British racing has got it right when it comes to the care and rehabilitation of horses after their career is finished.

The Moorcroft Racehorse Welfare Centre at Slinfold, near Horsham, is one of three establishments in England dedicated to the retraining and placement of horses.

The polo field and showjumping arena provide opportunities for suitable horses to make a career switch. The Americans, in particular, have been successful in turning sprinters into showjumpers.

But at Huntingrove Stud, Graham Oldfield and his team aim to produce the all-round riding horse, safe and sensible enough for any competent rider and not necessarily for competition.

Star of the 22 residents is 18-year old Moorcroft Boy, who returned to Aintree two years after sustaining a fractured vertebrae at the racecourse.

Moorcroft Boy won the Scottish National, ridden by Adrian McGuire, after his comeback before being retired to the Welfare Centre, now named after him.

The project came to life in 1996 in Sevenoaks, Kent, and two years later moved to Catsfield in Sussex.

Tony Chapman, of Aston House Stud in Oxfordshire, organised charitable status for the Moorcroft Centre, which helps financially, but funding is by voluntary subscription and support from the BHB Re-training of Racehorses Initiative.

The Home of Rest for Horses in Buckinghamshire has also been a notable backer.

Chief executive Oldfield said: "Our lease in Catsfield had less than a year to run and we were getting desperate to find a suitable property.

"Then Brenda Karn-Smith, one of our staunchest supporters, rang to say Huntingrove, adjacent to her property, was on the market.

"It has proved to be the perfect location and the purchase was financed by generous benefactors who modestly prefer to remain anonymous."

While Moorcroft Boy is a permanent resident, other horses go to new homes once they have been assessed and schooled under the watchful eye of manager Sue Collins.

Collins said: "We get plenty of offers of homes for our horses but not everyone has experience of highly-strung thoroughbreds, so we do ask applicants to ride the horse several times so that we can be sure horse and rider are suited."

Collins and Oldfield also inspect the new keeper's premises before the necessary paperwork is signed and sealed.

Oldfield said: "We carry out follow-up visits, because it is so important the scheme is an on-going success."

All the horses remain the property of the Welfare Centre throughout their lives.

Huntingrove is set in idyllic surroundings, but 12 months ago the 90-acre property boasted just two bungalows and one barn.

Today the barn has been sub-divided into 12 stables, a tack room and an office. Also, a conventional stable yard of 15 boxes has been built.

The Home Of Rest For Horses gave a grant for a superb 40m x 20m sand-and-chopped-rubber schooling arena and the latest hi-tech addition, completed last week, is the electric horse walker.

Oldfield said: "The walker is proving very labour-saving. Five horses at any one time can be exercised without supervision, freeing up our small staff for other duties."

There are just two full-time grooms who share one of the bungalows and three part-timers.

Oldfield said: "Our full-time staff have only their keep and telephone bills to pay, the rest is free, so it isn't a bad deal for them."

There is always a waiting list for horses hoping to come to the centre.

One of the more notable graduates was the late Queen Mother's Kings Rhapsody, now rehoused and competing in dressage and cross-country events. Star Rage, winner of the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, is another well-known resident.

Mullintor, winner of the Sussex National at Plumpton three years ago, will be the star guest at an open day for the centre's support group on Sunday.

Now living with journalist and TV presenter Brough Scott and his family in Surrey, Mullintor played a leading part in the film A Splendid Moment based on Scott's recently published book Galloper Jack.

Oldfield will welcome potential members at 2pm on Sunday.

He said: "Naturally we would like to sign up new members. We have 90 already and it would be nice to reach 100 this weekend."

The subscription is £10 a month and members of the group enjoy functions and visits to such venues as the Kings Troop RHA Barracks in London.

Future plans at Huntingrove include fencing the remaining 45 acres not already made into paddocks.

The place hums with enthusiasm and dedication and can be content in the knowledge that it is satisfying a serious need.