2018.

Now 18-years-old, Hero Worship had three starts on the flat for trainer Michael Jarvis, winning twice. He earned just under £20,000 during his short but successful racing career. Retirement had been on the cards for Hero Worship after the 2019 season, but after unexpectedly coming back from loan in June, Abi thought he looked so well and thought ‘why not’. The marketing lead for a pharmaceutical company took him to the HOYS Racehorse to Riding Horse finals at the NAF Five Star Hartpury Horse Trials where the pair qualified.

Third place

Another established showing pairing took third having previously taken fourth place on their ex-racehorse showing debut in 2019. Mumford is owned and ridden by Collette McGoldrick, who together have won plenty during their showing career including taking the Goffs supreme championship in 2019 and winning the title of champion racehorse at the UK National Championships in 2020.

Mumford was formerly trained by Richard Hannon and latterly by Geoffrey Harker. He was placed twice in seven starts on the flat and last ran in 2018. Jenny Harker’s daughter Emma rode a show pony for the McGoldrick family and then when some friends of Collette mentioned how much fun the ex-racehorse classes are, Collette spoke to Jenny and Mumford duly arrived with Collette back in early 2019.

Fourth and fifth place

Fourth place went to Lindsay McCulloch’s, Golden Bird ridden by Richard Telford. This was Golden Bird and Richard’s third HOYS appearance in the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse finals having previously qualified in 2018 and 2019. Golden Bird also competes in the open hack classes and was placed fourth in the open hacks at HOYS in 2019. Richard bought Golden Bird straight out of racing. Lindsay really liked the look of him and bought Golden Bird from Richard. Lindsay plans to one day compete Golden Bird herself in hack classes.

In fifth place was the 10-year-old bay mare Tikkskinned owned by Emily Marriage and ridden by Will Morton. Will is no stranger to Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse, being a former Search for a Star HOYS reserve champion back in 2013 with his cob, Woodfield Choice when he was just 16-years-old.

Tikkskinned was a wedding gift to her owner Emily Marriage and Will Morton has taken over as Emily is pregnant. The mare ran twice when in training with Benjamin Arthey. She was unplaced in both starts, last running in 2016. This is her first season showing she has taken to her new life off the track and has also done a bit of eventing and jumping.

Nicolina MacKenzie, Marketing Manager for SEIB said:

The Racehorse to Riding Horse class has grown into a much-anticipated HOYS fixture and for these horses to get through to the final is a huge achievement in itself. The horses taking part in the Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifiers and finals are increasingly out competing – and having success in – open classes. We are so proud of all of our combinations and to see so many people supporting the qualifiers.”

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