Miraculous recovery for racer turned show horse
ARETIRED racehorse which needed life-saving surgery just over a year ago has made a miraculous recovery to qualify for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).
In March 2021, Valentine Jak was on the operating table receiving emergency treatment for colic – a potentially fatal condition caused by problems in the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms can range from mild flank watching to violent rolling and rapid breathing.
Owned by Donna Bamonte from Devon, the 19-year-old has against all odds successfully resumed his rightful place in the show ring, having booked his seventh qualification ticket for the SEIB Search for a Star Racehorse to Riding Horse final at
HOYS, which will take place from October 5-9 at NEC Birmingham.
The son of Imperial Ballet, who as a two-year-old raced three times for Devon trainer Rod Millman before being retired in 2005, booked his place at HOYS at Vale View Equestrian in Leicestershire on April 24, when he finished second in the Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifier.
Ridden on the day by Creditonbased producer Marina Greenaway, she commented: “It’s a real team effort. I live just up the road from Donna so it works really well and we are thrilled to be off to HOYS.”
Following his surgery, Valentine Jak, whose highest HOYS placing to date is a fourth in 2018, qualified for the Search for a Star open veteran final at Your Horse Live in November 2021, when he finished reserve champion.
Donna, from Lapford, added: “Jak had colic surgery this time last year and, to have recovered from that and be looking so well, it’s a miracle. He has never been over-shown and loves his outings.
“I’m hoping to take him to the Devon County Show this season too, as we’ve never competed there.”
The leading equine insurance brokers SEIB Insurance Brokers set up Search for a Star over 20 years ago to offer a unique opportunity to many of their amateur rider customers. SEIB has a long association with the showing community and is renowned for ‘putting something back’ by supporting many equine events and activities in addition to Search for a Star.
Nicolina MacKenzie, marketing manager at SEIB, said: “Search for a Star is providing more opportunities than ever this year. I am thrilled by how well this qualifier has gone, the first ever Pony Club showing classes were just great and it was wonderful to get the in-hand Search for a Star series under way too.
“I can’t fault our many [Vale View Equestrian] competitors, they have been enthusiastic, respectful to each other and entered into the real Search for a Star spirit. I am so proud of both the competitors and the team who made the day happy and inspirational for everyone.”