A former racehorse has proved the versatility of thoroughbreds by competing in the modern pentathlon at the Olympics and becoming an award-winning showjumper.
Quel Ange, a 10-year-old stallion owned by Jabeena Maslin and ridden by Kathryn Ellison, won the British Showjumping (BS) Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) National Recognition Awards.
He amassed the most winnings throughout the year to take the top prize of £2,500.
Quel Ange was registered with BS in 2010. Since then, he has progressed from discovery level (1.10m) to 1.25m and will be aimed at 1.30m classes next year. He was ridden at Greenwich by riders from China and Lithuania.
“He’s a fantastic horse and good fun to have,” Jabeena told H&H. “He’s quite small — 15.2hh — but for a little horse he’s a real jumping machine.
He jumped superbly at the Olympics — fast and agile. And now this, he really ismulti-talented.”
The stallion had nine starts on the Flat and was in training with Ron Hodges. He finished second twice before being retired in 2006 and going to Jabeena in 2010.
Second in the series was Vite Etoile, owned and ridden by Nicola Braidwood.
Petite Pistolet, owned by Kieley Powles and ridden by John Garrett, was third.
Di Arbuthnot of RoR added: “I hope the series will continue to encourage more riders to recognise the talents and versatility of the thoroughbred.
Thoroughbreds have great potential for success in another sphere and I’m looking forward to seeing which horses get involved in 2013.”
For more information visit: www.ror.org.uk
This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (22 November 2012)
