Godolphin Lifetime Care

We work with our partners to support Godolphin-owned thoroughbred horses as they move on to a life after racing.

The horsemanship of Godolphin’s educators, trainers and husbandry teams is of the highest standard, which sets our horses in good stead for life after racing. Well retrained thoroughbreds are adaptable and agile, making them suitable for a second career across a wide variety of equestrian disciplines.

How it works

Success stories

Allergic

ALLERGIC is a 2011 son of Street Cry out of Cajou who enjoyed a very successful racing career with Godolphin at group and listed level. He had 42 starts for 8 first placings, 5 seconds and 7 thirds including a win in a listed and Gr3 race. Allergic ended his racing career with a total of $698,945 in prizemoney.

ALLERGIC retired from Godolphin’s racing program in May 2019 after which he enjoyed a well-deserved break for 5 months before finding his long-term home with Marley Mezi. At the time, Marley was completing her 4.5 month stud placement at Godolphin Kelvinside as a part of the Thoroughbred Industry Careers (TIC) program. Throughout this time she cared for ALLERGIC, amongst others, in the spelling department.

Now affectionately known as “Lergy”, Marley has been enjoying the challenges of retraining a retired racehorse. Marley looks to educate Lergy to compete in the jumping discipline and looks forward to taking him out to compete in the near future. Lergy also loves going for long strolls along the beach & having a splash in the river!

Bramerel

BRAMEREL was foaled down in 2013 and is by NEW APPROACH (IRE) out of LONG STEM RED (AUS). BRAMEREL never debuted on the racetrack due to a paddock injury.

In September 2020 BRAMEREL was gifted to Patrick Herde at Ballyoch Horses to take part in a thoroughbred retraining clinic where he found his forever home with John Rutherford.

John had been riding on and off for a few years but lost his confidence and joy for riding after a bad experience. With John being a part of the Ballyoch Horses team, BRAMEREL was introduced to him as a horse that might just help gain his confidence around horses again. Under the expert guidance of Patrick and partner, Nora, BRAMEREL did just that!

Now affectionately known as Benny and the BFG (big, friendly giant) at Ballyoch horses, he quickly made his mark on everyone he encountered.

“He was the biggest horse in the yard so I didn’t think he would ever suit me but after a couple of rides on him I knew I could trust him” said John.

“Riding is something that I want to enjoy because a big part of my life involves being around horses as my partner trains them for a living. I really wanted to learn more and enjoy riding again but didn’t feel confident enough with any horse, so finding Benny was pretty special”.

John & Benny now spend their time continuously getting to know each other whilst learning how to showjump and look forward to entering their first show in the next few months. They often help out on the farm at Ballyoch Horses mustering cattle and lending their assistance in teaching the Backtrack Boys how to ride horses.

Chetwood

CHETWOOD is a 2012 son of Exceed and Excel out of Eldarin. Chetwood had a great start to his racing career with 5 wins and 2 third placings from 12 starts, including placings at Listed and Group 2 & 3 level. Chetwood ended a successful racing career with a total of $300,110 in prize money.

In May 2018 CHETWOOD was retired from Godolphin’s racing program and afforded an extended spell before being pulled out of the paddock to compete in the 2019 Jump Off TV Series. Kelvinside employee, Cade Hunter, began CHETWOOD’s 6 week retraining to compete in the TV Series. Whilst the combo didn’t qualify for the Jump Off final, they came leaps and bounds throughout the 6 weeks. CHETWOOD was very trainable thanks to his relaxed and level-headed nature. He showed great potential in the jumping arena which could be easily developed with time spent building his strength and confidence over the fences.

CHETWOOD, now affectionatley know as Mr Chey, has since found his forever home with Carrie in Victoria where he continues his training towards competing in the Jumping/eventing arenas. Carrie has been taking him to various different outings, lessons and clinics for more exposure to new environments in preparation for his first competition in the near future.

Carrie said "His attitude is incredible! I can't believe how much he loves water and ditches don't phase him at all".

We look forward to following Carrie's progress with Mr Chey and can't wait to see them out competing!

Chismoso

Working ponies are an integral part of Godolphin’s education program. From being a lead pony to a colt companion and everything in between, Godolphin places a large emphasis on ensuring we have the perfect working ponies to help with the process of educating Godolphin’s next generation of racehorses.

“If there is a baby that’s a little bit nervous or needs to be shown the way, this little champion here does it for them” Assistant Trainer, Victoria Appleby Godolphin Australia

Meet CHISMOSO (AUS), a thoroughbred bred to be a top performing racehorse but prefers the life of being a working pony at Crown Lodge. CHISMOSO (AUS) is a 2016 foaled son of Medaglia d’Oro (USA) out of Quidnunc (AUS). His racing career was short with only one start for a near last finish. He retired in 2019 and was snapped up by Victoria Appleby as a lead pony for Crown Lodge.

It takes a special horse to fill a working pony role and an even more special horse to enjoy being a lead pony amongst the hustle and bustle of early morning trackwork at Warwick Farm racecourse.

Condemned

CONDEMNED is a 2015 son of Dawn Approach out of Only She Can who had four career starts, for a first and second placing, earning a total of $107,875 in prizemoney.

CONDEMNED retired from Godolphin’s racing program in October 2019, finding his long-term home with his strapper, Michala Vanwijngaarden. Michala first met CONDEMNED when she started working at Osborne Park in November of 2018 in his 3-year-old racing year. Michala had a huge soft spot for CONDEMNED and built a strong bond with him through looking after for him whilst he was under her care in the stables and accompanying him to the races.

Now affectionately known as Connie, Michala has been slowly bringing him along, focusing on natural horsemanship work to build his trust in her. Michala is working towards educating Connie as an allrounder, dabbling in a bit of team penning.

