Mills Stables Retraining Racehorses

25/11/2025

We got by asked by someone if Brainy would be fine cantering out hacking and the honest answer was 'we haven't cantered him out hacking or in open spaces but I am sure he will be fine'.
So we took him in the fields today with Shaman and he was the perfect boy that I knew he would be 🥰🏇

So why did I know that he would be so good?!
Because when we retrain our Racehorses we make sure that everything we do with them is not done before they are ready both mentally and physically.
Retraining these horses isn't done in days or weeks it takes time and a long time, months and years, but by giving them that very best start and taking our time with them, we know that when they are ready to take the next step, they will do it with confidence and feel happy and safe in doing what we are asking of them.
We don't always take horses out to arena hires or competitions or hunting and a lot of the time, the reason we haven't done that yet is because they aren't ready to be out there doing that yet.
It doesn't mean that they can't or won't do those things if we asked them to, because they probably will and they would try hard for us because that is what they do. It doesn't mean it is the right thing for them at that time though. You wouldn't take a just backed youngster straight out to a competition or hunting so why do we need to do that to our Racehorses?!
As with a young horse, they need time to develop both mentally and physically before the next question is asked of them and sometimes a Racehorse may need more time because they have already lived a life and had a career and now what we need to do is change a lot of everything they have ever know and teach them that can do new things.
'You can't teach an old dog new tricks!'
A very true saying sometimes, but you can teach these Racehorses about a new life with time, understanding and patience and that is what we do!

Two fabulous boys, Brainy & Shaman, enjoying a bit of exploring and a canter in the fields together today 🏇

We took Brainy & Shaman for a spin in the field today because someone had asked to see what Brainy would be like cantering in open spaces.We already knew tha...

25/11/2025

Storm ( on the left ) is looking for a nice allrounder home & Kash is looking for a happy hacker home!

Do get in touch if you are looking for nice genuine horses and are ready to view and take them 🙏

Kash ~ 16.1hh, 11 year old. Happy hacker, maybe some light schooling. Had a ligament injury when in training, came to us and was rehabbed and is now in work ready to find a relaxed, happy hacking home where he can be loved and enjoyed. Really kind horse, easy to do and a pleasure to have around. Would suit someone just looking for a nice friend to plod around the countryside on!

Storm ~ 15.2hh, 13 year old. Has been in a non racing home for a number of years and has been out and about, was previously ridden by his racing owners 12 year old granddaughter. Works nicely in the school, enjoys his hacking and jumping, really sweet little horse. Been out to Dressage and jumping. Would suit individual turnout better as that is what he has always had or a nice big herd of geldings.

These two lovely boys are both looking for their new homes!Storm ( on the left ) ~ 15.2hh, 13 year old. Has been in a non racing home for a number of years a...

22/11/2025

Anyone looking for a horse who wants to view and buy this month?!
We have some availability for viewings tomorrow now after cancellations this weekend or most days next week.

Loads of lovely boys waiting for someone to come and meet them!
They are woolly, they will have some mud on them, but they are honest horses who you can have some serious fun with from happy hacking to heading towards competitions / fun rides etc.
They aren't all the finished projects but they are ready to find their right person to grow with them!
Some have already been out competing, all at different stages of retraining and all lovely horses to suit different riders and homes.
None of them need riding every day, they have nice laid back attitudes to life but the potential to go forward doing most things.
All the horses get to choose their new person. If they like you then you can take them home!

Please share 🙏
No complete novices, no young kids coming of 13hh cobs, no joyriders, no loans, if you are looking for a horse next year please get back in touch then!
These guys need to go asap as we have others waiting to come in so please get in touch if you are looking for your perfect partner 🏇

18/11/2025

New boy and his first ride today!
Meet Woody 🏇

18/11/2025

I didn't get around to sharing our latest yard video on here yet.
The reason for the concussion I had all last week! 🤕

Jumping an ex-racehorse for the first time did NOT go as planned—I completely got it wrong by taking off before the horse, and smashed my face, but this brav...

17/11/2025

Meet Storm🏇
Our first ride in the school and what a sweet little horse!

Please keep sharing all our posts because they are all still with us,
some viewings hopefully this week🙏

Meet Storm ~ 15.2hh, 13 year old. This lovely little horse has been in a non racing home for a number of years and has been out and about, was previously rid...

16/11/2025

Still got loads more updates to come of the fabulous horses that we have rehomed 🏇
Fenton ( Ship Of The Fen ) was rehomed back in 2022 and didn't even get advertised!
He has a varied fun home and thes photos are from him at a September camp at Pontispool this year 🥰
We had only done the very basics with him when they found each other and it is so lovely to see how much he has grown into himself over the last few years and that he is living his best life!
When Fenton's owner contacted me last Summer to see if we may have a horse to suit her Husband, we had the lovely Apples, now known as Scrumpy, ( Appreciated ) with us for retraining and rehoming and they came along to meet him.
Apples had been with us for a while and we had done quite a lot with him, he was ready to take that next step with someone and thankfully they got on really well.
From the photos below, I think we can all agree that Scrumpy is having the best time!
It really is the best feeling seeing the rehomed horses doing so well with their new owners and it doesn't matter how long they have been away from us, I will always enjoy knowing how they are.

Rehoming for us is all about finding those long term homes for our horses and making sure that we get it right because far too many thoroughbreds get passed from home to home and will never get that safe secure feeling with people who understand them.

Looking forward to many more years of updates about these boys!❤️

We have loads more amazing horses waiting to find their new owners so please get in touch and keep sharing our posts 🙏

15/11/2025

Meet Timmy! 🏇
The sweetest little boy who is a great ride, loves his jumping and hacking, has hunted and been on fun rides.
A perfect allrounder / family horse
15.3hh, 11 year old gelding and now looking for his new person.
He has hunted with his racing owner!
This video is his first time schooling and jumping with us and his first time out hacking alone with us 🥰

Please share 🙏

Timmy is a 15.3hh, 11 year old gelding who joined us a few months ago but has been having some time in the field whilst we were busy with training liveries. ...

14/11/2025

Huge thank you to Ellie & Maisie today for looking after all the horses in the most horrific weather!
This is what I got sent when I messaged to check that they were doing okay 😂
At least when we are retraining Racehorses we don't have to be going up the gallops on them in this weather, I don't miss those days!

14/11/2025

Just had this video sent to me, do you all remember Chique?!
My gorgeous, quirky, opinionated chestnut mare 🥰

We rehomed her to an amazing lady who came looking for a gelding but I had a feeling that Chique might be the one and we were so right, she fell in love with her and I couldn't have ever wished for her to find a better home!
We keep in touch and are always here if they ever need any advice along the way. Chique found the change of routine going from being out all summer to coming back in overnight a bit stressful, so knowing her so well, I advised to put the titanium mask on her for a while when she first comes in and put her on the Gastro Premier from Premier Performance whilst she adjusts to the change.
This is how relaxed she is now and loving life again!
It is often the little things that make a big difference to these horses!
We are always here to help any owners of our horses if they need us along the way on their journey and what we do is made all worthwhile when I see videos like this of our rehomed horses so happy ❤️🏇