When racehorses retire, they can face an uncertain future. That’s why The Racehorse Sanctuary & Rehoming Centre is dedicated to giving them a safe haven and a second chance of a new life after racing.
Thoroughbreds enjoy having a purpose and we aim to retrain many of these former racehorses, so they can begin new rewarding careers as eventers, show jumpers, happy hackers or dearly loved companions.
Jilly Cooper, OBE is a lifelong animal lover, bestselling writer, journalist, and champion for the recognition of the part played by animals in war.
Jilly has been delighting her audiences for nearly fifty years. Her books have sold over 11 million copies in the UK alone and have been translated into over a dozen different languages.
John Francome is a former Team European Show Jumping Champion and Young Show Jumping Rider for Great Britain and a seven-times Champion National Hunt jockey.
John is now a racing journalist having retired from presenting racing on Channel 4. He is also a writer of fictional racing thrillers and has been President of The Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF).
Julie lives in Derbyshire where she breeds thoroughbreds and has several horses in training. She has sent several of her horses to us to be re-schooled and re-homed with the agreement that if for any reason this wasn’t possible, she would happily take them back to keep their future secure. Her generosity has been integral to our success, and she continues to promote and raise awareness of the Centre and its work.
David is one of our fantastic fundraisers.
He is a retired scientist and business cherub, who only discovered horses later in life through the owner-breeder clubs run by The National Stud. Three of his favourite horses bred at the Stud have been retrained and rehomed by the Racehorse Sanctuary & Rehoming Centre.
“Never has there been a more important time, in which to become involved in the welfare of racehorses.
I am delighted to be a Patron of The Racehorse Sanctuary & Rehoming Centre, as I know each horse that it receives, will be given the time and patience that it needs, before finding a new home and loving owner.”
Julia Palau (married name OHLSSON) founded J & M Entertainment and Tusk Productions, was previously a council member of the British Screen Advisory Board, and UK Films & Television, and is currently a director of SIM4MED and a member of the British Academy of Film & Television Arts. Honoured in the millennium as a Leading Woman Entrepreneur of the World, Palau has produced, financed or distributed over 200 films. Married to film producer Bertil Ohlsson, they have two daughters and three grandchildren.
Tara has been supporting the Centre as a volunteer and with social media since 2016. She joined not long after getting her second ex-racehorse, Ollie, pictured here and is hugely passionate about retired racehorses, having successfully re-trained her first back in 2006. “I love the brains, the athleticism and the ability of a Thoroughbred to turn their hoof to anything! I am delighted that I am able to do my bit in helping give some of the many that leave racing, a second life and career when they come out of training.”
Born in County Wicklow, Edmund competed in show jumping to a good level in his early career. Now living in England for over 20 years, he has a number of horses in training with Brian Meehan and Simon Dow and feels he has a great love and spiritual connection with these horses. As a debt of gratitude toward them for the pleasure they have given him throughout his life, he takes great pride in being the Chair and a trustee.
“Beware of horses, they will steal your heart!
I have loved horses for as long as I can remember and have been a Pony Club Mum, Matron and Teacher and trained for my AI at Wellington School of riding. Fundraising is a large part of my life, and I am very proud to be part of the Centre’s team which helps the horses in their care to enjoy their retirement in comfort and peace.”
Andy, a retired businessman and lifelong animal lover, has been captivated by the Thoroughbred since the days of iconic voices like Peter O’Sullevan and Clive Graham. Retirement has enabled him to get more involved, participating in racing syndicates and by becoming an owner and starting his own breeding project. Andy is honoured to have been asked to be a patron and will assist wherever he can to help the Sanctuary staff give these amazing horses the care and attention in their retirement.
My love of racehorses started 15 years ago when I married my wife Hannah (when we first met I had two goldfish to my name!). I’m a self-employed planning consultant who has specialised in rural planning for many years. I regularly work with the equestrian community at all different levels. I was honoured to be invited to become a Trustee and look forward to helping to fundraise and raise awareness; if I end up getting an OBE I will auction it for more proceeds for this excellent charity.
I have had a great love for horses from day dot, learning to ride very early on, joining the Pony Club and then eventing with BE. I have always favoured the thoroughbred, maybe due to my mum having a beautiful TB that I grew up with. In my years of riding, I have produced many x racers to go on and be dressage horses and eventers. When I am not riding, I head up a Project Management Office in IT Service Management Software. In my spare time, I go horse racing (spectating), cycle and I love to travel.
Nigel Dunger manages the team at the yard and has years of experience working with thoroughbreds, having started work at Lambourne when he was 15. He worked for various trainers including Nicky Henderson LVO OBE and looked after a Grand National runner up, two Cheltenham Festival winners amongst other well-known horses. Passionate about thoroughbred welfare he ensures that a horse goes to a good home at the end of their racing career.
After leaving school I went directly to The British Racing School, I then worked in Newmarket for 12 years before returning to Sussex where I worked in a pre-training yard for 8 years. This was followed by freelancing riding out in flat and jump yards. I own three ex-racehorses all of which I compete.
Horse’s are a way of life for me, not just a hobby. I finished school at 16 and kick started my career with horses doing my NVQ’s and BHS stages. Over the years I’ve been very lucky and worked in a lot of different disciplines within the industry, with racing and retraining yards being my favourite. There’s something special about seeing a horse flourish and go on to their forever home being a riding horse or as a companion. I’m really excited to be working at the Centre.
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