Oscar the show-off's life after racing

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Oscar, as she knows him, has been in Katie McIntosh's life for pretty much as long as she can remember.

Now they are constant companions. He lives on the family's property and together they are making their way in the Show Ring.  

Bred, raced and owned by her grandfather Ivan Court, Ardent Lustre finished racing in 2021, after winning eight races from 93 starts.

The Lustre name has been associated with the Courts for generations. 

"I have loved the horses ever since I was little," says McIntosh, "I remember him vividly, there are photos of me and Oscar when I used to help grandad in the stables."

She is now 17 and in her last year at Lincoln High School.

After Ardent Lustre was retired it made sense for the son of Falcon Seelster to stay in the family.

He was re-educated to saddle with help from Stonewall Stud co-trainer Amanda Telfer.

"He's a show off who loves attention," says McIntosh, "but he's really lovely and follows me around the property all the time."

She rides him on average around three times a week and regularly competes, especially at A&P shows.

"We've been showing him for two seasons," she says, "and won a few ribbons in the novice classes"

"We have  been first in In-Hand before and also been Best Presented and Mannered."

Recently she's also had some specialist coaching.
 
"In the last 10 months we have made some big progress specially in terms of sitting better in the saddle and riding well."

"We've put the emphasis on his whole work and on mastering his canter."

There are plenty of up-coming shows including Little River, Malvern and Kaikoura to get ready for and the target one day is to get to Horse of the Year (HOY) but McIntosh knows there is a lot of work to be done before then.

"I am learning from him and he from me.”