Retrained racehorse Annacotty proves the flexibility of thoroughbreds

Widespread racehorse and Cheltenham Paddy Energy Gold Cup hero Annacotty is completely excelling in his second profession after racing.

The 16-year-old gelding and Hannah Bishop are having the time of their lives, having fun with looking, aspect saddle, RoR exhibiting lessons, seaside rides and loads of hacking, proving the true versatility of retrained racehorses. However it’s in showjumping that this “naturally cautious” thoroughbred excels and he grew to become the primary Cheltenham winning-racehorse to go on to win a showjumping class at Hickstead.

Buckinghamshire-based rider Hannah is rightfully happy with all that the much-loved “Gerry” has achieved.

“I believe as a result of I haven’t overdone issues with him, he’s nonetheless going robust and in the very best type of his life,” she says. “He feels even higher now than he did two years in the past. He’s extra superior in his education now, however he’s only a pleasure to journey; it’s an absolute privilege to have him.”

Annacotty: “The very best racehorse they ever owned”

Hannah has been racing supervisor for Nationwide Hunt proprietor Liz Prowting for the previous 20 years and she or he picked out the four-year-old point-to-point winner Annacotty (Helpful x Ardross) on the gross sales for Mrs Prowting to purchase. The teenager was nicknamed Gerry after bloodstock agent Gerry Hogan, who helped with the acquisition.

“We purchased the primary horse that I noticed – which you’re not speculated to do! However he got here in below finances and he’s been the very best racehorse that they’ve ever owned,” says Hannah.

Annacotty was skilled by Martin Keighley in his early years, successful the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase below jockey Ian Popham earlier than happening to triumph within the Paddy Energy Gold Cup at Cheltenham – a primary Grade One success for his proprietor – on his first run for coach Alan King in 2015. His love for Cheltenham was cemented when he went on to turn into a twin winner of the Grade Three freebets.com Trophy Chase on the similar observe.

“He liked racing there they usually solely actually ran him at Cheltenham ultimately,” says Hannah.

The massively standard racehorse Annacotty and jockey Ian Popham lead all the best way to win at Kempton. Picture by Invoice Selwyn.

“He retired sound and on the prime of his sport”

Annacotty was retired from racing after operating within the 2017 Cheltenham Pageant and Hannah says “I actually wasn’t letting anybody else get their palms on him when he completed racing!” So she set about retraining her beloved and quirky Gerry for a life past the observe.

“He retired sound from racing and that’s most likely one of many strongest factors – we took him out of racing when he was on the very prime of his sport,” she explains. “Lots of people would have saved racing him, however we didn’t need to preserve pushing him.

“He’s very a lot a sulky character – he needs to be sorted and he’s fairly excessive upkeep by way of the quantity of consideration and TLC he wants, and by way of the one who’s taking care of him. So he must be at dwelling and requires cuddles, time, consideration and energy, but it surely’s completely price it.”

Whereas he was racing, Annacotty used to take pleasure in some looking “to maintain him candy” though Hannah says, “I can’t maintain one aspect of him looking now!”

Annacotty having fun with a day’s looking in 2017.

They’ve taken half in every part from RoR (Retraining of Racehorses) racecourse parades to some aspect saddle, however discovering his forte in showjumping has come as one thing of a shock.

“He’s at all times had that X-factor about him and if we’d taken him out of racing on the age of 5, I can say with full confidence that he’d have gone to Badminton – he may have been something or executed something,” says Hannah. “We had been actually torn on the time – did we wish a world class competitors horse or did we need to see how far he’d go racing? However he was purchased and bred to be a racehorse – you’ll be able to have pipe desires alongside the best way, although!

“So we thought he’d be a lot happier going cross-country after he retired, but it surely’s not usually he has a pole down showjumping – he will get upset if he does, he’s simply naturally very cautious. I don’t know what it’s, however he simply loves it – it’s like he can learn the numbers on the fences.

“However I attempt to journey respectfully slightly than flip up horribly tight. I’m aggressive, however his welfare comes above any flip.”

