Pembrokeshire’s Samantha Ivy Barton and former racehorse ‘Ozzy’ will find out this weekend, whether they scoop the prestigious Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) award they’ve been shortlisted for.
Recognised for their inspiring work at Redberth Croft CIC, Samantha and Up For An Oscar have been selected as finalists for the Sir Peter O'Sullevan Charitable Trust RoR Community Impact Award.
Early in 2024, Samantha endured the devastating challenges of homelessness. However, she found renewed purpose in her work with Up For An Oscar, now affectionately known as Ozzy.
Samantha draws upon her bond with Ozzy, who is now a calm and reliable horse, to inspire and mentor young people from the local community.
Samantha is a farm manager at the Redberth Croft CIC community farm and equine-assisted activity centre near Kilgetty, alongside her role at local agricultural supplier CCF, and has built a cherished, and dependable partnership with the former racehorse, who claimed four wins from 25 races in his racing career.
The life-changing support he now provides demonstrates the remarkable versatility of Thoroughbreds.
He plays a vital role in helping novices build confidence and develop horsemanship skills, and is central to Redberth Croft’s mission, which provides therapeutic experiences for individuals who have faced adversity.
RoR, British horseracing’s official charity for the welfare of former racehorses, introduced the Sir Peter O'Sullevan Charitable Trust RoR Community Impact Award last year to recognise any individual, former racehorse partnership, or an organisation that can demonstrate how using a former racehorse has made a significant impact on the quality of people’s lives and helped to make a difference in their community.
Samantha Ivy Barton said: “I can’t even fathom that I got picked! I only started a few years ago, and it would mean so much if we won, I never thought I’d get this far to ride a bigger horse, let alone be shortlisted for an RoR Award.
“It proves that no matter who you are, or what you are doing, you can do anything, and that’s what Redberth Croft CIC stands for. It doesn’t matter what you have, there is still a chance you can do what you want if you put your mind to it.”
Redberth Croft CIC was founded by the owner of Up For An Oscar, Daisy Coleman.
It is dedicated to supporting veterans, individuals with additional learning needs (ALN), and other vulnerable groups in Pembrokeshire and West Wales.
Nominations for this year’s RoR award came from across the racing and equestrian communities, with an independent judging panel facing the difficult task of selecting the top three finalists.
The 2025 RoR Awards will be especially meaningful as they coincide with RoR’s 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century of commitment to supporting former racehorses through an established welfare safety net, as well as providing education, support, and advice for their owners, alongside a series of well-established events.
To mark this milestone occasion, the ceremony will be opened by RoR Patron, Zara Tindall.