Blade: The horse who chose me
Ali Harvey and Out Like a Light
When I purchased Blade three years ago, I never imagined what we would achieve together. We finished this season ranked number one in the country in the RoR Bronze League (British Showjumping) and third in the All-Horse Bronze League (South West).
I hadn’t planned to buy an ex-racehorse. Visiting Irish Horse Imports, I looked at around 50 horses over stable doors without feeling drawn to any of them. Blade had just arrived on a lorry and was the very last horse I saw. As he came down the ramp, I remember thinking his legs looked impossibly thin — I was sure they wouldn’t survive Cornish country lanes.
I was asked to hold him while the others were taken to their stables. With no fuss, he stayed with me, snuggled into my neck. I’m not into anything wacky, but I truly believe Blade chose me that day. Despite years of experience exercising TB racehorses, running a British Horse Society riding school and working as a qualified BHS Intermediate Instructor — I let my heart overrule my head. By the time I left, I knew he was coming home, whatever he could or couldn’t do.
Blade passed only a two-stage vetting. His trot wasn’t quite right and he was nothing special to ride, but none of that mattered. Two weeks later he arrived, calm as you like, though lighter than when I’d last seen him.
The following years required a lot of problem-solving. Feeding was a major challenge; Blade suffered from ulcers, so hay became the foundation of his diet, with minimal hard feed. TopSpec’s free feeding advice was invaluable. Blade now lives out 24/7 with unlimited hay and access to a stable, which I believe has been hugely beneficial, especially for a sensitive Thoroughbred.
Shoeing was another battle. With little hoof wall and high stress levels, shoes rarely stayed on. Eventually, we transitioned him to barefoot. It wasn’t easy, but it pushed me to build a small sand school — an unplanned expense, but a game-changer. Flatwork became our focus and proved key to our jumping success. We hack out in Scoot Boots, which work well for us.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have supportive coaches. Andrew Richards at Tregurtha Downs has guided us from the beginning, helping through Blade’s movement issues, occasional incorrect leads and some memorable buck-offs. Andrew never judged my decision to buy an ex-racehorse — instead, he gave me confidence, reassurance and endless humour. Being able to tag along with Team Tregurtha at stay-away shows has meant a great deal.
Through RoR, I was introduced to Michael Van Houben and have also been supported by Adrian Branally. Having instructors who truly understand both horse and rider is invaluable, and I’m deeply grateful for their knowledge, honesty and encouragement — whether in training, warm-ups or post-round debriefs.
I wanted to share our journey to highlight that retraining an ex-racehorse isn’t always easy. There have been many challenges not covered here, and at 55, I’ve had to dig deep both physically and mentally (blow-up jackets are highly recommended!). Blade isn’t mean — he’s just a Thoroughbred who can get scared or excited — but the joy and love he brings far outweigh any setbacks.
This year alone, we’ve achieved:
- Champion at the Cornish Show Jumping 95cm
- Third place in the South West Bronze League, qualifying for the British Show Jumping Championships finals
- Qualification for the National Finals at 85cm and 95cm at Aintree (National Amateur & Veterans Championships)
My biggest win? A retrained racehorse now living his best life, surrounded by love and care — bringing huge happiness not just to me, but to his biggest supporters, especially my mum Paula, David and Simon.
Heels down, chin up and ride on!