Members enjoy British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre visit

Despite an inclement weather forecast, the sun exceeded all expectations and shone on the small group of ROA members that attended a visit to the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre in Lancaster on Monday 22 July.  Established in 1991 by Carrie Humble the Centre was the first of its kind, and following a successful fundraising campaign it moved to its current site in 2005 after buying the Whinney Hill ex-dairy farm.  Set in over 200 acres there has been an ongoing programme of development since, and now the Centre boasts 40 stables, a dedicated vet treatment facility, a covered indoor school and a horse walker.

ROA members were taken on a tour of the site by Chief Executive Gillian Carlisle, whose passion and dedication to the cause of the ex-racehorse was obvious to all.  As well as meeting virtually every horse on site (bribing them with carrots along the way!) we heard about how the Centre will never turn a horse away over its veterinary history, and about how they never set a time limit on getting a horse ready for another life.  Gillian and her team are also keep to expand the knowledge of people regarding the Thoroughbred ex-racer, so they have work experience and veterinary students from all over the world coming to visit.

The morning finished with members watching some of the horses being worked in the school – all at very different stages of retraining – before everyone departed for a highly enjoyable complimentary trip to Cartmel racecourse.  The ROA extends its thanks to Gillian and everyone at the BTRC, as well as Cartmel racecourse, for their time and generosity.