Retrained racehorse Annacotty: “We don’t ask an excessive amount of of him”

Hannah and Annacotty have racked up some good showjumping wins in recent times, additionally competing within the RoR ultimate on the British Showjumping Nationwide Championships, however Hannah’s stand-out success was successful at Hickstead’s All England Leaping Championships in 2021.

“He’s the one racehorse who has gained at Cheltenham and gone on to win a showjumping class at Hickstead – he’s phenomenal,” says Hannah. “He’s like driving a pony.

“However we don’t exit and leap six lessons throughout two days, we simply leap one class and are available dwelling. He’s effectively sorted and saved candy and managed properly. We don’t go to the effectively too usually.

Hannah Bishop and retrained racehorse Annacotty having fun with the showjumping at Hickstead.

“He may do much more, however the fantastic thing about the very fact is he’s nonetheless match, competing and doing issues as a result of we haven’t stretched him past his limits and don’t ask for an excessive amount of,” she continues. “He very hardly ever comes dwelling with out having paid for the outing. He’s very constant.

“He’s the identical in his racing mannerisms when he goes to exhibits, however he’s higher at some venues than others – he has locations which can be in his consolation zone and he’s a whole poppet, then there are different locations that if he doesn’t significantly just like the venue or the environment he’s fairly difficult. However on the entire, he’s actually good. He’s at all times been supremely gifted however fairly quirky!”

“I would like folks to see that racehorses can deal with a technical course”

In a full circle second, the pair will subsequent month (25 October) be competing within the Sportjumping Ultimate at Bury Farm, an annual showjumping competitors that mixes a racing-style handicap format with the possibility to have a flutter on the runners and riders. A discipline of 15 will line up for every of the three peak lessons and that is the primary time that former racehorses can be participating.

In addition to Hannah Bishop with Annacotty, Rachel Vicary can be in motion on the previous Gary Moore-trained Shantou Grasp, and Clair Lewis driving Grasp Wickham can be bidding for glory in the course of the gala night.

“I simply need folks to see that racehorses could be fantastically effectively skilled and deal with a technical course,” says Hannah.

“I don’t actually know what to anticipate on the night, however I’m trying ahead to it. I do know it is going to be a special sort of showjumping observe to what we’re used to, however I believe he’s at that time in his life that he ought to be capable to deal with being requested a special query.

“I can’t actually afford to consider folks betting on us although! I’ve executed sufficient charity races over time and that’s a part of going racing. I’m extra nervous about how he’s going to deal with the night environment – he can get a bit lit up by rowdy crowds, however hopefully he’ll simply take pleasure in it.”

Hannah Bishop and beloved retrained racehorse Annacotty on the seaside.

Singing the praises of the flexibility of retrained racehorses, Hannah describes Annacotty as “a really good horse to journey”.

“There’s nothing he doesn’t like, he doesn’t flip a hair and he’s only a pleasure to be round,” she says.

“Liz Prowting is an enormous Nationwide Hunt proprietor, she’s 85 now and now we have by no means offered on a horse – each single racehorse stays with us for all times – so there are masses on the market with different folks competing, doing Pony Membership actions, looking, eventing and nonetheless actively in work. They arrive dwelling after they’re field-retired or they go right down to Devon the place associates preserve them for us.

“In order that they’re all over – however you need to attempt to match them with the best folks, and we don’t at all times get it proper, however you attempt your finest.

“Lots of people may need taken Gerry lots increased, however equally you need to keep in mind that he’s executed his job and it’s now about having fun with his life which is why we preserve it enjoyable and simple,” she says of her true household horse.

“He’s such a gem, a gentleman, he’s simply actually, actually pretty.”

You may additionally be interested by:

H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her position as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the globe reporting from exhibits and interviewing riders, connections and people concerned behind the scenes. Since becoming a member of H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on each topic throughout the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to secure administration — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She additionally has first-hand expertise of working within the equestrian business as a driving teacher and yard supervisor.