Ex-racehorse charity founder

Grace Muir is the founder of the charity HEROS, which rehomes ex-racehorses and provides training courses for children

- Kate Johnson

I started rehoming horses in 1990, when I was the manager of my father’s stud farm, which had up to five stallions and 120 foals a year. I always knew there was a massive need for them to be riding horses after they finished racing. It was never a revelation to me; I knew they could do any job; they’re bright and versatile. So many people think they can’t ride thoroughbreds, but they can.

We were featured in a three page spread in Horse & Hound on retraining racehorses –I’ve still got it. The day after, the phone didn’t stop ringing, everyone wanted them. There weren’t enough horses for people.

In 2006, a dear friend convinced me to start a charity which became HEROS (Homing Ex-Racehorses Organisation Scheme). We’re at my family’s North Farm Stud in Oxfordshire, with 200 acres of grazing and about 100 horses.