Kilt Rock and Alexandra Dickson (Cassy) Our journey began in October 2017.

Debbie Amarly interviewed me on behalf of EERC as Kilt had come to the end of his successful racing career aged 10. Our agreement was that I begin the rehabilitation/ retraining from race to riding horse. We took our time to get to know one another, lots of hand walking and groundwork, I didn’t ride Kilt for the first few weeks.

As our relationship progressed I needed guidance and enlisted the help of Karen Stewart (KLS Equestrian Coaching). We focused on flatwork for the first few weeks. Kilt’s life when racing had been fast and straight so we were completely changing the way his muscles worked and didn’t want to risk injuring him. Kilt had regular physio after any new activity to help his muscles adjust to his new work. Our progress was slow to begin with but when we introduced Kilt to jumping, things quickly changed!

I became the proud owner of Kilt 2018.

To Date we have competed in many showjumping training shows where Kilt has been placed many times. He has won both 80cm and 1m Hunter trials and placed, competed in One Day Events, placed in Prelim and Novice Dressage, competed in National Showjumping 1.10m where he went clear first time out and came 20th out of 55.

Kilt can now be ridden and jumped completely tackless, we have built a relationship on kindness and trust.

Now relocated back to England at home with me Kilt has a wonderful life, He is out in the field munching grass all day and hacking around the countryside. We are preparing to compete in British Eventing beginning 2021 and I can’t wait to see where the next chapter of competing takes us.

Kilt is proof that theses wonderful racing athletes if given the chance are amazing riding and competition horses all they need is a little love, patience and kindness!

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I was part of the EERC syndicate that purchased Shamaal Nibras in 2104 from the ERA sale. In six seasons of racing he gave us some great days (and nights) out. The highlights of his racing career were probably winning the Jebel Ali mile and running in the Godolphin Mile.  When the time came to retire him from racing he owed nobody anything and I was delighted that he retired hale and hearty.

 After giving us so many good days out, I wanted to do what I could to give Shamaal another lease of life. Lockdown delayed things a little but I collected Shamaal from Red stables in July 2020 and brought him to the lovely Desert Palm equestrian Centre. 

 When he jumped down off the box he was pretty fired up - I guess he thought he was going racing. And I wasn’t sure he’d be calm enough to be a riding horse. But he settled quickly and since then he has been a dream.

 We started with flat work and lunging, and we competed in a dressage competition (not my strongest discipline). We then started to jump a few poles. Shamaal loves to jump and really pricks his ears when he sees a fence. We have competed over 40-60cm and 60-80cm and have won a few rosettes. As he gains confidence we will compete a bit more for fun across the UAE. We might also brave the cross country fences at some stage. Ideally, if he takes to the cross country and dressage I would like to get him going as an eventer.