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This course is aimed at beginners (aged 8 – 13) who will enjoy learning about horses whilst having fun in the outdoors! The course will be interactive and interesting – no two days will be the same! Please note there will be no riding on the course.

• You can book for all four days or single days.
• The cost is £50 for a single day and £180 if booking all four days. This will include light refreshments, however all children must bring their own pack lunch daily.
• Children must wear appropriate outdoor clothing such as comfortable shoes and a warm/waterproof coat.
• BTRC staff are trained in safeguarding and are covered by enhanced DBS.
• All attendees will receive a BTRC certificate to confirm their learning.
• The course takes place at BTRC, Whinney Hill, Aughton Road, Halton, Lancaster LA2 6PQ.
• Arrival 9am and collection 3pm. Please note BTRC is not accessible by public transport.

To register, please click here to complete the registration form.

On Wednesday 22nd February BTRC welcomed Henk Geertsema, PR & Communications Manager at The CLA to Whinney Hill to learn more about the work rehabilitating, retraining and rehoming thoroughbreds.

Henk interviewed BTRC CEO Gillian Carlisle ahead of writing a feature article for the CLA Land and Business Magazine. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is the membership organisation for owners of land, property and businesses in rural England and Wales. The CLA exists to champion, protect and enhance the rural economy, environment and way of life. They aspire to unlock the potential of the rural economy by promoting innovative ideas to a national audience and providing practical support to members. BTRC are a long-standing member of the CLA.

Henk said of his visit “It was such a privilege to meet the super team at The British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre – doing such worthy work is much respected. Super impressed by the team’s passion, friendliness and hard work. Now, I’ll have a massive challenge in writing a feature to do the Centre’s work justice!”

The feature is set to be published in the May edition of the magazine.

A new partnership between the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre (BTRC) and the Scottish Racing Academy (SRA) will see the SRA delivering their education programme in England.

The Scottish Racing Academy already collaborates with multiple partners in Scotland to deliver qualifications and now, through the new partnership with BTRC, based in Lancashire, will be expanding to offer Scottish qualifications in England. The SRA was developed to assist with addressing the well-reported challenges associated with the attraction, recruitment and training of potential stable staff. The SRA are committed to providing inclusive opportunities, including entry level accredited learning and provide learner-centred training for those wishing to pursue a career in racing, as well as supporting people already working in the industry who wish to upskill their knowledge and expertise.

Continue reading “The British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre Set to Become English Partner Venue for Scottish Racing Academy”

The nominations are in and BTRC have been shortlisted to become a Harry Hall Charity Partner in 2023. Please see below how to vote for us!

With over 5,000 nominations, the shortlist of 10 is revealed in the Harry Hall Charity partner campaign. In the last 2 weeks Harry Hall received thousands of nominations for charities big and small across the UK.Today the company announced the final 10 for the public vote. The three winners will be announced on the 23^rd December and each will receive support for the duration of 2023.The 2023 Harry Hall Charity Partner Shortlist announcement

• Save Haven for Donkeys in the Holy Land
• Hope Pastures
• SAFE – Saving Abandoned Fly-Grazing Equines
• British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre
• Brooke Action for Working Horses & Donkeys
• The Riding for the Disabled Association
• Bleak Holt Animal Sanctuary
• Prince Fluffy Kareem
• Here4Horses
• Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust

Harry Hall is now asking equestrians and horse lovers to vote for the charity they would like to receive support in 2023.

To cast your vote simply visit https://harryhall.com/charity-partnership-donations or place your vote via the Facebook page – search for @harryhallriding.

Voting closes on 22nd December and the 3 winners will be announced on the 23^rd December.

“This year the nominations have come flooding in with over 5000 nominations received.  The equestrian community continues to humble us with their passion to help others said CEO Liz Hopper.

In December 2021, Hope Pastures, The Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust and World Horse Welfare were voted to be the Harry Hall charity partners for 2022.  In a little over 2 years Harry Hall has donated over £30,000 to charity.

Harry Hall’s support pledge:

Anyone joining the Harry Hall One Club, taking out insurance or going shopping, either online or on the Harry Hall Riding App, will trigger a donation.

• On every shopping order, new membership and new insurance placed * Harry Hall will donate 5p to the charity fund.
• There will also be the option to donate at the checkout.
• Harry Hall will donate unsold clothing, horse equipment and supplements ** to the chosen charities.
• Twice during 2023 Harry Hall will double one month’s donation value.
• Chosen charities will be featured in the HH1C magazine and they will be supported on social media and on the website.

Harry Hall is committed to helping others less fortunate than themselves and to supporting the causes that are important to Harry Hall One Club members, customers and the employees.

Please note our office hours will be slightly different over the Christmas period, please see below. However we are still available 24/7 with our Vulnerable Horse Helpline for any Thoroughbred in need of help. Should you require this, please call 01524 812649 and await the voicemail.

Christmas Eve: Closed
Christmas Day: Closed
Boxing Day: Closed
Tuesday 27th: Closed
Wednesday 28th: Closed
Thursday 29th: Open 8am – 5pm
Friday 30th: Open 8am – 5pm
New Years Eve: Closed
New Years Day: Closed
Monday 2nd: Closed
Tuesday 3rd: Open normal hours onwards

Christmas Coffee Morning
Saturday 3rd December 11am – 1pm

Join us for the last visit of the year! Enjoy a stroll around the yard, meet the horses and watch the team at work rehabilitating & retraining our retired thoroughbreds, all whilst enjoying a hot drink and a mince pie!

