Introducing Shipping Forecast

Shipping Forecast was bred for flat racing and is by Harbour Watch out of a Rock of Gibraltar mare called Early Morning Rain and he was trained by Brian Meehan. He raced 4 times as a 2-year-old over 7 furlongs, winning once on good to firm ground at Chepstow. He was then gelded in readiness for his 3-year-old career but in April/May 2017 sadly fractured his pelvis on the right-hand side that articulates with the head of the femur. The vets gave him a very guarded outlook for returning to training and the partnership that owned him brought him to North Farm Stud for his rehabilitation. He needed time on box rest, a very gradual return to gentle exercise and then long-reining up the many hills there to increase his muscle behind before starting to be ridden again.

When he arrived you could clearly see that he was asymmetrical across his pelvis. He was stabled in one of the small sheds/loose boxes which have a nice outlook, where they can see other horses during the day and are in close proximity to one of our horse walkers, so there is activity all day which helps horses on box rest from becoming bored. He has always been a bright individual so enjoyed the comings and goings throughout the day and became very settled in his new routine.

Following veterinary examination, he was able to go on the horse walker for increasing amounts over a period of time and in October 2017 was able to start being driven in long reins to build up his strength behind. In January 2018 he started ridden exercise and was very bright. Probably due to being such a bright and active individual, he kept on having minor scrapes whilst turned out and so it was a bit start/stop for a while. He became well known for losing shoes but now his feet are in much better condition. At the end of 2018, the racing partnership that owned him decided that he would not go back into training.  After they had discussed all possible options for him they asked HEROS (based at North Farm Stud) to take him on as a potential horse for retraining for a new career. He was then transferred into HEROS ownership.

He has become known as quite the playboy with anything he is turned out with and is also a tail chewer, which is very annoying!  He is usually turned out on his own or with an older horse that takes very little notice of him, to try to alleviate the possibility of a problem with him.

Dulcie immediately took a shine to him and his quirky ways and they have developed a very special relationship. He has been to several Pony Club rallies with Dulcie and even to a small show jumping competition but they are now concentrating on dressage as he has the movement and flamboyance to do very well in this sphere.  He is currently off the rehoming list to give Dulcie a chance to prepare him to qualify for the 2022 RoR Dressage Championships at Aintree.

He started his journey to qualification by getting the required marks in his very first Preliminary and Novice Classes but then injured himself in the field when playing over a gate with another horse. He needs 2 more tests at the required marks to qualify for the Regionals in May 2022 and will be starting towards those goals early in 2022.  If he gets the required marks at the Regionals he will be aimed at the Aintree National Championships next August 2022.