A NEW matchmaking tool to help racehorse trainers and owners who wish to rehome and retrain their racehorses after their racing career ends has been set up by Sarah Sands and Caoimhe Doherty.

The new online platform, Treo Eile, will connect racehorse owners with new owners, support ex-racehorses with prizes specifically aimed at them across the Irish equine event calendar in disciplines including show jumping, dressage and eventing, promote the versatility of the ex-racehorse through an awareness campaign and create a database where horses leaving training can be recorded.

Many racehorses that retire are more than able to make the transition into other equestrian disciplines and there are countless successful stories to be told. Some of the biggest names have gone on to be superstars and of course, thoroughbreds make some of the best event horses with their braveness and stamina to burn. Esib Power will testify to that as the exploits of her French-bred TB, Soladoun, and others has shot her to the top of the eventing charts.

Working well

“The idea is that Treo Eile (Irish for ‘Another Direction’) acts as a gateway to source former racehorses, whilst creating a stronger demand for them by adding lucrative prizes for the best ex-racehorse in class. It’s a concept that works really well in the UK through ROR, so we’ve worked with the industry stakeholders in Ireland to develop a similar program,” said Sarah Sands, who together with Godolphin’s Caoimhe Doherty has worked on the project for the last year.

Treo Eile was created with the assistance of Godolphin and Diana Cooper, Head of Global Charities.

“Response so far has been fantastic and we’re thrilled to have recruited some influential ambassadors in the shape of Patrick Mullins, Robbie Power and Katie Walsh. Along with the traditional equine disciplines, we’d also like to identify new roles for former racehorses. An emerging area is within therapeutic environments and there is growing scientific research showing how powerful Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) can be so we’d like to explore that area. It’s pleasing to see a new UK charity recently set up exactly for this too [Racing to Relate] and we hope to work with them.”

Launched only on Saturday, Treo Eile has already rehomed their first horse – the eight-year-old Bahamian Bounty gelding Dance Alone. The four-time winner of over £20,000 has joined Kildare-based Richard Hyland who will spend a few weeks of schooling the grey over obstacles before finding him the right partner to compete on.