- Thoroughbred
- Bay
- Gelding
- 10 years
- 16.1 hands
- Exceptionally laid-back and easy – a total gentleman to ride and handle
- Ideal mother-daughter share or family hunter – fun, safe, versatile
- Doesn’t need daily work – tack up and go after time off
Cigar is a rare type – a kind, genuine, uncomplicated ex-racer with manners, mileage, and a lovely way about him. After a solid and consistent career under rules, with two wins and numerous placings (and £32k earned for connections), his syndicate rightly felt they’d had a good run and decided to retire him sound at the end of the 2023 season. I bought him directly from the trainer with the aim of giving him a new chapter as a hunter and enjoyable riding horse.
Since then, he’s taken to hunting and hacking like a natural. I’ve hunted him solo and with family, including the Pytchley’s 2024 Ladies’ Day where he behaved impeccably and turned a fair few heads (hence the fabulous photos!). He’s a joy to take out – chilled, mannerly, and totally unfazed. I always go home with the hounds, and he’ll comfortably do a full day followed by a 3/4 day later in the week – though if I hunt him twice, I tend to make the second day shorter simply because I don’t use a second horse.
He had about 4–5 weeks off after the end of the last season, then was kept gently ticking over, with regular hacking throughout the spring and summer. Now in late summer, he’s in consistent work and getting fit ahead of the coming season.
He’s extremely low maintenance – keeps his weight on beautifully, not your typical fussy Thoroughbred. Happy living in or out, he’s turned out year-round but stabled before and after hunting days in winter, usually 2–4 days per week. He’s content stabled alone or with company, equally settled in a paddock on his own or in a group.
The only reason for sale is time. My work has increased this year, and I’ve got a homebred 2-year-old to break in, as well as a second hunter who’s still green and needs more mileage. This winter, I simply won’t have the time to do all three justice, and Cigar deserves to be out enjoying himself.
He would suit a hunting family, a competent teen, or 'older' jockey who wants to start riding again, or a mother-daughter share. He’s ideal for someone with a lead-rein pony who wants a calm, experienced second horse to take out too. He’s also perfectly happy as a fun ride or light all-rounder – hacks out alone or in company, and he’s seen all types of country: ditches, hedges, trappy terrain, XC schooling fences, you name it. He doesn’t need daily riding – you can bring him in after a break, tack up and go, no drama.
No vices, no injuries, no sarcoids, and full history known.
10yo (02 Mar 2015) bay gelding by Nayef (USA) x Barnezet (GR) (Invincible Spirit)
Rated 108 over hurdles | 104 over fences
Placed: 1st x2, 2nd x5, 3rd x1 (hurdles) | 2nd x1, 3rd x3 (chase)
Retired sound, sane and straightforward – now ready for his next chapter
Girls aren't always practical, but at times we have to be - and with the next season ahead, I have to realistically look at what I can do, and hence the sale - it would make me feel awful and sad to see him left at home, on days when I'm training 2yr oldor hunting my green hunter, and I simply cannot spend more time in Dorset.
Please whatsapp me - happy to chat on the phone so you can learn more about Cigar, but please no day-trippers or timewasters.
Equally have time to show him to you, but have to take time off, and my time with the horses is precious, so I'd like to find a wonderful fit and home for him and make someone happy, but not have to deal with a lot of hassle.
Priced accordingly to my commitments. Offers considered with the right home in mind.