Guild's Delight (Tom) is one of the many young racehorses who hasn't quite made the grade on the racetrack and consequently has been retired from racing. His syndicate has ensured he has moved on to a caring new home to turn his hoof to a new career.

Tom was bought as a two-year-old by the Racing Guild, a Devon syndicate, which has seen notable successes since its launch five years ago. He was thought to be the guild's "best prospect" as a flat racer but unfortunately he never fulfilled that potential.

After a chequered racing career, Tom made a final outing at Bath this year where he came last and it became obvious "that the racing arena was not for him" explained syndicate member Simon Griffiths. One of the stable-hands pointed out that he was still only six and clearly had years left in his riding life, albeit not on the racetrack.

Tom was subsequently diagnosed with having a dorsal displacement of the soft palate (a common type of wind problem which causes flapping of loose tissue in the throat) and although it was cauterised, it did not fully solve the breathing problems he was struggling with.

In his final race as a four-year-old, Tom's jockey reported that he took "one huge breath at the halfway point and didn't let go until he was eased down after the line".

This was the turning point for Tom. The syndicate dropped him out of regular training as they could not afford to keep him running but two years on, the syndicate membership grew and with more backing decided to give this talented horse one last go.

Mr Griffiths said it was "a sentimental choice as Tom was an enormously imposing horse who very much ruled the roost" at Stuart Kittow's stables, where the Racing Guild's horses are trained.

In a final attempt to rectify his breathing problems, Tom was tubed (allowing oxygen direct to the lungs) and put back into training. The all-weather training circuit was no good as tubed horses cannot run on sand. Instead, Tom was aimed at some late summer flat races with a view to trying him over some hurdles in the winter.

Trainer Stuart Kittow and his team brought Tom back to prime condition but when the Bath race came "it was obvious that he just didn't want to be there" said Mr Griffiths. He began the race well but at the halfway point, he started to drop off and eventually came home some 30 lengths behind the rest of the field.

Seeing him finish in a heap made many of the syndicate members feel guilty about the decision to put him back into training and realised that his racing career was over.

So for his future? The syndicate knew that finding him a new home was not going to be easy as it needs someone who has a great deal of expertise and confidence to take on an ex-racehorse.

But fortunately for Tom, his future was considered at length and two of the syndicate members took him on to begin his second career, hunting and eventing. His tube was removed and out in the field, he was reported to be a "much happier horse".

His new owners Eleni Fellows and her mother Pru are well-known on the western riding circuit and train quarter horses at home. "Tom is a super horse and was very laid back when he arrived," said Mrs Fellows, who saw him progress considerably under Eleni with his flatwork.

After a while, he became more head-strong. "It was as though he thought he was getting ready for racing again and became yobbish in his behaviour," added Mrs Fellows, who drew the line when he started bucking when out hacking.

Although a very good-natured horse, all of his 17hh can be quite a handful for the most talented of riders, especially with a young rider on board and a responsible decision was made to move him on to another home before anything serious happened. "He definitely has a future but it did not work out for us," said Mrs Fellows.

Mr Griffiths said: "Tom has moved on and it highlights how hard it can be to find a suitable home for a retired racehorse, some of whom may not be the easiest animals to control." He added: "At least Tom is still in a good home and being looked after, as I am sure not all others are so lucky."

Trainer Stuart Kittow emphasised that "a young horse needs strong handling" and Tom is certainly one of the bigger horses. He has now been taken on by one of Mr Kittow's stable-girls, Lizzie Hulse, who plans to hunt him regularly and reschool him. He has just contested his first cross country which she reports to have gone "very well".

Tom is not untypical of many retired racehorses whose life prior to retirement is focused on galloping fast in one direction. They are athletes with massive potential but re-educating them requires not only skill, dedication and patience but considerable time and resources. With correct retraining, they have proved they can shine in all kinds of equine disciplines such as eventing, showjumping or even polo while many have happy lives hunting or hacking.