Former champion jumper Kauto Star put his new dressage skills on show with a demonstration before racing at Newbury on Saturday.
The 13-year-old bowed out of the racing arena late last year after a career which yielded 16 Grade One wins including two Cheltenham Gold Cups and a record five King George VI Chases.
Owner Clive Smith was keen to keep his star busy in retirement and sent him to leading event rider Laura Collett who was in the saddle for the display at Newbury.
Kauto Star drew a healthy crowd as he completed laps of the paddock both walking and trotting before breaking into a canter and criss-crossing the parade ring.
Collett’s work with Kauto Star has been overseen by British eventing chief Yogi Breisner who was pleased with the gelding’s display.
“He performed much better than I thought he would,” Breisner said.
“He’s only been doing this for about eight weeks.
“The biggest test for an ex-racehorse is whether they can do the canter well. It’s much more collected in dressage but he’s taken well to it.
“The plan is to do a dressage trial some time in the spring. We’re not planning to go to Rio (for the 2016 Olympics) but hopefully he can enjoy himself and keep improving after that.”
Smith was similarly delighted with Kauto Star’s show and was pleased to give his fans the opportunity to see him in his new discipline.
“I’m so pleased to have brought him here today and let people get a good sight of him in his new career,” he said.
“I think people are happier seeing him do something else and he seems to have taken to it really well.”
