Paul Tapner and Inishmor at Barbury Castle
An Australian and New Zealand rider took the Retraining of Racehorses Eventing awards at the British Horse Foundation Breeders dinner and Awards Ceremony held on Saturday the 11th January.
The evening incorporated the South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB) and the charity Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) Elite Performance Awards for ex-racehorses. The awards provide a focus for ex-racehorses competing in the disciplines of Eventing, Dressage, Show Jumping, Endurance and Showing to promote the talents and versatility of the thoroughbred and their potential for success after racing
The Elite Performance Award for eventing offers a valuable prize fund of £2,500 to the winner and was won by Ian Murray’s, Inishmor, ridden by Paul Tapner. Ian bought Inishmor, a grey gelding by Great Palm from the sales in 2007 as an unbroken three year and the horse changed careers at the end of 2011. Since then he has had a lot of good results at CIC** and Intermediate level with Paul, also placing third in the Barbury Retraining of Racehorses Championships where he was best placed British racehorse.
New Zealand rider Dan Jocelyn and his own Valemount took the runner up award for the second year running. After good performances in 2013 Dan and Valemount’s season came to an abrupt end in September last year when an unlucky fall resulted in Dan breaking his wrist, arm and foot at Gatcombe Park. Dan is now back in the saddle, looking forward to riding Valemount in 2014 and says that the prize money may go towards buying another off the track thoroughbred
