Thoroughbreds are re-trained into a variety of different careers after racing and there are few more suited to their former lifestyle than endurance, another facet of the growing TiES (Thoroughbreds In Equestrian Sport) series.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and Equestrian Sport New Zealand run TiES-eligible endurance events from the 10th of August through to the 27th of April, with points accumulated by the amount of kilometres completed by a thoroughbred. Last season’s series was won by James Webster’s Tannahill, a son of Star Witness who won five races and over $123,000 in stakes in his career.

Outside of the TiES Series, NZTR also support Distance Riding New Zealand, an endurance club which offers Enduro and Ride To Time events. A prestigious and sought-after prize within the Enduro competition is the Best Managed Award, which is based on recovery times and veterinary inspection scores, emphasising the welfare of the horses.

Jorja Higgie is a regular competitor in the Distance Riding New Zealand events aboard her former Hong Kong galloper Soloman’s Bay, a son of Exceed And Excel who was bred in Ireland.

“When I was searching for my next adventure horse, my mother and I were looking for something that was safe and had the basics taught,” Higgie said.

“My first horse was a thoroughbred who was at retirement age (26), and it was time to move on from him. We weren’t really looking at getting another thoroughbred, but our horse dentist Louisa knew what we were looking for and she informed us of the International Thoroughbred Retirement organisation.

“She got us on the waitlist and after about six months we got a call from a re-trainer in Kinloch and initially did the paperwork for a different horse. But the re-trainer rang back a few days later and said Apache (Soloman’s Bay) was coming up for adoption and he would be perfect for me.

“Long story short, Apache came to his forever home a week later.”

Uniquely coloured for a thoroughbred, Soloman’s Bay fits his home name of Apache, and was sourced out of an eventing stable who revealed endurance may be a more suitable fit.

“He was in an eventing stable before we got him, so he had a lot of training in flat work and jumping,” Higgie said.

“However, they indicated he wouldn’t advance to their level of competition, which we now understand as he dislikes having to behave in an orderly manner, but he does it when asked. He enjoys the freedom he gets with endurance.

“Not many thoroughbreds compete in endurance, but thoroughbreds can do just about anything if you let them choose their path. That is what I’ve done with Apache, he chose to do endurance and I’m happy with that, especially with all of the country you get to see.”

Higgie and Solomans Bay enjoyed plenty of success together last season in the Distance Riding events, culminating with a win in the Thoroughbreds Most Kilometres for the Season (185km) category, and the Non-Arab Youth Class.

“The season went well, we found that Apache just ploughed through the 20km events and it was just too easy for him,” Higgie said.

“I was able to up my kilometres to 40km and I have big goals for the 2024/25 season, with three 40km events to start the season, then popping in an 80km before the 120km at Makahiwi Challenge, which is three days of riding.”