Belvoir rider lost five stone to keep competing with her horse – then won at Aintree!

Danni Harris, from Belvoir, has been crowned a national champion at Aintree – but getting there meant losing five stone in eight months first.

The 30-year-old took ownership of former racehorse Shadowfax, now known to her as Gandalf, when he retired from racing in 2024. Danni had previously worked for trainer Michael Appleby and looked after Shadowfax during his racing career, which saw him run 17 times and win at Chelmsford in 2023.

Since retiring, the pair have retrained together in dressage and showing, and had already won the RoR Regional Dressage Horse Championships at Field House earlier this year. But when Danni decided she wanted to compete at the RoR National Championships at Aintree, she realised she had a problem.

New weight ratio guidelines introduced by RoR in 2025, backed by the independent Welfare Stewarding Group, mean riders and their tack cannot weigh more than 20% of the horse’s bodyweight when competing. Danni wasn’t within that limit.

“It all started after I broke my shoulder in October last year. I was off work and wasn’t as active as I used to be,” she said. “In January it really hit home that I wanted to compete at the RoR National Championships, but I realised I wouldn’t be within the weight ratio guidelines unless I made some changes.

“I saw more and more discussions about the welfare requirements on social media and decided I had to do something. Giving up would have been the easier option, but I had already put so much work into Gandalf that I wanted to continue competing him myself.

“My weight loss journey came down to determination and willpower, and when I attended the weigh-in at Aintree, I received my suitably mounted certificate.”

The determination paid off. At the RoR National Championships, held at Aintree International Equestrian Centre from 18-23 August, Shadowfax was crowned champion of the London International Horse Show Racehorse to Show Horse Qualifier 2026.

“Considering the journey we’ve had to get to the RoR Championships this year, winning has meant a great deal,” Danni said. “I only entered to see how he compared against horses of that standard, so to win is very special.”

This year’s Championships were the largest yet, with a record 350 former racehorses taking part across showing, dressage and jumping classes.

RoR, British horseracing’s official aftercare charity, was established in 2000 and works to safeguard the welfare of former racehorses. This includes setting industry standards for retraining, providing training and education to owners, promoting former racehorses’ versatility in equestrian activities and competitions, and maintaining a tracking system for former racehorses through RoR membership. The charity also supports former racehorses in times of need through its welfare work.

More than 2,300 racehorses leave the sport each year and go on to second careers ranging from competition to therapy work and leisure riding.

David Catlow, Managing Director of RoR, said: “This year’s Championships were another fantastic celebration of the remarkable versatility and potential of former racehorses. Seeing these Thoroughbred’s thriving in new disciplines, supported by dedicated owners, riders, and trainers, demonstrates the fulfilling life that follows a racing career.”

The Championships fell on the same weekend as National Racehorse Week, a nationwide celebration of the Thoroughbred racehorse and the care they receive throughout their lives.