A retired racehorse that is similar to a ‘Formula One car’ may not sound like he has the best temperament to make the transition to the dressage arena.

But it has been the journey of former galloper Refero that shows persistence pays off, according to Queensland Off-The-Track Acknowledged Retrainer Danielle Hess.

The gelding had two wins from just 10 starts at the track under the guise of leading Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan.

Retiring from racing in November 2022, Refero was moved to the Gollan's spelling facility at River Junction.

It was there that he came to the attention of Danielle who was looking for a new addition to her Kobble Creek retraining stable.

"We know Tony and Jane Gollan quite well and I'd asked Jane to keep an eye out," Danielle said.

"Jane said to me that he was a horse with a lovely temperament, and to come and have a look at him - I didn't even go and have a look. I just said, 'I'll come and pick him up!'

"Refero was meant to be a project…but he definitely wasn't my first pick to be a team member when I first had him in the stable.

"He's been with us now for two and a half years, and we sort of started getting it together about this time last year, and I started seeing the promise in him."

The thoroughbred out of I Am Invincible/Ella Listo is known as "Roy" around the Bunya Springs Equestrian facility, which Danielle runs with partner and fellow eventing rider James Ferrier.

Danielle admits it had been a challenge initially to bring Roy up to speed with his new life.

"He's quite a hot horse due to his breeding, they're quite known for their life after racing being a little bit trickier," Danielle said.

"My partner refers to Roy as a Formula One car, specifically a Red Bull car, in that he's quite touchy and he's finicky.

"He has ridden him a little bit and he said he's very twitchy, and your balance in your seat has to be very quiet but very adjustable.

"You've got to get him right, but if you've got him driving forward, he's the most incredible horse."

Danielle engaged the help of QOTT Subsidised Lessons Program Coach Rebel Morrow to help bring Roy up to speed with eventing.

The 31-year-old said the challenge of taking on the six-year-old gelding had helped her in the development of her own skill set.

"It took a long time for us to put it all together, and I've had to really work on myself and find more tools in the toolbox for him," Danielle said.

"He's not how I trained horses in the past, but that's why I went and got a bit of help from another QOTT Approved Coach to help along the way, especially in those early days with him.

"I've known Rebel for many, many years, and she's had great success on thoroughbreds, and it was just a no-brainer for me.

"I think there has been a big change in my riding - not every thoroughbred is going to be the same, and he's opened my eyes into how to school them in another way.

"Without Rebel saying, 'Keep this horse, he's going to be really cool,' I may have had him more as a project versus now a horse that is on my team."

Roy has since gone on to become a star in in the dressage arena, winning the QOTT high point award at the RM Equestrian Centre Mike Williams CC & QLD OTT ODE in April.

With the thoroughbred recently moving up into the one-star class, Danielle is now eyeing off the Equimillion event hosted by Racing NSW in October.

"He was brilliant last year down there, and finished fifth in both his classes…we are trying to get to more interstate events," Danielle said.

"Because they are up against performance-bred horses, getting a bit more acknowledgement for the thoroughbreds in these classes and getting up in those places is really exciting.

"He's got a really good gallop on him. I think that as an eventing horse, especially at a higher level, making time on cross country and having a thoroughbred that can be fit is such a necessity, because it does put you above the warmbloods.

"It gives you that little bit of an advantage against the warmbloods – thoroughbreds may not always compare to performance-bred horses when it comes to movement, but speed and agility is something they do have, and it's something that I can see that Roy is going to have up the grades.

"It looks really promising that he's going to be quite a quick horse on cross country, and that's a really important phase in our sport to get right."

Danielle first teamed up with an OTT thoroughbred as her first horse as a teenager while part of the Hendra Pony Club.

Prior to becoming a full-time professional rider, she worked for the Education Department at Racing Queensland, before heading to work at Belcam Stud to pursue her dream to ride and coach as a profession.

She eventually created Bunya Springs Equestrian, and now has six horses in total at her property, including four horses within the QOTT Program.

Who Da Kid, formerly trained by the late Pat Duff, was Danielle's first success story, being her first horse to reach the two-star class in eventing.

Chris Waller and the Corey & Kylie Geran team are among other trainers who have sent their former racehorses to be trained by Danielle.

Joining the QOTT Acknowledged Retrainer Program in January 2024 has further confirmed her love and passion for her profession.

"The best part is getting to do this every day of the week…the amount of people that I've met throughout the QOTT Program has been great and I've met so many new trainers," Danielle said.

"Just building such an understanding of that link between the racing industry through to the equestrian industry, being that in-between person is so special.

"I think a lot of people forget that we are extremely lucky to have those contacts, and I love hearing from them, and they love hearing about how their horses are going.

"I spoke recently with Corey Geran about two of the horses that I've got here from him and he's based up at Toowoomba.

"I think that's really lovely - there's been a big change in the industry with how we can meet these two different sports and have these beautiful relationships with people."

Danielle will also be looking for further showjumping success with former galloper Lockheed Lightning.

The pair finished 15th in this year's Queensland Off-The-Track Cup Final at the Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping Day.

Determined to climb up the standings in next year's Final, Danielle and Lockheed Lightning finished inside the top ten at the recent QOTT Queensland qualifier at Caboolture, booking their spot at the 2026 event on the Gold Coast.

Danielle said the increase in the prize money pool to $100,000 was also providing plenty of motivation.

"It's really, really exciting. I think that sort of money, it is life changing for a lot of us, especially who are doing it full time as our living," Danielle said.

"That sort of money can go into supporting thoroughbreds even more. And I'm just so excited that we get to be part of it, it's just an absolute pleasure."