News Spring 2017 Newsletter kindly sponsored by Elite Racing Club Transpique & Forgery The onset of outstandingly beautiful weather has it is also imperative to continue to offer safe haven meant that we have taken the unprecedented step to the horses that don’t have anywhere else to go. It of turning the horses out extremely early; it has been is excellent that the number of commercial retrainers so warm that many of them haven’t even needed increase each year and thanks to the continual work rugs at night. The horses looks in brilliant shape, it is from RoR the opportunities for racehorses to enter certainly hats off to our small team: James, Robbie, into successful further careers following racing are Hannah, Charlotte and Mike who have been the fab also growing and growing. There will always be a gap five throughout the winter. The dark, cold mornings in finding work for the sort of horses we have and as together with a lot of mucking out does tend to many as fifty percent of our horses are used for daunt even the most enthusiastic person, but they another purpose as opposed to riding. Our work have borne it with fortitude and now happily, this is with children and young people, expands, grows and all behind us until late Autumn. We have to remain changes each year whilst remaining true to our core hopeful and optimistic that rehoming will be easier principle; horses helping children helping horses. The this year. Disappointingly, and despite best efforts education team Emma, Jane and Alex have also with as many 16 horses in work at any one time, the worked hard in the winter months, it can be hard rehoming in 2016 was poor. We looked back upon a motivating children and young people on dark wintry newsletter written as long as ten years ago, and we days, but despite all they have achieved amazing are almost echoing the same sentiment as then, in results, a 51% increase in learners passing the that (and now more than ever) people are wishing accredited programmes in 2016 is testament to to rehome young fit horses, not the horses in their their dedication and mid/late teens, with miles on the clock and the commitment. attendant injuries and issues. We remain the only charity that doesn’t insist upon criteria for entry and Happy Easter and as therefore, by default, we will always find rehoming always, many thanks more challenging. It is essential to acknowledge that for your help and rehoming will be integral to our work owing to the support, Helen and number of horses retiring from racing each year, but all at Greatwood. CARING FOR RETIRED RACEHORSES & CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS Rainscombe Hill Farm, Clench Common, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 4DT T: 01672 514535 E: [email protected] www.greatwoodcharity.org Registered Charity no 1117322 www.greatwoodcharity.org T: 01672 514535 Greatwood in the Media 2017 has been a busy time for Greatwood in the taster of their visit to Greatwood at the end of media spotlight. A lovely three page article in the 2016. The full length piece with Gold Medallist, Wiltshire Life was then followed by an extensive Victoria Pendleton, was then aired on the piece in The Times; this added exposure about morning our raceday on Saturday 4th March. our educational programmes using the ex- Since then we have also had a visit from BBC racehorses has resulted in many unsolicited Points West, which was shown ahead of the donations, which is remarkable. Cheltenham Festival. Not only have we had journalists here but film For anyone wishing to see the videos please go crews too. We were honoured that the launch to our website www.greatwoodcharity.org show of ITV Racing on 1st January, included a where they can be viewed. A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO WINTER APPEAL DONATED TO THE 2016 WINTER APPEAL Over the past few years we have sent out our Winter Appeal to assist with the cost of stabling our equine residents through the inclement weather: 2016 WINTER APPEAL RAISED AN INCREDIBLE £18,182.00 THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT Aqueos produce a range of products, many of which we use, Greatwood would like to thank Tracy Richards for the supply of the shampoo that is used in abundance when the horses come in for the winter, for the various leather care products and for the Silver Spray on plaster. 