Career change

It's been nearly two decades since the first RoR showing championship took place at Hickstead. Victoria Goff finds out more about transforming former racehorses into showing stars 

JP B7495 (Large)

In 2005, a new showing championship for former racehorses was announced by the charity Retraining of Racehorses (RoR). It comprised a series of nationwide qualifiers, and a final that would take place in the International Arena during the Hickstead Derby Meeting.

Brostaig Ort, a Roger Curtis-trained gelding who had won a point-to-point as well as three times over fences, was the very first winner of the RoR Final, ridden by Helen Kington. In the 18 years since then, showing ex-racehorses has exploded in popularity, and so many different horses have won the Hickstead final, from those who made no impact on the racecourse or who didn’t even make it to the track, all the way up to Grade One horses such as Her Majesty The Queen’s Barbers Shop, who won in 2013.  

Nearly two decades since that first final, the Tattersalls/RoR Show Horse Championship has gone from strength to strength, with qualifiers taking place all over the country. There are now divisions for Flat and National Hunt horses in the open final, as well as separate Amateur classes for both codes too. All four classes take place in Ring Five, with the top 10 from each coming forward for the final judging in the International Arena. This takes place shortly before the Al Shira’aa Derby, when the stands are busy and the atmosphere electric, and it is testament to the versatility of the racehorse that so many of them take this in their stride.

“When the finalists come into the International Arena, that's when you really see how good they are because some step through that arch and just own that arena,” says Hickstead’s Showing Director, David Ingle. While some horses utterly thrive in this situation, for others the busy atmosphere can sometimes be a bit too reminiscent of their former racing career, and they become unsettled. “I’ve seen some lovely horses who have gone in there and found it too much and they bubble over. It's a real championship test,” he adds.

One horse who certainly rose to the occasion was Time Down Under, the 2022 champion. “We walked in first for the go-round, and I was on the most novice horse of them all,” says his rider, top show producer Justine Armstrong-Small. “He went around the showjumps and past all the stands, and he gave me a lovely ride around the ring. We went past the champagne bar, with the parasols and all the people, and I wondered if he’d get overawed, but it was almost like he enjoyed all the attention, and was showing off to the crowd. He did such a nice lengthen, and I've got a lovely picture of him galloping up the long side and me smiling. He felt wonderful.”

Time Down Under, a son of Aussie Rules, raced three times on the flat as a 2yo but finished last on all three starts. After retiring from the track, he had not done very much beyond a few in-hand classes. “It was during lockdown, and we were all a bit bored, so I was looking for a project. A friend said they had this Thoroughbred that was doing nothing at home, and asked if I would be interested in having him. We thought we may as well go and look at him, so we went to Lowestoft to meet Time Down Under.

Did he immediately look like a potential champion? “I thought he was quite light, just not much muscle, but he was very correct, and very good limbs with plenty of bone for his size. He’s only 15.2hh, but he's very much a hack type. He had good conformation, with a good length of rein, so I thought there was quite a lot of potential for him.”

Some horses retire from the racecourse one week and are happily showing the next, but Time Down Under took a bit more time to readjust. “When I tried him he was quite laid back, and he didn't really want to canter. But as we got going with him, he's actually got quite a lot about him. He can be spooky, and he's not been that easy to retrain,” Justine adds.

His first show was September 2020, when he went to Arena UK for a novice RoR class. “We was fine warming up in a small indoor arena, but we went to a big outdoor arena and he was completely starstruck. The front went up, the back went up, everything went up. But we did some more working in, I put earplugs in, and we went in the class and he was actually fine.”

Within a year of getting him, Justine and Time Down Under made the Hickstead final for the first time. “We got there the day before, on the hunter day, and he was a bit starstruck again seeing so many horses,” says Justine. “But the next day when we went back, he was a lot better, and he was really good in the main ring and ended up in third place.”

