Help needed for retired racehorse centre

The Moorcroft Racing Welfare Centre at Huntingrove Stud, Slinfold, is run by Graham Oldfield, an ex-King's Troop RHA, lead driver and formerly a BHS Inspector. He is also on the national panel of dressage judges, is a dressage trainer and competitor.

His partner. Sue Collins, who acts as yard manager, has managed her own yard for many years and has re-schooled ex-racehorses to compete at a high level of competition.

They originally started in inadequate premises in East Sussex in a small way, but their burning ambition to better the lot of horses coming out of racing spurred them on to looking for permanent and bigger facilities.

Their aim is to take thoroughbred racehorses which have finished their racing days, for whatever reason, and assess, re-school and ultimately rehome them, using a four phase programme. All horses remain the property of the MRWC at all times.

Owners and trainers from all over the country sooner or later come up against the ongoing problem of what to do with their horses as and when their careers in racing are over. Many are owned by syndicates or business people who do not have the facilities or the knowledge to care properly for them at home, but do not want them to suffer the fate of many such ex-racehorses which are passed from home to home and end up being ill-treated destroyed or exported in horrific circumstances for meat.

The centre is run as a charity, with some notable trustees ranging from top racehorse trainer John Dunlop, ex-jockey Brough Scott and Spencer Chapman. Patrons are Lord Oaksey, Ben Sangster and Julian Wilson.

Last year, the centre had a record year, successfully rehoming 43 horses'“ a record for which Graham is justifiably proud. But 2005 has proved to be a worrying time.

The centre is full with 26 horses currently being rehabilitated but there is a long waiting list of horses to come in. It takes six months on average to retrain a horse and it costs 260,000 a year to run the centre, with the only regular funding being a grant of between 60,000 and 90,000 from the British Horseracing Board.

"We have a shortfall of anything from 160,000 a year that we have to make up entirely from fundraising. It is frightening and we are in dire need of help this year.Like all other charities we have undoubtedly suffered from the Tsunami appeal," he said.

A mainstay for the centre is an annual charity race day at Plumpton which takes place this year on Monday October 17 and raises on average 45,000 a year.

"There is also a quiz evening supported by the Racing Post, which brings in around 18,000, and the rest comes in from fundraising events which people hold for us, or from being members of our Friends group," said Graham.

Well known graduates from the centre include Shamanic and Lift and Load ( both Group placed horses) and multiple steeplechase winner Yeoman Warrior who broke down badly whilst crossing the Melling Road in the 1998 Grand National.

Local runners like Sir Valentine and Native New Yorker, whose careers ended through injury, are now being rehabilitated and retrained at the centre,and Repton is making the grade in dressage and ready to do elementary events.

The flagship horse is Moorcroft Boy, after whom the centre was named, who is now 19 years old and attends many events to promote the centre.

The centre has a dedicated staff of six, including secretary Jane Aylwin, and five part'“timers, along with some staunch volunteers. When money runs low, Graham and Sue take no payment.

You can help by joining the Friends of Moorcroft Support Group, which now has 151 members paying 10 a month. They enjoy constant updates, with an annual June event, outings to yards and studs and a regular newsletter to keep them informed of progress.

"We would not have been able to continue without the outstanding generosity of people. They hold their own fundraising events for us, leave us legacies, and contribute to gift aid and deed of covenant schemes," said Graham.

The vital funding enables all horses entering the centre to enter a four phase programme of isolation, assessment, reschooling and rehoming.

Re-schooling begins by hacking out in the park and schooling in the menage. A decision is made as to whether aptitude is shown for dressage, jumping or becoming a good all-round riding club hack horse. Under the constant supervision of Graham Oldfield the schooling continues until he is convinced the horse is sufficiently safe and well trained to go to a carefully selected home.

Any potential new keeper to ride the horse several times at the centre, under Graham's supervision, to ensure the combination is well-suited and the rider is sufficiently experienced to cope. Having passed this careful scrutiny the new keeper's premises and facilities undergo a thorough inspection and if suitable, subject to signing the necessary paperwork, the horse is allowed to leave. Follow up unannounced welfare visits are subsequently made to ensure the horse's continued well-being. Every horse remains the property of the charity throughout its life.

You can contact the Moorcroft Racing Welfare Centre at Moorcroft Racehorse Welfare Centre,Huntingrove Stud,Slinfold,West Sussex RH13 0RB.(01403) 791916 or visit the website on www.mrwc.org.uk