The leaving

When a National Hunt horse retires safe and sound with five wins to his name it is certainly cause for celebration, and when we look back at the career of Extreme Conviction there’s no doubt we will only ever feel a sense of joy and pride.

A last pat from his trainer as Ex Con sets off to the Racing School

Today I’m feeling just a little bit sad as Ex Con, as he became known, left our stable for good, having lived here since 12 July 2007. At lunchtime John rode him for the last time, hacking him the short distance up the road to the British Racing School, where from tomorrow he will embark on his second career, which is every bit as important as his first.

As I look out of the window and feel tearful that I can’t see that lovely big head, with the kindest eyes and white blaze, I know absolutely that he will be cared for brilliantly at BRS and that the countless students who come through their gates every year, either for the nine-week apprentice course, or young jockeys hoping to gain their licences, will enjoy every bit of their involvement with this absolute gent of a horse. He has been loved and he will be loved.

It’s simply impossible not to love Ex Con. There isn't a bad bone in his giant frame. He’s had his problems in life and has endured several periods of box rest with stoic good grace. When he did make it to the track, belatedly as a five-year-old, he gave his all, winning a bumper on his third attempt, and then adding four hurdles victories to his record. With perfect timing, the most memorable of these was posted on the 50th birthday of Ken Gibbs, one of his six loyal owners in the All Points West Partnership.

His stable was ready at BRS, complete with personalised doorcard

Ex Con has given us all many memorable days, plus a few scares along the way, and an email from Ken today after I'd let him know he was on his way to the Racing School, sums him up best.

Ken wrote, “I cannot tell you how much pleasure, fun and excitement he brought me over the last few years, although I expect you already knew that.”

We did know, because we all felt the same way. Any sadness at his leaving is not because we don't know what a wonderful life he will have at the British Racing School, it is simply because horses as special as he is don’t come along too often and after almost six years in our company he is a member of the family.

Settling in to his new home with BRS instructor Sue Donnelly

The last week has been very special for me as Panto and I have spent every morning accompanying Ex Con around the heath as we finalised his preparations to join BRS. As Lucinda and I stood to let another string go in front of us at the bottom of Long Hill the other morning, one of the riders commented on what lovely horses Ex Con and Panto were for standing stock still, ears pricked, patiently waiting their turn. I felt very proud that they are both such well-behaved and much-loved members of this stable.

All that remains is to say thank you to Ken, Jason, Richard, Tim, Kevan and Jeremy for allowing John to buy Ex Con to race in their colours and entrusting him to us for such a long time, to William Kennedy and Rhys Flint for winning races on him, and to our team here for looking after him so well. Most of all, our thanks must go to Ex Con himself for being such a consistently good friend. We won’t forget you.