£10 adults & £5 under 16’s (includes tea/coffee and cake)

Booking is essential due to limited spaces, please email lauren@thetrc.co.uk or call 01524 812649

As we continue our fight for funding we are so thankful to those who voice their support for BTRC and show their appreciation for the important work we do. Thank you to Jacko Fanshawe (James Fanshawe Racing) for writing the below letter to the Racing Post that was published 30 October 2022. The whole team at Fanshawe’s have been fantastic supporters of BTRC for many years and we are grateful of their continued support.

We would like to a say a very big thank you and well done to loaner Hannah Tompkins, who ran the 2022 TCS London Marathon to raise funds for BTRC. Hannah completed the 26.2 mile course in 4 hours 36 minutes and 21 seconds! An amazing achievement for Hannah who is extremely busy working as a junior doctor and loaning BTRC Flo, how she found time for training we don’t know!

When choosing to run on behalf of BTRC Hannah said “I currently loan BTRC Fruit and Nut (Flo) from The British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre (BTRC) and will be running the London Marathon on behalf of the BTRC. I’m 25 and working as a junior doctor in the East Midlands. I’ve been running long distances for over a year but this will be my first marathon. Having visited the Centre numerous occasions to try Flo, I can see the hard work and dedication the team have towards rehabilitating the horses. The rehoming process and vulnerable horses scheme shows how important it is to support the charity and how essential their work is to aid thoroughbreds leaving the racing industry. Wish me luck!”

Well, all the luck paid off and Hannah did a fantastic job. Hannah’s JustGiving page is still open if you wish to make a donation: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/BTRCLondonMarathon

Or maybe you would like to take on your own fundraising challenge to raise much needed funds for BTRC. It could be a sponsored bike ride or sky dive or if you’re not up for the physical challenges why not hold a bake sale in aid of BTRC? Please get in touch with Lauren on lauren@thetrc.co.uk and we can support you in your fundraising efforts.

We were delighted to have three BTRC horses compete at The Jockey Club RoR National Championships at Aintree Racecourse at the end of August, all coming away successful and happy with their performances. Read on below to hear how they got on:

BTRC Innocent Touch & Abigail

Loaner Abi took BTRC Innocent Touch on loan in August 2021 and since then Abi has continued to produce IT to a high standard.
Eleven-year-old Innocent Touch was awarded 2nd place in the Longevity Class and was also invited to take part in the ‘Always a Star’ Parade in the Saturday evening performance. On the track Innocent Touch was very successful and won over £50,000 for owners Nicholas and Venetia Wrigley.

Venetia, who was in attendance on the Saturday evening said, “Seeing Innocent Touch at the ROR Championships at Aintree was absolutely wonderful – he looked absolutely fantastic, performed very well and is clearly a much loved horse who is relishing his new role. When he was in training with Richard Fahey, I rode him every day. He looked after me going up the gallop every time – even if he did grab me by the back of my back protector and lift me up in the stable when I arrived to tack him up!”
“BTRC have done a brilliant job retraining him and they have found him a truly wonderful home. I am so glad that I sent him there as it has been a perfect outcome – I do hope more people will support this very special establishment that looks after the horses first and foremost – ensuring that these animals who give so much pleasure while they are racing, are placed with new owners who understand the needs of thoroughbreds. The aftercare by the BTRC is second to none – no horse that they retrain ends up starving in a small paddock by a busy road – abandoned because he or she is no longer wanted. It is a very special organisation.”

Abigail said “He was an absolute superstar, I’m so pleased with how he’s taken to the show ring in his 4 shows this year. We are looking forward to training over the Winter and maybe mix things up with some dressage/jumping.”

BTRC Ideal Recruit and Rebecca

BTRC staff member Rebecca took Ideal Recruit (Rio) on loan in November 2021 after falling in love with him at work. Rebecca has slowly and correctly worked with Rio, who is 9 years old, to build his confidence in order to start enjoying local competitions and training clinics. They have such a special bond and this has proven with their success over the summer.

Rebecca said “We’ve had the best time at Aintree for The Jockey Club RoR National Championships. Two super 6th places in competitive classes against some really nice horses. So proud of my little superstar, for his first summer out competing I couldn’t ask anymore.”

BTRC Hailing Park & Rachel

Rachel has had BTRC Hailing Park on loan since early 2016 and over the years they have had some great success at many different disciplines. At the RoR National Championship 2022 they competed in two classes, ‘One for the girls’ and ‘Veteran’ in hand showing and won not one but both classes!

The previous week they were placed 3rd in the Open In Hand Show Series Final to secure their ticket for the 2023 RoR Championships despite being the only mare and veteran in a big open class. The horses that placed higher than her were 10 and 12 years her junior as Hailing Park is now 16 years old.

Hailing Park had an injury to her left foot in May 2022 and Rachel has done a fantastic job rehabbing her to get her back into competitive work ready for the end of the showing season and it has certainly paid off!