Grace Muir, founder of HEROS Charity, was honored with the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) Community Impact Award on Saturday, January 25.
HEROS Charity, an acronym for Homing Ex-Racehorses Organisation Scheme, is dedicated to rehoming and retraining former racehorses for various equine disciplines such as eventing, polo, dressage, and show jumping.
The award ceremony took place at Cheltenham Racecourse and commenced with an opening by RoR patron, Zara Tindall, who expressed her joy in presenting the awards for a “charity that is so close to my heart”.
Recognized as British horseracing’s official charity for the welfare of former racehorses, RoR introduced the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust RoR Community Impact Award last year. This award acknowledges individuals, former racehorse partnerships, or organizations that have used former racehorses to greatly enhance the quality of people’s lives and positively impact their communities.
Grace Muir, recipient of the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Community Impact Award, was accompanied by David Catlow and Zara Tindall (Image: Dan Abraham). Ms. Muir, who established HEROS Charity in 2006, expressed her deep appreciation: “I am so honored to receive this award from RoR because they lead the way in this sphere.
“While we also do different work at HEROS, there’s no doubt that my heart lies with the horses. I hope that we continue to grow, expand, and reach more targets, making a real impact on the aftercare of former racehorses.”
Located at North Farm Stud in Wantage, Ms. Muir collaborates with the local community, providing educational programs for 11 to 16-year-olds who face challenges in mainstream education. These programs cover horse care, functional skills in maths and English, and essential life skills, including budgeting, healthy eating, teamwork, mindfulness, and conflict resolution.
Ms. Muir is a strong advocate for providing opportunities to those with no previous experience, believing in their potential to learn. Her team includes many with personal, social, or mental health needs, to whom she offers personalized support.
Under her leadership, the charity received the Animal Award at the BBC Make a Difference Awards in Oxfordshire and Berkshire in 2024.
David Catlow, managing director of RoR, commented: “The RoR Awards celebrate the incredible adaptability and success of former racehorses in new careers. They serve as a powerful reminder of the impact of retraining racehorses into second careers and highlight our ongoing commitment to creating opportunities for these exceptional athletes. This milestone anniversary not only celebrates the past but reaffirms our commitment to their bright futures.”
The 2025 RoR Awards welcomed over 200 attendees from the racing and equestrian communities, marking RoR’s 25th anniversary.
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