A team of ex-racehorses, collectively bought from the track for £1,650, won a British Dressage Team Quest qualifier on 1 June — on their first outing.
The Jim Boyle’s Ex Racehorses team, made up of Aimee Oswin and Hoover, 6, Annie Ho and Persian Marvel, 4; Nicole Bates and Benny The Bat, 10; and George Brown with 15-year-old Jimmy Bond took part in the intro, prelim and novice sections to finish on a total score of 204.64, clinching the team win.
Team manager Pippa Boyle said she was delighted with the win, especially considering 3 of the 4 horses went to their rehomers directly from their racing yards.
“Not bad for a team of horses who can go out and hold their own against horses who will have cost considerably more than that,” she said.