Tina Cook’s five golden nuggets of advice for retraining racehorses

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Training ex-racehorses: Tina Cook on Carraig Dubh
Tina Cook on the ex-racehorse Carraig Dubh, who she produced to current four-star level. He competed at the London Olympics and at a junior Europeans with other riders later in his career.
(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Retraining former racehorses can be challenging, but also extremely rewarding if you can form a bond with an intelligent thoroughbred and re-educate him for a successful second career.

British Olympic eventing medallist Tina Cook has a strong family background in racing and has taken on the task of retraining racehorses many times, turning them into successful event horses. In a masterclass at Wellington Riding in February 2023, she talked about some of the secrets of success when working with these horses.

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Pippa Roome
Pippa Roome
Magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.