It was a brilliant introduction to the International Arena, and the following year he went on to win the overall championship, finishing ahead of Minella Rebellion and Katie Dashwood in reserve. As a past winner, Time Down Under is now ineligible to compete in the final again, so he will now be aimed at the HOYS series, as well as doing some Novice Hack classes.

What makes RoR classes unique is that each horse is shown as its type – whether that be hack, riding horse, or hunter, so you’ll have a real mix of shapes and sizes. “If you have an ex-racehorse who meets the requirements to be a show horse, they can be any type, and they’re all judged very much on a platform,” says David.

Another thing that makes the RoR series special is that it gives amateur show riders the chance to qualify and compete at Hickstead. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for amateurs to demonstrate just how good they are,” David adds. “The standard has become so high.”

Justine believes RoR classes have helped to bring newcomers into showing. “It can cost around £30,000 for a top show horse, but an ex-racehorse can be anybody's market if you can find a good one. This opens showing up to more people and brings them into the sport.” What should people look for in a potential RoR champion? “Correct conformation, good looks, a ‘look at me’ sort of horse with a bit of presence,” she says. 

If you do want to get involved in showing a former racehorse, David Ingle has the following advice. “Be patient, and give yourself lots of opportunity to prepare your horse for its new job. It’s a very different experience for them, and often they’ll get to a show and hear a tannoy, when the last time they heard one they were going down to the start. Make sure your horse has time to adjust, especially before entering the bigger shows.”

On the final day of the Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby Meeting, a new RoR champion will be crowned in front of an enthusiastic Hickstead crowd. It is the perfect place to showcase the versatility of the Thoroughbred, and to prove to the wider public that so many ex-racehorses can go on to have wonderful second careers. “Having these championships at Hickstead is a real inspiration, with riders perhaps having the opportunity to compete in the International Arena when they might not have been able to otherwise,” says David. “Having the RoR Tattersalls final here has been a phenomenal success story.”

 

This article was first published in June 2023 

View from the Press Office: June 2024

After a fantastic Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby Meeting, our press officer Victoria Goff reflects on some of the standout moments from the show 

Read more

Things you (probably) didn’t know about the Al Shira’aa Derby

We take a look through the archives to bring you some lesser-known facts about our most famous class

Read more

15 outstanding moments from the Royal International

Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Goff takes a look back at some of the best moments from last month's Royal International Horse Show 

Read more

Young guns

They are two of the best under-25 riders in the world, and last year they stood first and second in the King George V Gold Cup. Victoria Goff caught up with Gilles Thomas and Harry Charles   

Read more

Quick as a Flash

Victoria Goff spoke to Gemma Stevens, last year's winner of the Ashby Underwriting Eventers' Challenge 

Read more

A view from the Press Office: June 2023

Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Goff takes a look at some of the standout moments from the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting

Read more

Showing's standout moments from 2022

We take a look back at the best moments from the show ring at the 2022 Royal International Horse Show 

Read more

Home turf

Shane Breen chats to Victoria Goff about finally winning the Al Shira'aa Derby, after nearly 20 years of trying 

Read more

An Olympic ambition

Victoria Goff visits Al Shira'aa Farms, to find out more about their journey in showjumping.   

Read more

Career change

It's been nearly two decades since the first RoR showing championship took place at Hickstead. Victoria Goff finds out more about transforming former racehorses into showing stars 

Read more

In his prime

He's been one of the most consistent horses in the history of the Hickstead Derby - Victoria Goff finds out more about Harriet Biddick's remarkable horse A Touch Imperious 

Read more

An outright victory

Clear rounds are a rarity in the Hickstead Derby, and often the class is won by a single first round clear. Victoria Goff takes a look back through the roll of honour

Read more

Hickstead's Christmas 2022 countdown

We count down our best moments from a brilliant year here at the All England Jumping Course 

Read more

10 best moments from this year's Royal International

This year’s Longines Royal International Horse Show was a cracker – and wasn’t it wonderful to have five-star showjumping back at Hickstead where it belongs? Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Goff picks out her top 10 moments from this year’s show.

