Month: August 2025

YOUNG RIDER DANIELLE O’HARA AND HER HORSE UNCLE SAM HAVE BOTH ENJOYED THE JOURNEY THAT WILL TAKE THEM TO THEIR SECOND EQUIMILLION IN OCTOBER

When Danielle O’Hara first laid eyes on Uncle Sam, it wasn’t just his handsome looks or elegant frame that stood out, it was his kind eyes.

That, along with the instant bond she felt the moment she sat in the saddle.

“There was just something that clicked,” Danielle reflected. “We just went so well together and there really isn’t any way to explain it.

“I just knew he was going to be my best friend. And he definitely is now!”

Uncle Sam is a graduate of the Team Thoroughbred program.

Team Thoroughbred is Racing NSW’s dedicated Thoroughbred welfare initiative focused on retraining and rehoming retired racehorses and thanks to this program, Uncle Sam is now thriving in his second career as a competitive showjumper.

Transitioning a racehorse into a new role is no small feat and Danielle is honest about the responsibility and patience it requires.

“Taking on an ex-racehorse is definitely not easy. There will always be at least one rough patch somewhere along the road,” Danielle explained.

“Sam used to rush his jumps, but thanks to my amazing coach Emma Davidge we’ve worked through it with a lot of pole work and grids.”

The key, she says, is trust and persistence.

“No matter what challenges we’re faced with, we will always have each other. The most important thing is remembering that nothing happens overnight, just be patient.”

Danielle describes Uncle Sam in one word ‘Rewarding’.

Whether under saddle or on the ground, he brings joy, challenge and growth.

“By all means, we’ve had some rough patches, but we always come back stronger and more confident.”

Their shared passion lies in the showjumping arena, although Danielle has her sights set on expanding their repertoire.

“We’d love to give eventing a crack too,” she said. “But honestly, I think Sam just loves getting out and going for a walk no stress, just getting on and having fun. He loves trying new things!”

From championship ribbons to quiet rides at home, Danielle’s proudest moments with Uncle Sam span beyond competition.

“At the 2024 Mounted Police and Emergency Services Games, we got Reserve Champion in the 1m showjumping class. We’ve also had some big wins at Equestrian in the Vines.”

But it’s the simple things that stay with her too.

“Just being able to get on with just a bridle and helmet and walk around, enjoying what I have with Sam, that means everything to me.”

Danielle and Uncle Sam are now preparing for their second appearance at Equimillion, the premier event for retired Thoroughbred racehorses held over the October long weekend.

The pair competed in 2023, supported by sponsor Belltrees, and will be returning with fresh goals and more experience.

“We had an absolute blast last time! I would love to jump the 1m or 90cm showjumping class this year and maybe give the 65cm eventing a crack too!”

Their preparation? Hard work, consistency, and getting out and about.

“Lots of training, flat work, outings and hopefully some small comps. My biggest goal this year at Equimillion is to have a nice, calm, smooth, clear round and just have fun. That’s always important.”

Danielle and Uncle Sam are beautiful examples of what’s possible when talent, trust and Thoroughbred heart come together.

As they gear up for Equimillion 2025, they carry with them the spirit of Team Thoroughbred proving that every retired racehorse has a second story worth celebrating.

When retired racehorse Refractor left the track and joined Racing NSW’s Team Thoroughbred program, no one could have predicted that just months later, he’d be riding into floodwaters on a rescue mission. But that’s exactly what happened when heavy rain caused devastating flooding in the Manning River region of NSW this past May.

His new owner, Jim Hare, had only rehomed Refractor in December, drawn to the gelding’s temperament and versatility. “I’d actually come to look at another horse,” Jim recalled. “But Bernie and Jodie from Team Thoroughbred suggested I try Refractor. I rode him and knew straight away this was my horse.”

Refractor quickly settled into his new home on Jim’s property, with the forest nearby offering beautiful trail riding and training opportunities. Jim began introducing him to different stockwork basics, including riding with a stock whip and carrying a cross-jacket perhaps unknowingly preparing him for something far more serious.

When floodwaters surged into the district one morning, Jim got a call: horses were stranded in rising water at a nearby property. He grabbed his saddle, mounted Refractor, and rode straight into the emergency.

“Their house was already under water,” Jim said. “To get to the horses, I had to open submerged gates, ride through paddocks with water up to my knees while in the saddle, and cut through electric fencing to reach them.”

Refractor stayed calm through it all. Jim caught one of the stranded horses and led it out, with the others following. But the job wasn’t over.

“I went back in to help with cattle that were stuck,” Jim explained. “One of the neighbours’ sons had arrived in a kayak, and between us we got about ten head of cattle to higher ground. But they spooked, swam over a submerged fence and tried to go back the way they came.”

“One steer looked like it was going to drown. I rode out to help and hit a barbed wire fence underwater. It spooked Refractor and he tipped me off. I thought he might come over the top of me, but he didn’t,” Jim recalled.

Despite the danger, Refractor held his nerve. Jim floated back to the horse, climbed into the saddle mid-stream, and continued the rescue.

“He was incredible. Brave, calm, smart. I already loved him before that day, but now… I really respect him,” Jim said.

Jim’s story is a powerful reminder of the value and heart these horses bring beyond the racetrack. Through the Team Thoroughbred program, retired racehorses like Refractor are given new purpose and in this case, helped save lives.