'Hussey' is back in the Festival spotlight

'Hussey' is being re-trained in dressage and next month will return to his old stamping ground at the Cheltenham Festival to take part in a parade of well known ex-racehorses.

The parade, on March 16, is being organised by the Retraining of Racehorses charity to show how these horses can go on to enjoy a new life, hunting, showing and showjumping.

'Hussey', who belongs to Nick Bannister from Coniston Cold, near Gargrave, had been pottering about at home until Anne Parkinson, from the Crow Wood equestrian centre at Burnley, offered to take him on for re-training.

"He's very laid back and a lovely old horse, he's really thriving doing this," said Anne. "I am excited about going to Cheltenham. There will be some really big names there."

The line-up includes Kicking King, Master Oats, Brave Inca and Moscow Flyer, all now flourishing in retirement in different ways.

"It's so nice that these old horses aren't forgotten," said Anne.

"Not all of them can be re-trained. You have to be very patient and have some understanding of thoroughbreds and how they work. They are very sensitive as well as very fast."

'Hussey', now 15, was trained by Peter Beaumont at Brandsby in North Yorkshire. His biggest win was the novice chaser's Gold Cup, the Royal Sun Alliance Chase, at the Cheltenham Festival in 2002.

He came fourth in the Hennessy Gold Cup and was well fancied for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2003 but did not finish the race.

He then had a crashing fall at Wetherby, fracturing his pelvis and was 'off work' for 14 months. He never really got back on top form after this and Nick Bannister and Peter Beaumont decided to retire him.

Now he is enjoying a new lease of life. " I really love working with these old racehorses and I feel privileged to be working with a horse of this calibre," said Anne.

THERE is a chance to see Gillian Higgins, of Horses Inside Out, giving a demonstration at Ledston Equine Centre on March 11.

In preparation for this, Gillian spends several hours painting the major bones and muscles onto her grey horse, Freddie. They then demonstrate how these work when he is walking, trotting, cantering and jumping.

The evening begins at 7pm and is being organised by Yorkshire Sport Horse. Tickets are 25 or concessions 20 (groups over 10 or juniors under 16) from Judith Lonsdale, 3 Brackenwell Lane, North Rigton, Leeds LS17 ODG. Cheques should be made payable to Yorkshire Sport Horse.

ALSO at Ledston Equine Centre, visitors are welcome to go along tomorrow and watch members of the North East Driving Trials group competing in their fifth indoor competition of the season. They will be there from about 10.30am until 1pm.

A new riding club for the Ripon and Nidderdale area already has 50 members since its launch in January.

The Brimham Riding Club has a number of events coming up including a dressage clinic with Ian Brown on Monday at the Lindrick Livery, Galphay.

A fund-raising Tack and Tog sale is being held at the Henry Jenkins pub in Kirkby Malzeard on March 1 at 7.30pm.

Anybody who is interested in joining should contact Jenny Lewis on 07790 353 889 or email [email protected].