“He has done so much with his life”

CASE STUDY: Jack Dawson Trained by John Berry, Jack ran 71 times – with 11 wins and 15 places – and is a real stalwart for his owner, Margaret Donnelly.

“WE decided to buy a smallholding with stables so we could have Jack at home when he retired, sound, at the age of 10,” says Margaret.

He was turned away “to chill” for a year and then brought back into work.

“Jack did not believe in pulling in for cars – he was used to cars pulling in for him. So that took us a while…” laughs Margaret.

“We tried him at dressage but he couldn’t figure out why he was never allowed out of the parade ring. He’s not a novice ride, but he’s forward thinking and he loved hacking, so I asked Lorna Kidson, a local endurance rider (pictured, left), to come and see him.”

Lorna loved him, and began competing him when he was 13, enjoying good results in 80km and 90km rides.

“He’d just lock on the horse in front and pick them off,” says Margaret. “He was always so determined and with his low knee action, he could trot all day.”

At 18, Jack returned home to retire fully, where he lets his friends out of fields.

“There isn’t a gate he can’t open,” says Margaret. “He still looks a picture now at 23 and has done so much with his life.”