No movie star, no rock singer and very few present day champion athletes could command such affection and respect.
Dark and handsome with matinee idol's eyes, he has true presence, great legs and a tendency to sniff a visitor's face. Moscow Flyer, a classic Irish thoroughbred and twice winner of Cheltenham's Queen Mother Champion Chase, attended the Association of Irish Riding Clubs (AIRC) festival held at Stradbally, Co Laois, over the weekend in his new role as roving ambassador for the Irish Horse Welfare Trust.
His brief is to help ex-race horses who have been re-trained for show jumping, dressage and riding for all levels of rider.
With an entry of 2,300 riders representing 125 riding clubs, north and south, the venue, the parkland grounds of Stradbally Hall House, was busy from Friday evening. Moscow Flyer, an experienced traveller, arrived on Saturday morning accompanied by two former National Hunt horses. Currently based at the trust's equine rehabilitation centre, Moscow Flyer, who retired from racing this season, enjoys being ridden most days and seemed happy when two men stood by his temporary stable and agreed, "he has the look of Arkle".
The Irish Horse Welfare Trust which was founded in 1997, is dedicated to the welfare of all horses and is the only registered charity for horses in Ireland. To date many abused horses and ponies have been rescued and homed.
In 2003, the trust initiated a special programme for the re-training of ex-race horses. Not every horse is suitable, but many are and the trust, under co-founder Sharon Newsome, have to date successfully re-homed many horses.
"These horses can have a future after racing, they just need the chance to prove it."
Moscow Flyer led the parade of the showjumping teams, but his two travelling companions were also busy. Jaguar Claw known as Jag, a bay gelding previously owned by a syndicate, jumped a clear round in a class for ex-race horses. His re-schooling began last November. Next week, he is due to go to his new home, and his new owner who will showjump him.
Having qualified for the final, Jag could not contest it as his rider, Beverley Morgan of Irish Horse Welfare Trust, had to ride Shanillo in the side-saddle competition.
Injured while racing, he was rescued by long-serving Turf Club vet Maura O'Connor, who has saved many race horses. Earlier this year, she thought "he should be doing something" and gave him to the trust. Though not yet re-homed, Shanillo won the side-saddle class in style and yesterday won the ridden showing class for ex-race horses while Jag finished third.
To contact Irish Horse Welfare Trust phone 086-6047840 or www.ihwt.ie