Thoroughbred auctions are commonplace both in the U.S. and abroad, and play a major role in the marketplace of Thoroughbred race horses. However, a recent auction in the U.K. saw the sale of several Thoroughbreds for a very different purpose.
A new type of Thoroughbred auction has emerged, thanks to the U.K.-based organization, Retraining of Racehorses (ROR). ROR organized the first public auction of Thoroughbred retired race horses for second careers on March 20. The auction, held by Brightwells at the Three Counties Show Ground Malvern, offered 30 catalogue entries, 12 of which were sold for prices ranging between about $920 and $1685, according to a release on the ROR website.
Notably, British Olympic eventer Jeanette Brakewell will have a new face in her barn thanks to the auction. According to Horse and Country, six-year-old gelding Barton Blount (Beat All – Katie Savage) was bought for $1685 by Jill Sackett for Jeanette to ride.
Each horse that is sold, both via ROR’s online sale and live auction, is sold with a non-racing clause attached to its papers. Launched in April 2000, ROR is British Horseracing’s official charity of the welfare of retired racehorses. ROR hopes to continue the sales for Thoroughbred race horses seeking a second career as demand for both buyers and sellers continues.
“There are 385 million people in the U.S., and only 3.8 million have horses,” David O’Connor said as he began the classroom session on day 4 of the Emerging Athletes Under 21 (EA21) National Camp. “Not all of them are into eventing.”
A change in the original schedule of the Emerging Athletes Under 21 (EA21) National Camp brought cross-country day forward to the third day instead of the original final day. Alongside his work with the U.S. Equestrian Federation and the FEI, EA21 Director of Coaching David O’Connor advises the Caisson Detachment of the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment on horsemanship and will be traveling to Arlington, Virginia, to attend the state funeral of former President Jimmy Carter. But no one was disappointed by the change.
Having established clear lines of communication yesterday on the flat, it was time to take those tools to the jumping arena during day two of the 2024-2025 Emerging Athlete Under 21 (EA21) National Camp held at Sweet Dixie South in Ocala, Florida. The curriculum for the second day focused on the rider’s responsibilities and maintaining rideability.
“There’s got to be things that you believe to your core,” EA21 Director of Coaching David O’Connor began on the first day of the 2024-2025 Emerging Athletes Under 21 (EA21) National Camp held at Sweet Dixie South in Ocala, Florida. “For me, that’s communication.”