HEROS Charity

Located at North Farm Stud on the border of Chaddleworth Parish, HEROS Charity has been in operation since 2006. The Charity began with a focus on ex-racehorse re-training and re-homing. Now, in addition to a range of work associated with horses from birth to old age, HEROS also provides a range of education and training including alternative-to-school placements and offers a variety of courses from age 11 onwards.

North Farm Stud with 200 acres of grazing and about 100 horses, has been steeped in the breeding, care and management of thoroughbreds for 84 years and has been a way of life for the Muir family. North Farm Stud is a commercial enterprise where mares are foaled, yearlings broken and prepared for sale, horses are rehabilitated post injury and retrained. There are a small number of livery clients and facilities for horses to be turned out for summer/winter breaks.

Grace worked with and then succeeded her father, Ian, as Stud Manager at North Farm Stud.  The idea for HEROS Charity (Homing Ex-Racehorses Organisation Scheme) began to take shape in the early 2000s although Grace was re-homing race horses from the mid-1990s. Grace responded to requests from trainers and owners, who were customers of the stud farm, to find homes for their horses and her successes surprised her.

With a lifetime’s experience of horses, knowledge and experience of racing, plus a range of excellent connections, Grace knew there was scope to give these horses a second chance and a new career. There are many opportunities for them in eventing, dressage, polo, show-jumping, as hacks, companions and more.

Grace has recently appeared in the national press to talk about the work carried out at HEROS, she explains "I started rehoming horses in the 1990s, when I became the manager of North Farm Stud. I always knew there was a massive opportunity for them to be sports and leisure 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. In 2006, a dear friend convinced me to start a charity which became HEROS (Homing Ex-Racehorses Organisation Scheme)."

Since 2006, HEROS has successfully rehomed hundreds of ex-racehorses and has developed a first-class reputation for correctly matching these horses to their new owners across all disciplines – as   competition horses, hacks or simply companions and truly giving them a second chance and an opportunity to enjoy ‘A New Life After Racing’.

Grace describes the very beginnings of the charity, "I started rehoming horses in 1990, when I was the manager of my father's stud farm. 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.

Talking about the retraining and rehoming process, Grace continues "When we take a horse on, we never believe what we're told by trainers. We always start in an enclosed area lungeing with tack, and look for signs of discomfort or an explosion when a rider gets on, and we never skip a step. When a visitor comes, they see the horse ridden first, then get on in an enclosed area for a riding assessment. An ideal rehomer for me is a happy hacker who loves the horse more than anything.

"There are several ways to rehome - most are lifelong loans and they pay a donation of £2,000 and an ongoing monthly amount. It's a thorough process and people can visit us many times. When horses leave, we take a picture of them standing up as a reference, to make sure they continue to look like that. If the horse is beautifully looked after, we consider selling, but we keep in touch and will always have the horse back.

"The filly Miss Boogie Woogie was in the wrong job as a racehorse, but she became a prize- winning polo pony. Tamiami Trail is back here how, having played horseball, showjumped and taught a child to ride in different rehomings.

"Monsignor won at Cheltenham in 1999 and 2000 and had a big future until a tendon injury. He was our ambassador horse. He met the War Horse puppet in the paddock at Ascot and whinnied to it when it left! In 2012, he carried the Olympic torch at Ascot with Frankie Dettori and for six years he travelled to racecourses to meet the public.

"Rapporteur won 19 races, all at Lingfield. I took him on in 1995. He'd see a tractor and take off across fields or dump me so I'd have to walk home, all because it was a good craic. He'd chomp at the bit, jig-jog and drag at you, but he was the funniest horse. His trainer Charlie Elsey always kept in touch and visited him. His friend Assembly Dancer, whom we called Murphy, was the opposite: a brilliant ride, safe as houses. They lived with each other until they were put down together about five years ago."

