Mathers and her veteran receive Racehorse To Riding Horse Award
last updated on January 15, 2007 00:00
Karen Mathers and her 19-year-old Off The Latch have won the affiliated dressage section of the 2006 South Essex Insurance Brokers Racehorses To Riding Horses Awards, which was presented at the 2007 British BreedersÂ’ Awards dinner at The Grange City Hotel, London, 13 January.
The competition was instigated by equestrian insurers South Essex Insurance Brokers to encourage the re-education of former racehorses.
Off The Latch, known as “Jake”, was retired from racing after running in a couple of bumpers. After nearly a decade of doing “a little bit of everything”, Karen bought him 10 years ago.
They evented up to 2-star level and nearly reached grade B show jumping until an old stifle injury meant he had to retire from jumping. Since then, Karen and Jake have amassed 200 British Dressage points, having won eight medium-level competitions in 2006 and qualified for the Winter Regional Championships.
Karen, who is trained by Pammy Hutton and ready to compete at advanced medium level, said: “I hope our achievements give inspiration to other people with older horses, especially thoroughbreds, to have a go.”
Racehorses to Riding Horses is a points-based competition for Weatherby-registered horses that have been in training. Points are accumulated throughout the season by competing successfully in affiliated dressage, show jumping, eventing, showing and endurance events as well as unaffiliated competitions.
For details of the 2007 Racehorses to Riding Horses Competition, visit www.seib.co.uk.
