Kauto's owner Clive Smith undoubtably had the horse's best interests at heart. Whilst many have argued that he should have remained at trainer Paul Nicholls, continuing his fitness work on the gallops, Smith believed Kauto should be retrained in a new discipline in order to keep his mind stimulated.
Smith's decision to move the former racehorse to up and coming event rider Laura Collett proved controversial. Indeed Smith and Nicholls fell out over it with the latter apparently upset and accusing Smith of not consulting the team that had looked after Kauto during his brilliant career.
I believe that Smith made a brave and creditable decision. Kauto Star is not known to be the easiest horse and being a former racehorse he would need to be kept active, albeit at a slower pace in "retirement". Considering these facts Kauto would need a professional ,and therefore extremely competent, rider who has had experience with "blood" (thoroughbred) horses.
Laura Collett was chosen alongside British eventing Chef d'Equipe Yogi Breisner to assess the horse's potential for dressage. The media immediately began to think the Kauto would be capable of competing in pure dressage in the Rio 2016 Olympics.
However those in the equine industry knew Kauto would not be of the standard to compete in dressage at the Olympics. Kauto is 13 and it takes around 5 years for a international dressage rider to produce a horse to the level required for the Olympics. His age would prevent him competing internationally, where the movements required would place intense strain upon him mentally and physically. Moreover whilst Kauto has been bred for galloping and jumping for racing, in which he has become one of the all time greats, he does not have the elevated movement for dressage. Indeed as a thoroughbred he is bred to move close to the ground at a fast pace instead of performing rather like a ballet dancer.
However critically, Kauto is the shining star for raising awareness for the rehabilitation of former race horses. Many of whom many do not share the fortune of Kauto after their career has ended. A huge number of former racehorses have gone to the abattoir due to the simple fact that they were not sold at auction or the fact that they are seen as "untrainable" for a different career.
Kauto Star has shown that it is possible for a racehorse to go on and be retrained for other equestrian disciplines. Indeed it is the equivalent of Usain Bolt retiring from running and taking up gymnastics or ballet. With Kauto he leaves he legacy as not only one of the best steeplechase racehorses of all time but an equine superstar that ,with retraining, can turn his hand to many things.
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