Former equine stars enjoying their new lives as off-the-track horses

From the pacers to the thoroughbred racing world, Queensland’s Kate Dreverman takes pride in being able to provide former star racehorses a second chance to learn new skills post-racing.

Describing it as a personal satisfaction she receives, Dreverman has former top racehorses El Campeador (pictured) and I'm a Rippa as part of her team, on top of two former European-based gallopers.

While some opt to rename their racehorses when they step into the eventing or equestrian arena, Dreverman believes it is vital they keep the same names they had when they burned up the track.

She thinks continuing on their name from their race days helps followers of the racing industry, past owners and general spectators of the sport have a greater understanding of where the former champions of the turf eventually end up once they are finished up at Eagle Farm or Doomben.

It is important to provide these beautiful animals with a safe environment so they can enjoy their lives in a happy way, Dreverman says, as well as learning new tricks outside of aiming to run fast.

“I have lived both sides of the world, being a track work rider for five years and also had a lot to do with breeding and yearling preparations, all the way through a racehorse’s career,” Dreverman said.

“I really want to make sure post-racing, they are looked after as well as they are during the breeding, sales and racing and training phases.

“There is a lot of people in the racing industry, who care for these horses every day like they are their own.

“It is about ensuring that the care continues post-racing, these horses make brilliant performance horses particularly in the sport of eventing.”

Dreverman, who has been involved in racing in Tasmania, New South Wales and now Queensland, has worked with all types of horses over the journey.

She believes re-training former racehorses to compete in the equestrian and eventing world is much easier when they have had a long life at the track, compared to a horse who has had just a few official race starts.

“I find the ones that come off the track and are a little bit older, they are a bit calmer and more mature,” Dreverman said.

“Where, some of the horses that have had just one or two starts, they can be fight or flight response, as compared to the ones who have had lot of starts, they are not quite as stimulated.

“The more experienced horses are easier to retrain, but in saying that, each horse is an individual.”

El Campeador and I'm a Rippa come from premier Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan, with both winning eight races in their time at Eagle Farm with the experienced horseman.

While the duo is now under the guidance of Dreverman, the Gollan family have not cut ties with their old gallopers.

Tony’s wife Jane is still heavily involved in their equestrian endeavours, after earlier owning a share of El Campeador.

El Campeador joined Dreverman’s eventing team in 2020 and she says he is a treasure to have around her facility.

“He is like a big teddy bear,” Dreverman said.

“He has a lovely kind eye and is lovely to have in the stable, he has a lovely personality for a horse.

“He is well mannered and a gentleman, El Campeador means something like 'the master of the battlefield' – he has that presence about him.

“He is a horse that people will stop you and ask about, just on his looks.”

The son of Captain Sonador has shown diversity across several disciplines including success at Horse of the Year and Eventing, Dreverman says.

“He really cleaned up at Horse of the Year and had a very successful start to life in eventing,” she said.