Read more

The view from the Press Office - June 2022

Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Goff reflects on a fabulous week at the Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby Meeting. 

Read more

Still much more for Maher

Victoria Goff catches up with Olympic champion Ben Maher 

Read more

Superb Swedes

Victoria Goff reflects on the current strength and depth of the Swedish showjumping team 

Read more

Thirty glorious years

Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Goff looks back over three brilliant decades of the Longines Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead 

Read more

Magical moments from the Royal International

We choose some of the best moments from the past 30 years since the Longines Royal International Horse Show moved to Hickstead 

Read more

Doney’s legacy

We pay tribute to Jon Doney, a highly-respected FEI official and an important part of Hickstead's team for many years 

Read more

Doing the double

Only a select band of riders have won the British Jumping Derby and the British Speed Derby - Victoria Goff reveals which famous equestrians hold the honour of winning both 

Read more

Teenage Dreams

In 2019, 19-year-old Michael Pender became the youngest ever rider to win the Hickstead Derby. Victoria Goff sat down to chat with him about his win  

Read more

The Hickstead Derby in numbers

In 2022 we’ll see the 60th running of the Al Shira’aa Derby, one of the most iconic classes in showjumping. We take a look back over the decades at the Hickstead Derby in numbers.

Read more

60 facts about the Hickstead Derby

How well do you know the history of the famous Al Shira'aa Derby?

Read more

The 60th Hickstead Derby

The 60th Al Shira'aa Derby takes place in June 2022. Victoria Goff looks back on the history of Hickstead's most famous class 

Read more

Harriet Nuttall Q&A

Showjumper Harriet Nuttall has an extraordinary record at Hickstead, having won the Science Supplements Speed Derby twice, the Science Supplements BHS Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Science Supplements All England Grand Prix - plus finishing runner-up three times in the Al Shira'aa Derby. Alex Irwin caught up with her to find out more about what makes her tick. 

Read more

Holly Smith Q&A

Alex Irwin caught up with Hickstead star Holly Smith at the Science Supplements All England Jumping Championships 

Read more

The unstoppable Irish

Victoria Goff looks back at Ireland's stunning win in the 2018 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Great Britain, and goes back into the history books to remember the other memorable Irish wins at Hickstead 

Read more

William’s fabulous four

William Funnell joined the elite band of four-time winners of the Hickstead Derby last summer. Victoria Goff spoke to him about what it means to join the likes of Harvey Smith, Eddie Macken and brothers John and Michael Whitaker. 

Read more

Top Speed

We take a look back over the history of the British Speed Derby. 

By Victoria Goff

Read more

Five of the best

Five riders share the record of having four wins in the Hickstead Derby. Victoria Goff takes a look through the archives to relive these legendary performances. 

Read more

Coming of age

A few days before his 21st birthday, James Whitaker scored his first major Hickstead win. Victoria Goff caught up with him ahead of the 2019 Longines Royal International Horse Show. 

Read more

A Platinum President

The BHS President Martin Clunes is a regular visitor to Hickstead. Victoria Goff finds out more about his role at the British Horse Society, and why he loves coming to our shows 

Read more

10 magical showing moments

We take a look back over some of the standout showing moments from the 2017 season 

Read more

Perfect Timing

Paul Tapner talks to Hickstead Press Officer Victoria Goff about his first win in the MS Amlin Eventers' Challenge

Read more

Miss Consistent

Harriet Nuttall proved she's no Hickstead bridesmaid, when adding yet another major title to her CV last summer. Victoria Goff caught up with the reigning Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner 

Read more

Fiesta Time

Brazil had an extraordinary run of form at last year's Longines Royal International Horse Show. Victoria Goff finds out more. 

Read more

Worth the wait

Victoria Goff describes the wait Nigel Coupe had before he finally become the Al Shira'aa Derby Champion in 2017. 

