Native River, the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner who received greater than £1 million in prize cash, has certified for Horse of the Yr Present (HOYS) on his first try as he takes to his new profession “like second nature”.

The Brooms’ and Tom Malone’s 14-year-old celebrity (identified at dwelling as Garfield or River) picked up his HOYS ticket with Emma Vine after they positioned second within the SEIB Seek for a Star driving horse qualifier at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on Monday (27 Might). The category was received by Katy Llewellyn and Polydamos.

Emma, who competes in dressage and showjumping and is new to exhibiting, has completed all of River’s retraining since he retired from the monitor on the finish of 2021, and mentioned it was “past her wildest goals” to qualify for HOYS.

“I cried. I can’t imagine it, and particularly to qualify in a driving horse class and never a racehorse class!” Emma informed H&H.

“I went into that class to provide him the texture of the ring earlier than the retrained racehorse class (during which they positioned fifth), and it couldn’t have gone any higher. He went superbly, the trip choose didn’t need to get off him. She mentioned to me, ‘No matter you’re doing, simply preserve doing it’ – and the conformation choose mentioned he’s only a lovely mannequin.”

Emma mentioned River has “taken to his new profession like second nature”. Native River was educated to victory within the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup by Colin Tizzard, beneath jockey Richard Johnson. Following River’s  retirement, he was given six months within the subject and did some mild hacking in 2022, and final yr his workload elevated and he made his exhibiting debut. They certified for and competed on the Jockey Membership RoR nationwide championships final August, and subsequent month they may compete on the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby having certified for the Tattersalls RoR beginner and open courses.

“I’ve showjumped at Hickstead however not for a few years, so to be going again there appears like an enormous achievement. Once we began off final yr we couldn’t trot circles or canter on the right leg, but it surely all simply fell into place,” mentioned Emma.

“Exhibiting for me was a minefield to begin! I’d by no means completed it earlier than and it was a studying curve and we had been each model new to it, however final yr’s season went phenomenal. My pal Jessica Westwood has been exhibiting me the ropes and taught me concerning the particular plaits, quarter markings, and every part I have to know, and I’ve discovered a lot.”

Emma mentioned River is “the proper gentleman”.

“It’s an absolute privilege and I really feel so fortunate to have such an incredible horse to trip. He’s been so good to retrain and wherever I take him individuals need to meet him and take their image with him,” she mentioned.

“He wraps his head spherical you and provides you a cuddle. He stands completely, you’ll be able to hack him within the heaviest visitors, completely nothing fazes him – other than the time once I took him to the RoR parade at Cheltenham and he thought he was there to win the Gold Cup once more!

“He actually is an excellent particular horse and there’s not going to be many extra like him.”

Emma, who has not too long ago began introducing River to leaping over colored poles, hopes to qualify him for the SEIB racehorse to driving horse class at HOYS, and in addition has her eyes on qualification for the Rising Stars racehorse to driving horse last on the London Worldwide Horse Present.

“Thoroughbreds actually are unbelievable, and nonetheless missed by some individuals – they’re so versatile and may achieve this many roles,” mentioned Emma.

“The benefit of having a horse like River is that hopefully he’ll deliver to the forefront for different individuals to assume, ‘Perhaps I’ve missed thoroughbreds’.”

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H&H senior information author

Since becoming a member of H&H in 2018, Becky has lined a broad vary of equestrian information together with welfare issues, veterinary research, FEI Tribunal hearings and highway security campaigns. She has additionally interviewed prime riders together with Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to call just some. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, in addition to the Royal Highland and Blair Citadel Worldwide Horse Trials nearer to dwelling. She was additionally a key a part of the distant reporting staff for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.