2 www.greatwoodcharity.org T: 01672 514535 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Page 2 Thank you for Winter Appeal; Page 3 Inside this issue, The Greatwood Team, Dates for your Diary and Retraining of Racehorses footer; Page 4 & 5 News at Greatwood; Page 6, 7 & 8 Fundraising news; Page 9 Frilford Golf Day; Page 10 & 11 education; Page 12 & 13 education; Page 14 The Great Walk of Fame; Page 15-16 Become a Friend; Page 17-18 Greatwood Lottery; Page 19 Planning Greatwood’s Future DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Greatwood Charity Golf Day at Frilford – Monday 8th May 2017 Greatwood Presentation Day – 13th July 2017 THE GREATWOOD TEAM Chairman: Michael Yeadon Founder & Managing Director Helen Yeadon [email protected] Charity Administrator: Celia Matthes [email protected] Fundraising: Sasha Thorbek-Hooper [email protected] Education Team: Emma Cassidy, Jane Muir-Brooks & Alex Shaw [email protected] Riding Manager: Robbie Neville [email protected] Yard Manager: James Taylor [email protected] Tel: 01672 514535 www.greatwoodcharity.org Greatwood, Rainscombe Hill Farm, Clench Common, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 4DT Trustees: Alison Cocks, Jeremy Hummerstone Richard Powell, Helen Yeadon, Michael Yeadon Our Patrons: Kim Bailey, Nigel Bunter, Mick Fitzgerald, Russell Field, Lesley Field, Richard & Jemima Hannon, Nicky Henderson, The Hon. Harry and Chica Herbert, John Jarvis CVO CBE, Mike O Kane, Jodie Kidd, Rachel King, John McCririck, Jenny McCririck, Brian Stewart-Brown, The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Peter Walwyn, Lady Whent The Rt Hon Robert Brian Stewart Harry and Chica Herbert John and Jenny McCririck Kim Bailey Buckland QC MP Mick Fitz Mike O Kane Nicky Henderson & Alan King Nigel and Penny Bunter Richard and Jemima Hannon Russell and Lesley Field Trustee Alison Cocks John Jarvis 3 www.greatwoodcharity.org T: 01672 514535 NEWS at The winter has been kind to us, the lack of freezing difficult for them in the winter but we use soaked weather and the quality of the haylage has meant grass pellets for them and this appears to alleviate that we have only had to feed concentrates to less this difficulty to a large extent. than half the horses. All the horses have come Seek The Faith at the great age of 28, looks and through the winter in excellent condition. behaves like a much younger horse, still charges out of his box on daily turn out and is quite capable of bucking, kicking and rolling the same as any other horse half his age. Transpique, Knock a Hand, Ard Special - Two's Company - Three's a Crowd Deano’s Beeno – has had probably the best winter Potentate and Sunshine Boy for two or three years. His head can be a bit of a Pennybridge (28) and Potentate (26) have also puzzle to keep right during the long rather boring fared well and despite the fact we feared for Penny winter months. It is doubly thought provoking to some months ago because he looked as if his old work him out because he is a silent worrier and knees were giving him gyp, he has recovered well loses condition at the drop of a hat. Anyway, we and is gleaming and happy. He is also happy reverted back to putting him into his quiet old stable because he has teamed up with another old horse this winter so that, together with the fact we kept Sunshine Boy and walk around the field together him to a rigid regime (timed almost to the minute), stride for stride. Potentate has now been with us he has wintered remarkably well, his weight is good, for 14 years and still works hard for his living as an his coat is shining and he is now out at grass with integral part of the educational programmes. his long term pal of 14 years Paul Cass. These two are very amusing, if it suddenly starts to rain; they hightail in to their field shelter at top speed, shuffle about, and just poke their heads out to keep an eye on what is happening with the weather. We’re also very pleased with the way that a few more old timers have over wintered. Horses in their mid to late teens are most likely to succumb to dental issues more than anything else, and Suehail managing their forage intake can be challenging. Another challenge Diastema is common in older horses and we have during the dislodging food stuffs in the gaps to try and summer months is to prevent the build of bacteria and further difficulty keep the horses in eating can be a bit of test. For these old horses interested and happy. we have to keep an eye on their forage intake Our style of stabling Healed up injury site for Suehail and monitor how much they can actually eat and always helps with this digest because a horse’s digestive system is because they are able to see each other, lean over designed for constant grazing of grass forages. to groom one another, have the odd game throwing Lack of teeth eating haylage and hay makes this a ball or an errant rug about and generally keep 4 www.greatwoodcharity.org T: 01672 514535 NEWS at track of all the various activities that go in the yard.