Flemington

25 This story featured in the recent edition of the VRC’s Equine Welfare Bulletin. Enjoy more stories covering topics related to veterinary and research, post-racing careers, VRC & the industry, facilities and practices, and #LovetheHorse on the Equine Welfare Bulletin site here: https://www.vrc.com.au/equine-welfare-bulletin/ On the third day of the show the Queen’s home-bred former racehorse, First Receiver won the Retraining of Racehorses In Hand class. Once again, the Jerram-Hunnable team had been chosen to help First Receiver make the move into his new career. At Royal Windsor he was shown in hand by Katie’s husband, Chris Hunnable, a former eventing rider who rode for Britain at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. “My husband started in showing before he turned to eventing and he still loves the in-hand work – he does it with all my horses. But Her Majesty sends the horses to be ridden by me and I’ll be taking over the reins in the ring next year,” says Katie. “I’m riding First Receiver at home but the In Hand competitions are perfect for gently allowing him to get used to the competitions rather than immediately taking him to a show under saddle.” “When he does go in the ring with me, I want him to be 100% ready. He has been ridden away from home and he’s a good stick, but he needs time so this winter he’ll be doing some dressage competitions before his debut under saddle in the show ring. Hopefully by mid- 2022 he will be well established in his new career,” Katie adds. Her Majesty’s stud groom Terry Pendry discusses with Her Majesty the horses that they would like to come to Katie and will suit the environment at Collins Farm. “After Barbers Shop, I think they were keen to find another one for me to ride. So, when First Receiver came along, I was given the opportunity to go see him at the Sandringham Stud and discuss the opportunity before it was decided that he would come to me,” says Katie. “When I was a child, my grandmother used to chide me for having elbows on the table, saying ‘What would The Queen say if she walked in and saw you?’ and I used to reply, ‘Don’t be silly Granny, that would never happen.’” “Sadly, Granny didn’t live to see the day that The Queen first rang me to discuss riding her horses, but I do know that she would be very proud now!”