Name: Brainiac

Age: 12

Stable name: Murt

Owner: Laura Pope

Favourite pastime: Eating Extra Strong mints and going cross-country

Former trainer: SM Duffy

 

Brainiac’s racing career wasn’t one that lit up the world, but his beautiful character had Laura Pope smitten having looked after him while he was in training in Ireland.

The bay gelding had six starts in all, pulling up three times and finishing tailed off down the field. Racing was clearly not his forte!

But since Laura acquired him in 2009, the pair has formed a beautiful bond.

“He is very sensitive to my moods and definietley knows if I am stressed, sad or happy. He even knows when I need a hug and he also makes me laugh, a lot! He’s such a comedian and is a favourite on the yard and he loves people, especially children,” says Laura.

Brainiac is a demon across country, thrives on new challenges and is described as a thinker. He also loves extra strong mints, hacking for miles around the Cornish countryside. He competes in all disciplines and since Laura led him up in his final start at Trammore on August 14, 2009, when he finished tailed off of 14 starters he has never been out of the ribbons, winning or being placed in showjumping, dressage and cross country.

He is nicknamed Murt. “It came about when a friend of his previous owner saw him as a youngster and said ‘oh that horse looks like the guy I kissed last night with the crazy eyes, Murt.” And his racing name Brainiac came from his breeders’ grandson who loved the TV show of the same name.

“He is my hero and a horse of a lifetime,” says Laura.

Laura Pope is associated with Racehorse Relief, a small retraining and rehoming charity based in Cornwall, which currently have 15 horses in various stages of their retraining. “We take pride in the level we retrain our horses to, they have successfully competed at dressage, showjumping, eventing and showing. We are committed to finding a suitable rehomer/horse match so they have a long and successful partnership.”