Hidebound

Hidebound is by Buckskin out of Merry Run by Deep Run. He was a very late foal being born on 14th June 1992. He ran 8 times and won his first 3 races, then placed in 2 more. During his racing career Hidebound was owned by Mr and Mrs Robins and trained at Seven Barrows by Nicky Henderson who thought the world of him. He was ridden in all of his races by Mick Fitzgerald who also loved the horse.

Hidebound is a large commanding looking gelding but despite his size he had a mean turn of foot and once he got into 5th gear he left the field behind for good! It is usually the proof of a champion if a National Hunt horse wins his first bumper especially when it is run at Cheltenham. Hidebound did just that in pril 1998 and then went and won both of his next starts in novice hurdles at Newbury and Ascot.

This was no orindary horse – he was a star. This is what the Racing Post said about his third win, as Ascot, which he won by 17 lengths.

“HIDEBOUND, a really scopey chasing type, turned what looked a very competitive novice into a procession. While we might not have seen the best of some of his rivals, one could not fail to be impressed, and he looks much the best two-mile novice we`ve seen over here so far this season. There is plenty of time for others to appear, but it will be surprising if anything better emerges.

Nicky Henderson reckons the winner is "very, very good", but confirmed that he had thought seriously of going straight over fences this season and missing hurdles completely. It was only his lack of racing experience that swayed him, but he will now stay over hurdles, with one of the big novices in mind.

Henderson enthused: "That looked a very competitive heat on paper and you were entitled to think that whatever won had to be called the best. He went off colour a little the week after he won at Newbury, but he`s been back fit and well for the last 10 days. He hasn`t been two and a half miles yet, but I can`t believe he won`t stay."

Mick Fitzgerald, who describes Hidebound as "a lovely, lovely horse who will surely stay at two miles for now", was worried that he might not have gone fast enough and had merely set the race up for pacier Flat types. However, that was clearly not the case, he said, since when he squeezed straightening for home Hidebound shot another six lengths clear.”

In his next race, at Sandown, he was beaten 16 lengths by the future star Behrajan and it was found afterwards that he had a nasal discharge and had not been well on the day. Nevertheless he had taken 2nd place and the future winner of the Whitbread, Beau was further behind him.

Being a large scopey gelding his future lay over fences, but it was not to be. Sadly on his chase debut at Ascot he fell when traveling well. At that time it was thought that the fall had not harmed him, but it may be that his back was injured as he never regained his form.

Upon his return in the Kingmaker Novices Chase at Warwick in 2000 it was noticeable that his once slick jumping had fallen apart and he banged a couple of fences, finally finishing 3rd behind the stars Cenkos and Fadalko. He had an operation to his back and time off but although he returned to the track he never regained his form and was pulled up behind Landing Light and Azerytuiop in his last two races. His owners retired him in February 2001.

He had been the apple of Nicky Henderson’s eye and the lads at Seven Barrows still send money for him, and fondly remember how he pulled their arms out on the gallops!

He had been with the Moorcroft Racehorse Welfare Centre in Sussex since then, been homed twice but through no fault of his own neither home worked out for him. Some of us who had been fans of his had visited him in Lambourn and been there when he won his races. He had become a friend to us and we could not forget him when he needed us most. We were hoping to buy some land in the country and have him at home with us. But rising property prices put pay to that dream and before we knew it Hidebound had been at the centre far too long.

Hidebound is a very large horse who knows he is a star and gets grumpy upon occasion. He has kissing spines, the spines actually rub together in a bony fusion which can cause pain, and his arthritic old knees are stiff in the mornings. He needs to keep moving to remain pain free and supple and then he is as right as rain. He likes to do things at his own pace and provided you let him bumble about he has a lot of joy in himself and just loves being in his field or being walked in hand. He also loves his companions and gets very attached to people and other horses. He is a gentle giant and a gentleman, not at all aggressive and can be very affectionate once he knows you. At times he could be ridden but others he could not move freely enough. He needed a quiet home where he would only be ridden a few times a week and no hunting or jumping.

So many people tried to help to save Hidebound. Because the Sussex countryside is now full of ex racehorses from the local Moorcroft Centre we put an SOS out to the West Country which was admirably picked up by the Paul Nicholls stable and a kind lady offered Hidebound a home. We were all over the moon but just before she could meet him and take him home with her he took a turn for the worse and his old knees began to give way at night. When horses sleep standing up their knees lock to allow them to do this. His failed and he was falling and knocking his head on his stable walls. Once again his health had cruelly robbed him of his chance and he was back on the sick list.

All methods were tried at the Moorcroft Welfare Centre and no expense spared to get him back his health but he did not improve enough to be ridden and the MRWC took the hard decision to retire him from riding. This would make finding a home for him pretty impossible. Few people are willing or wealthy enough to keep companions and Hidebound needed a lot of attention to keep him fit, well and happy. He could not be left in a field, he was still a Thoroughbred and needed a warm box and blankets, and exercise. Through no fault of his own Hidebound was likely to have to be put down to allow other younger, fitter horses their chance to find a loving home.

The MRWC would not have taken this decision lightly but due to all of the horses who leave racing needing a new start they are unable to allow sanctuary to those who cannot be re-homed. Hidebound was in danger and all at the MRWC and his fans were desperate for him.

Happily there are horse and racing fans willing to give old horses the chance they deserve and they have given Hidebound a home in Sussex at a sanctuary with some other retired horses where he can wander about and have a warm box at night. His chief carer, Debbie Bonham will make sure that all interested parties have news of his life.

Hidebound’s story could so easily have had an unhappy ending but we are able to promise that he is safe for as long as he can live a healthy life. He has settled into his new home easily and enjoys being with all of the other retired horses, ponies dogs and his human friends. His stable name is Bounder, which is totally unsuitable as he never bounds anywhere these days! (Unless he sees a mare he is in love with in a field!)