Edinburgh Castle: A Gentle Giant Finds His Place

TORONTO, January 27, 2026— As she watched the head-turning gelding step off the trailer, Lauren Millet felt an immediate pull – something about him was special.

“He was gorgeous,” recalled Millet, who holds the reins of farm manager at LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society’s home base, a 100-acre property in Hillsburgh, less than an hour drive northwest of Woodbine Racetrack. “Almost black coat, super shiny, with a big white blaze and just enough chrome. Everyone who saw him was like, ‘Whoa!’ but his presence was unassuming. It’s like he knew he was good-looking but didn’t want to flaunt it.”

The horse was Edinburgh Castle, a son of multiple graded stakes winner Flintshire (GB) out of the Frankel (GB) mare Dissipate.

Named after one of the oldest fortified places in Europe – a UNESCO World Heritage site that has served as a royal residence, military stronghold, and prison over its 1,000-plus-year history – the affable Thoroughbred was bred in Ontario by Saintsbury Farms Inc.

Owned by Piano Bar Racing and trained by Ian Black, Edinburgh Castle was a $40,000 (U.S.) purchase at the 2020 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale.

His lone race produced a sixth-place finish on November 18, 2022, at 6 ½ panels over the main track.

After retirement, he found his way to the idyllic LongRun farm, arriving in September 2023.

The picturesque property is home to 50 retired Thoroughbreds, a mix of sanctuary horses and others who will be rehomed through the organization’s adoption program.

“It is always a pleasure receiving horses from Piano Bar Racing and Ian Black,” said Millet. “We have adopted out several of their horses, and they are always so well handled and well cared for.”

Edinburgh Castle, nursing a minor tendon injury, settled into his new surroundings with effortless ease.

“From the moment Eddie got here, he was like a big, goofy couch potato,” said Millet. “I couldn’t believe he had shown the skill he did at the track, as it seemed like all he wanted to do was chill.

“But then, that was Eddie. He would literally try his heart out at whatever you asked of him, and he was happy to do it. Which is probably why he had a minor tendon injury – his big, lumbering frame didn’t want to be a racehorse. He was the easiest horse to rehab ever. Stall rest? No problem. Hand-walking? He just knew what to do.

“He wasn’t full of himself, which made him super easy to work around. He was just the kindest horse that wanted to please.”

Millet carefully mapped out a patient plan for Edinburgh Castle, with the goal of finding him the right home.

“We knew he was special, and all he wanted to do was please his people,” said Millet. “And yet, we truly felt he did not want a super-athletic, physical job. He was the easiest horse to re-start, from the very first ride we were walking and trotting on a loose rein in the most relaxed manner, and we didn’t want someone to take advantage of his kindness and willingness and ask too much of him.

“He wanted a job, but he didn’t want to break a sweat doing it, if that makes sense.”

In July 2024, Lori Emick sent an email to LongRun looking for a horse to adopt.

After reading it, Millet was confident she had the ideal candidate.

“When I got Lori’s application, I knew right away Eddie was the one. It was exactly the type of job he wanted, at a small hobby farm where he could be lazy and quiet. He was always up for anything – trails and obstacles seemed like the perfect fit.

“As soon as Lori sat on Eddie here at the farm, it was evident. She tried the Western ways of steering – versus English style – and Eddie just went around like, ‘I have no clue what you’re asking but this walking stuff is fun.’ He figured it out really fast.”

Eddie and Emick had found a match made in horse heaven.

“When I first saw Eddie, I was struck by how stunning he looked,” recalled Emick. “Very elegant and a nice mover.

“I felt like Eddie and I were going to get along right from the start. He seemed to like grooming and was definitely happy with being around people. I started riding him and noticed he was easy to handle and had a positive attitude. After a short period of time, he relaxed and I saw great potential for a low natural headset, which is perfect for what I wanted him for. There was absolutely no fight in anything I asked him.”

Emick was equally impressed with LongRun and its personnel.

“I went to their facility and met Eddie for a test ride to see if we were going to get along. Under a relaxed atmosphere, I was able to take my time working with him in an indoor arena.

“I could see that the professional staff were very conscientious and there to make sure Eddie was going to be handled properly. I was impressed with their knowledge and experience.”

Just as he had upon arriving at LongRun, Eddie adapted easily to his new surroundings in Fenwick, Ontario, a rural community in the Town of Pelham within the Niagara Region.

A patient hand and pampered life awaited.

“I purchased a horse farm in Fenwick two years ago right after I retired. Eddie is living with me. He has a double-size stall, heated barn, and UV filtered water. He is out all day with two of his friends and comes in for the night. I like him so much I had to build an arena for more play time.”

The strapping Thoroughbred proved to be an eager student, with Emick a grateful teacher.

“I started working with Eddie like I would with a 2-year-old Quarter Horse. We worked on manners and basic ground work. He then learned to lunge on voice commands. Eddie started working on trail equipment and can now do the basics – gate, bridge, side passes, dog-leg backups, ground ties and is fine carrying around bags full of cans and other desensitization items.

“He learned to be a gentleman by wrapping around the mounting block and stopping in the perfect place, so anyone can get on and then he doesn’t move until he is given permission.

Their latest challenge is Liberty training.

“He is now capable of doing some showmanship without a lead. He is also getting much better at steering with only legs. Eddie seems to enjoy going slow, so our Western pleasure is progressing nicely. He has an exceptional long trot, so we do some English work, but only on the flat. His natural headset is amazing.”

Emick’s beloved Thoroughbred is not only big in stature but also boasts a personality to match.

From playfulness to puckishness to wide-eyed wonder, the LongRun graduate is the very definition of a people-pleaser.

“His personality is amazing,” said Emick. “He has a mischievous side and loves to be silly sometimes. Eddie always wants to see what I am doing. He loves people. He is content when we are just doing ground work and will stand around for long periods of time just watching what else is going on around him. He puts a lot of smiles on people’s faces with his antics.

“He does like to have something in his mouth all the time, but we are working on that. He has pulled all the strings and tabs off my previous barn coat.”

Not that Emick is complaining – it’s rather the opposite.

“He has given me an opportunity to work with a different breed that I had not worked with before and I have realized they are significantly different yet respond to the same positive reinforcement training.

“It is very rewarding to see how well he is progressing and how much he enjoys learning new skills.”

One of many reasons why Emick is grateful to call Eddie her own.

“He puts a smile on my face every day.”

Chris Lomon, Woodbine