Read more

Doing it for Ella

Hickstead's press officer Victoria Goff caught up with Matthew Sampson, the winner of the Bunn Leisure Speed Derby 

Read more

Race against time

Victoria Goff takes a look back at some of the famous Hickstead Derby jump-offs that have taken place over the years. 

Read more

A New Era

Victoria Goff finds out more about Al Shira'aa, the title sponsors of the Hickstead Derby 

Read more

12 moments we loved at this year’s Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting

The Al Shira’aa Derby drew our June fixture to a close, and what a way to round off four fabulous sunny days of showjumping and showing. We take a look back at some of the best moments of this year’s show.

Read more

#RoadToHickstead contenders reveal...

We ask some of our leading Al Shira'aa Derby contenders some killer questions.

Read more

Harriet and Nigel go head-to-head

Two of the main Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby contenders, Harriet Nuttall and Nigel Coupe, discuss this year's challenge.

Read more

Hickstead Q&A - Hamad Ali Al Kirbi

UAE rider Hamad Ali Al Kirbi made his Hickstead debut last summer when he competed at the Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby Meeting. We caught up with him ahead of this year's show. 

Read more

Can you spot our Mystery Guests?

We're very busy preparing the International Arena ahead of this year's Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby Meeting CSI4*, and with spring being somewhat late to arrive this year we've had to ask some special guests to join our Ground Crew! 

Read more

Billy the King

Ireland's Billy Twomey enjoyed an amazing run of success at the 2016 BHS Royal International Horse Show, including a win in the Longines BHS King George V Gold Cup. Victoria Goff spoke to him about his golden run.

Read more

A home from home

Hickstead is very familiar stomping ground for David Simpson, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner in 2016. Victoria Goff spoke to him about winning on 'home territory'. 

Read more

The One to Watch

In the run up to the 2017 Longines Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead Press Officer Victoria Goff caught up with Amlin Plus Eventers' Challenge winner Esib Power.  

Read more

The nation's favourites

Earlier this year, we asked you to vote for your favourite Derby-winning horses. Victoria Spicer counts down your top 10. 

Read more

An unforgettable Adventure

Adventure De Kannan is one of the most successful Hickstead horses of recent times. Victoria Goff looks back at the remarkable career of the one-eyed wonder horse

Read more

William Whitaker: How to win the Derby

The 2016 Hickstead Derby winner William Whitaker shares his winning formula! 

Read more

William Whitaker: Advice for Hickstead newcomers

If you haven't ridden at the All England Jumping Course before, the 2016 Hickstead Derby champion William Whitaker shares his insights into competing here.

Read more

William Whitaker: The perfect warm-up

The current Hickstead Derby champion William Whitaker explains how to nail your warm-up routine, both at home and at competitions. 

Read more

William Whitaker: Winning a jump-off

Want to nail those jump-off rounds? Hickstead Derby 2016 champion William Whitaker shares his advice, and suggests two training exercises to improve your performance against the clock. 

Read more

William Whitaker's training secrets

In the run up to this year’s Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting, reigning Derby champion William Whitaker shares his showjumping training insights.

Words by Victoria Spicer, photos by Daisy Honeybunn

Read more

6 links between Hickstead and the Grand National

The home of British Showjumping and the most famous race on earth have more in common than you might think, writes Victoria Spicer...

Read more

A winning debut

Chloe Winchester, winner of the Templant Events Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 2015, chats to Victoria Spicer about her winning debut at Hickstead

Read more

Elizabeth the first

Last year Elizabeth 'Beezie' Madden became the first woman ever to win the Longines King George V Gold Cup. In 2015, she did it again. Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Spicer caught up with America's first lady of showjumping. 

Read more

12 moments we loved at this year's Derby meeting

There was rain, there was mud, but much more importantly there was some brilliant competition at this year's Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting. We choose our top 12 moments from this year's show. 

