Kauto Star Angst - who is right?

[dressedkez]

In the racing news, there is nasty spat going on between Paul Nicholls and Clive Smith, respective trainer and owner of the great Kauto Star (racehorse sublime, now retired)
It is a sad that this is happening so publically, and a bit of a blight on a terrific career of this horse.....
But who has the biggest say in what the horse should do next? Is it the trainer who did all the hard work to acheive the successes - or the owner who paid the bills?
Can anyone remember who owned Red Rum? Few, I suspect, but many will remember who trained him. David Elsworth trained Desert Orchid and Richard Burbidge owned him, that seemed to be a far more seamless partnership when the great horse retired....
Now I am not a great fan of Paul Nicholls - but I do have sympathies with him on this - what do others think?
Also do we think that (a) Kauto Star should be doing dressage (as his next career) and (b) if he does, will he be any good at it? or (c) maybe he should be something more aligned to what he was doing, i.e. hunting, eventing, team chasing, pointing (LOL)

 

[bonny]

Think this has all been covered...at length.....in latest news.

 

[dressedkez]

Think this has all been covered...at length.....in latest news.

Apologies......I only do this Forum, will have to broaden my outlook!

 

[TrasaM]

Oh no! Not another one And for what it's worth. The owner decides..because he owns the horse and ownership confers certain rights. Such as being able to determine what to do with one's property.

 

[Goldenstar]

The owner .

 

[Nollaig Shona]

Noel LeMare owned Red Rum

And it's the owner who has 'right of way' when it comes to the horse.

 

[AmyMay]

The owner.

 

[foxy1]

The owner.

Paul Nicholls has been paid to train the horse, the owner has paid the bills and still owns him, so it's completely up to him.

 

[3Beasties]

Clive has the final say as he is the owner.

I can understand Pauls disappointment but at the end of the day Kauto is still fit and healthy so there is no reason why he can't go on and have a second career doing something else no matter what that may be. Paul himself has said that Kauto needs to work so I am quite surprised about his (very public) disagreement with Clive.

All being well he'll have a couple of years doing something else and will then return to Pauls yard for a proper retirement.

He is an amazing horse, one of my all time favourite racehorses (I have a Kauto shrine in my house!) but I don't think that means he should be retired completely, it will be fantastic to be able to see him out and about having some fun in a different discipline.

 

[smellsofhorse]

I've not read any of the articles.

I think its great that he has a new career and isn't just retired.

I understand the trainer puts in a lot of time and effort but he is just doing a job.
The owner has final say. Its their horse and they pay the bills!

 

[Kat]

Yaaaaawn!

 

[FfionWinnie]

There is also a thread in here.

Bottom line of course the owner. They have paid the bills, the trainer didn't do it out of the goodness of his heart.