Team penning, also known as ranch sorting, is a western equestrian sport that evolved from the common ranch work of separating cattle into pens for branding, doctoring or transport. A team of three horse and rider combinations use their combined athleticism, horsemanship and general "cowiness" to separate particular cows and herd them into the penning area in under 60 seconds.

Cul De Sac

CUL DE SAC is a 2012 son of TEOFILO out of LINDISFARNE who retired from Godolphin’s racing program in 2016. Unfortunately, the racetrack was not for CUL DE SAC, with his racing career ending after only his first start.

CUL DE SAC was retired into the care of Racing NSW’s equine welfare division, Team Thoroughbred NSW, so he could be retrained in order to find him a loving, long-term home.

CUL DE SAC’s forever home was found with Team Thoroughbred NSW’s Media & Communications Manager, Julieanne Horsman.

Julieanne is new to the equestrian riding world and took CUL DE SAC on as a beginner rider.

“I have learnt all of my horse skills with CUL DE SAC, he is such a dream to do everything with and it is clear that he has had very good training” said Julieanne.

Julieanne has always been a racing fan ever since she was a child and has always loved horses, but never received the opportunity to ride. When Julieanne moved from the Racing NSW Media Department into Team Thoroughbred NSW in 2019, she decided that it was time to get herself a Thoroughbred. Julieanne tagged along to the Thoroughbred & Veterans Welfare Equine Therapy program that Racing NSW facilitated in 2019. Throughout the program she received the opportunity to learn about horse care, the process of re-training a retired racehorse and began her riding pursuit. The program finished with a five-day graduation trail ride through Kosciuszko National Park. Julieanne first met and worked with CUL DE SAC during this program and has continued with him ever since.

“He has brought me so much joy and I am so grateful to have him in my life!”

Julieanne & CUL DE SAC continue to enjoy leisurely trail rides and are looking forward to developing their skills together under the watchful eye of her coach and colleagues. Julieanne aspires to compete in low-level shows in the near future.

How Godolphin rehoming works

The aim of Godolphin’s Lifetime Care program when retiring our much-loved racehorses is to ensure their welfare and keep track of their progress, with the hope each one of them enjoys their new career. Godolphin’s priority is to find our retired racehorses a long-term home in the first instance. Our brand is our commitment to each horses’ lifetime care and serves as a symbol of their quality education.

1

Arrival

Our rehoming program is comprised entirely of retired geldings. Following their retirement from racing, each horse will return to one of our farms in New South Wales or Victoria to enjoy a well-deserved break. The length of each retiree’s spell varies depending on each individual horse.

Following their arrival to one of Godolphin Australia’s spelling farms, each horse is assessed by our team of bloodstock and veterinary experts to determine, to the best of their ability, if the horse has the physical and mental aptitude for a second career. Every horse is given a minimum 6-week spell, giving each horse the time to wind down and socialise with other horses again. If the horse was retired from racing due to an injury, it is given the necessary medical treatment and rehabilitation period prior to being offered for rehoming.

The horses that Godolphin Australia offers for rehoming vary with regards to retraining. Our horses may:

Be rehomed out of the paddock following their spell
Receive basic re-education by Godolphin’s Education team prior to rehoming
Be retrained by accredited or acknowledged retraining facilities or individuals

Godolphin places a large emphasis on our education system which begins when they are foals. Godolphin’s education system (from the ground to saddling and through to barrier training) provides our horses with an important solid educational foundation that makes a difference later in their life when they retire from racing and transition into a second career.

2

Adoption

Godolphin Australia rehomes between 1 to 20 horses each year. You will find the horses currently available for rehoming in the Horses available page. If you find the horses listed are not suited to what you are looking for in your retired racehorse, please submit a rehoming application. Your application will be retained, and should a suitable horse become available we will be in touch. Please be aware that due to high demand for off-the-track thoroughbreds, we do have a waiting list.

Godolphin places high importance on matching the right person to the right horse. The rehoming application will help our Rehoming Manager make a suitable match for you.

3

Registration

Godolphin Australia are transparent in the information provided to potential new owners to ensure the horse can meet their expectations and is not pushed past their limits. Upon rehoming our retired racehorses’ new owners are advised of the full racing and veterinary history.

All our retired racehorses are rehomed with:

Their full racing & veterinary history
Godolphin Lifetime Care Registration Certificate
Godolphin Lifetime Care ID Card
Godolphin Lifetime Care cap

Every retired racehorse is recorded within the Racing Australia Register. As a participant/owner in the Australian racing industry it is a requirement for Godolphin to immediately notify Racing Australia of a horse’s retirement and location. Your name and contact details will be provided to the Registrar for the benefit of the horse’s welfare.

4

Fees

Godolphin do not charge a fee for our retired racehorses. However, we do ask you sign our Sale Agreement which outlines the transfer of ownership.

The health, wellbeing and long-term care of our horses is of the upmost importance to us at Godolphin.

5

Past the point of transfer

Once each horse is rehomed, Godolphin make it a priority to remain in contact with the new owners of our retired racehorses and enjoy following their progress.

Through the selection process to match a retired thoroughbred with a new owner and a new career, we are aiming for successful matches for the benefit of the horse. However, should there be a situation where the match does not work out, we invite owners to reach out to discuss other options.

We are committed to the long-term care and welfare of our horses and we are invested in their life past the point of transfer.

Useful links

Godolphin Australia’s rehoming pursuits extend to supporting organisations that promote the versatility of the Thoroughbred and celebrate their successes off the track. This also includes diverse programs where the retired Thoroughbred is the core component of human therapy programs and supporting education programs.