Since 2015 and supported financially by grants from The Racing Foundation, HEROS has been working on its education programmes.  They run a variety of courses; Alternative provision for 11-16-year-olds, through diplomas and traineeships up to Level 2 and 3 Apprenticeships. The BHA (British Racehorse Authority) recognises HEROS as a bespoke “Route to Racing”.

As a result, HEROS are gaining recognition in the local community as a first class “Alternative Provision”, they offer placements for children who are not thriving in the mainstream school environment and are better suited to education outside the mainstream system.

Grace explains "In 2015, we extended to provide educational courses for 11 to 16-year-old SEN (special educational needs) children, as alternatives to school placements, as well as trainee and apprenticeships. We hope to get them into the equine industry. Some children have Asperger's or autism, some are just not academic and others simply don't thrive in the classroom environment of the current education system

"The way thoroughbreds interact with troubled children is incredible, they're so intuitive and intelligent. Children learn to ride on them. You'd be amazed how trusting the horses are; if they're treated in a respectful way, they'll do anything for you.

"The children work with chicken, geese, horses, then the thoroughbreds and that's when you see a massive change. They think they've arrived! The horses are much better with them than people are, they understand and don't judge them. One lad came here at 13, he'd been expelled from three Schools and was in care. Having ridden out for local trainers he is now settled in a large successful National Hunt yard and is due to start his Level 3 apprenticeship in Horse Care (Racing) in January.  This is after completing GCSE English and Maths while at HEROS and on roll at King Alfred's School in Wantage. He'd never sat on a horse before he came to us now he rides beautifully but, more important than his natural ability, it's his love of the horses that got him through."

When students have completed their secondary education, they can progress on to one of the post-16 courses. For students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) HEROS can offer a Level 1 and Level 2 Diploma in Horse Care, in partnership with their training provider KEITS. For students without an EHCP, they offer a six-month Traineeship and/or an Apprenticeship, depending on the level of experience and skill of the student. Alongside post 16 courses, they deliver Functional Skills in Maths and English.

HEROS also facilitate the connection to future employers. The aim is to get these young people into the workplace with the confidence to fulfil their potential. Mentoring is offered as part of the courses and within the post 16 programme life skills including, cooking on a budget, eating a healthy diet; managing your money; working as part of a team, mindfulness and dealing with conflict. The students are encouraged to take up employment in the racing industry but are also supported in whatever route they are interested in.

To continue to do its work of retraining and rehoming meaningful numbers of horses and to support the valuable education programme, HEROS Charity needs constant help and support to generate sufficient funds. While the support it receives from Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) is invaluable, much more is needed from all interested parties from both inside and outside of the racing community.

If you'd like to know more about the work done at HEROS further information can be found on their website www.heroscharity.org or by contacting them directly.

Grace would be very happy to offer an open day to see the horses in their various levels of retraining and to learn more about HEROS. If you are interested in this opportunity then please contact chaddnews@gmail.com so that we can arrange a particular session for our Chaddleworth Parish in the spring.

01488 638820, info@heroscharity.org

The Swallows North Farm Stud, Fawley, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 9NJ

Our thanks to Barbara Perek for this article

A charity founder who won two BBC awards for her contribution to animal welfare has been appointed an MBE.

Grace Muir, CEO of the Wantage Homing Ex-Racehorses Organisation Scheme (HEROS), has been recognised for services to charity, animal welfare and education in the King's Birthday Honours.

She had previously won two Make a Difference awards in 2024 for Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

Ms Muir said she hoped the honour would "reflect some of my passion and future vision into HEROS to make us do more".

HEROS was established in 2006 with a primary focus on ex-racehorse retraining and rehoming, and in 2023 it opened a forest school for students with special education needs.

Ms Muir said she had not started the charity "for any honour".

"But it is such an honour," she said.

"I couldn't do this without my team and if it can reflect some of my passion and future vision into HEROS to make us do more and make this shine the light on racing and the good it's trying to do, then that's what it's for."