National Racehorse Week: Stars of the track to visit community to show what the life of a racehorse is like

It will see current and ex-racehorses being taken into schools, hospices, care homes, and mental health charities to demonstrate just how sensitive and rewarding being with them can be.

More than 130 venues across the country, including training yards, studs and retraining centres, are taking part in the event, organised by Great British Racing, to show what life as a racehorse is really like.

As part of the initiative that invites 16,000 members of the public to meet a racehorse for free, 60 community events will take place.

Research commissioned by GBR has revealed that 71 per cent of people aged 12-40 said that they felt happy when they saw a horse up close, and also revealing many believe the thoroughbred is suited to Equine Assisted Service due to its reactivity, experience, intelligence, sensibility and curiosity.

Equine therapy is growing in popularity and many former racehorses now have very special roles with organisations such as York-based New Beginnings, which takes in and retrains ex-racehorses, and is accredited by Retraining of Racehorses, British Horseracing’s official horse welfare charity, among those who take part in such activities.

York Racecourse’s equine embassador, the former dual Group 1 winning racehorse Goldream, is based at New Beginnings, and is often seen out in the community and greeting the crowds on racedays at York.

Goldream, known as Remy, recently visited St Gemma’s hospice in Leeds, with staff moving patients into the gardens in their wheelchairs and beds so they could meet him.

Meanwhile Yorkshire Post columnist and racehorse trainer Jo Foster who is based near Bradford is also taking part, and her horse, Sigurd, will be carrying out visits in the community this week.

Sigurd, a staying chaser known as Siggy, regularly visits schools and care homes in between racing.

Jo said: “Sigurd is an incredible horse - he competes on the racecourse, but also regularly visits schools and residential homes, which has become second nature to him.”

“For me, National Racehorse Week is about how we, as trainers, can help people and give back to the community. "These wonderful horses offer us so much more than winning races: they put smiles on people’s faces and can genuinely help people who are feeling sad, lonely, or isolated. It’s also an opportunity for people to come and see how we, in turn, look after our racehorses.”