Read more

Back on top

Hickstead Press Officer Victoria Spicer chats to the connections of Loughnatousa WB, a horse who holds a very special record in the Derby...

Read more

Three in a row

Journalist Andrew Baldock takes a look back over the Hickstead archives at the three riders who have won the Derby three times in succession - and finds out which other riders came close...

Read more

A cool guy

Victoria Spicer chats to Guy Williams, the winner of the 2015 British Speed Derby, about setting records and why Hickstead will always be special to him

Read more

Eight great Derby rivalries

There have been some amazing clashes in the 56 years of the Hickstead Derby. Pippa Cuckson takes a look at some of the great rivalries over the years...

Read more

Breen’s Derby dream comes true

Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Spicer chats to the 2014 winner of the Equestrian.com Derby, Trevor Breen. 

Read more

Five Minutes with Fran Callan

Continuing our new Five Minutes With... series, we caught up with Fran Callan, the head travelling groom for Trevor Breen. As part of her job, she looks after Hickstead megastar and reigning Equestrian.com Derby winner Adventure De Kannan...

Read more

Miller's tale

Victoria Spicer meets Phillip Miller, winner of the 2013 Hickstead Derby, to talk about his rise from riding school lessons to Hickstead champion. 

Read more

A lesson with Derby winner Phillip Miller

When we ran an exclusive Hickstead Derby Community competition to win a lesson with the 2013 Derby winner Phillip Miller, we had a great response. In the end, we selected 25-year-old Jodine Brooks from Kent and her seven-year-old Dutch gelding, Camorasun.

Read more

15 facts about the Derby course

From poles that 'twang', resident newts and motorway fences turned into showjumps, Victoria Spicer investigates 15 things that you might not know about the most famous course in British showjumping...

Read more

Five minutes with Phillip Miller

Her latest victim in the 'Five Minutes With Series…', Daisy sits down with natural born comedian and Hickstead Derby superstar, 2013 winner Phillip Miller…

Read more

Five minutes with Bob Ellis

Daisy Bunn is back in the interviewer's chair this week with Hickstead's very own Bob The Buider, world renowned, Olympic course builder Bob Ellis...

Read more

10 iconic Derby moments

Last seen disappearing into our dusky archives, Hickstead Press Officer and journalist Victoria Goff has put together a review of 10 of our most iconic Derby moments over the years 

Read more

Five Minutes with Steve Wilde

Continuing our new Five Minutes With... interview series, Hickstead Director Daisy Bunn sits down with Hickstead's 'golden tonsils', commentator and Director of Ceremonies Steve Wilde...

Read more

Five minutes with Daisy Bunn

As part of a new series, exclusively for our HDC members, Hickstead Director Daisy Bunn is going to catch key members of the Hickstead team for mini 5 minute interviews, to give our members a unique, behind-the-scenes take on everything Hickstead. Who better to start with than Daisy herself!

Read more

The best of the best

Equestrian journalist Charlotte Ricca-Smith asks Hickstead Derby winners to name the performance - apart from their own! - that impressed them most. 

Read more

A Hickstead first

In 2013, Paul Beecher became the first person to produce a clear round having been drawn first to go in the Hickstead Derby, then go on to win the class. Victoria Spicer spoke to him about his achievement.

Read more

A National treasure

Harvey Smith is the only man to have won both the Hickstead Derby and trained a Grand National winner. Victoria Spicer reflects on his remarkable achievement.

Read more

Olympic heroes

Did you know that three out of the four showjumping gold medallists from London 2012 are past winners of the Hickstead Derby? Victoria Spicer catches up with them to find out what those wins meant.

Read more

FOLLOW US

CONTACT US
 

THE ALL ENGLAND JUMPING COURSE HICKSTEAD HASSOCKS WEST SUSSEX BN6 9NS Tel: +44 1273 834315 Fax: +44 1273 834452 View our Privacy Policy.

Our website uses cookies

Find out more about how these are used in our privacy policy.