National Racehorse Week

SaddlePsych'D

SaddlePsych'D

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Coming up at the end of this month https://nationalracehorseweek.uk/

Anyone booked in to visit any of the yards?

I've booked to go to Jo Davies' near Swindon and Charlie Longsdon near Chipping Norton (technically OH has booked us for this but not sure if he will actually come!)

I'd love to go to one of the studs and one of the retraining centres too but it's limited how many events you can book. Next year!

I know next to nothing about racing but am fascinated by the riding and there is something particularly magical about the horses I think.
 
I'm in Chipping Norton and am surprised how many racing related yards there is here. I guess its pretty central for a lot of places. As you go past Diddly Squat give me a wave!
 
I went to Jo's last year and it was great. Both me and my mum really enjoyed our time there.

I missed the spots at Hughie Morrison's but have added myself to the wait list on the off chance a space comes up. I'd love to see his yard as it is where my horse was in training. I'm not holding out much hope though as I bet loads of people have signed up for his open day.
 
I'm Dun said:
As you go past Diddly Squat give me a wave!
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You and Lisa? 😂

I've just watched the Lilly Pinchin doc and looked up whether they were having an open day at that yard. Also I want to have a go on the exercise horse thingy 😂
Taliesan said:
I went to Jo's last year and it was great. Both me and my mum really enjoyed our time there.

I missed the spots at Hughie Morrison's but have added myself to the wait list on the off chance a space comes up. I'd love to see his yard as it is where my horse was in training. I'm not holding out much hope though as I bet loads of people have signed up for his open day.
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I quite like a lot of Jo's stuff on FB and we have family just there in the town so I'm looking forward to being nosy. I think it also said they would show the horses on the gallops which I would really love to see!
 
Yeah I’m at Philip Hobbs and Jeremy Scott’s on 29th August. One in the morning, one in the afternoon. Booked with a friend - we have booked the max of six tickets each as we were rushing and didn’t know who else was coming - at the mo it’s just us two, so if anyone on here wants to meet up there are four spare tickets for each. I can’t remember all the yards that @Clodagh is going to!
 
Also off to Christian Williams with @TheMule. I spent a morning on the gallops with Charlie Longsdon and it was good. Lots of turnout, happy horses and Charlie is very personable.
Loved Ben Pauling visit - really interesting with Owners Club.
 
Thanks for sharing - great to see so many fully booked already. Sadly only one of the racing yards in Sussex is on the list, wonder why?
 
teapot said:
Thanks for sharing - great to see so many fully booked already. Sadly only one of the racing yards in Sussex is on the list, wonder why?
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None in my area at all! I think they are probably all just busy or don’t want prying eyes!

I guess it’s a faff having potentially hundreds of people walking around, I went to one once and the horses were stressed off their eyeballs at all the people there. Can understand it can upset sensitive horses
 
I also think it’s quite amazing that the yards open for Lambourn Newmarket Malton Middleham open days as they really are huge numbers of people at those. I think national racehorse week numbers are smaller but again it is good of trainers, studs and trainers opening up and and their staff putting the work into as it is disruption for people and horses.
 
I'm off to Juddmonte at Tetbury and then to Charlie Longsdon. Best visit last year was Henrietta Knights. Not the most modern of yards but all the staff were so knowledgeable about all the horses and the visit was really informative. We saw a flat horse going over some hurdles for the first time. A place where horses definitely come first.
 
Double_choc_lab said:
I'm off to Juddmonte at Tetbury and then to Charlie Longsdon. Best visit last year was Henrietta Knights. Not the most modern of yards but all the staff were so knowledgeable about all the horses and the visit was really informative. We saw a flat horse going over some hurdles for the first time. A place where horses definitely come first.
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Oh will have to try to find each other as I’m going to Juddmonte.
 
Attended the first of the two open days today. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Numbers weren't especially high, I think less than 50, which made for a nice experience as not crowded. I would say most of the horses seemed to be enjoying the extra attention and genuinely curious about what was going on. A few kept to themselves but seemed settled, and just a couple were a bit more animated about the situation. The whole time was 2 hours and a big chunk of that was us all outside of the stables area, so I would hope not too disruptive to the horses.

It was an interesting morning and the horses were just absolutely beautiful.
 
SaddlePsych'D said:
Attended the first of the two open days today. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Numbers weren't especially high, I think less than 50, which made for a nice experience as not crowded. I would say most of the horses seemed to be enjoying the extra attention and genuinely curious about what was going on. A few kept to themselves but seemed settled, and just a couple were a bit more animated about the situation. The whole time was 2 hours and a big chunk of that was us all outside of the stables area, so I would hope not too disruptive to the horses.

It was an interesting morning and the horses were just absolutely beautiful.
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Was that Jo Davis?
 
Attended the second of the two open days today. It was quite a bit bigger and busier than at Jo Davies' - I preferred the limited numbers on that day; probably better for the horses and less crowded, more chance to ask questions and chat.

That said, we did get to see some horses working over jumps (hurdles? there is so much terminology my OH kept asking me and I was like 🤷‍♀️ I don't know my racing lingo at all!) and that really was a treat. I don't know what I was expecting but it was just amazing being so close to them galloping.

I had a go on the mechanical horse; might have been the only adult among all the kids having a go. In my head I did really well, but the video says otherwise 😂 How the hell do they keep their legs so still? HOW?!!!

Overall, a nice way to spend a couple of hours. Next year would quite like to go to a stud and/or one of the rehab/retraining yards.
 
We had a great time at Christian Williams’- what an amazing place to train horses from! They seem to live a very natural lifestyle there with plenty of turnout, forage and a nice horse-friendly set up. It isn’t modern or posh, but it clearly is a good environment for the horse
We did vlog it for anyone interested- Eventing Journey on YouTube
 
TheMule said:
We had a great time at Christian Williams’- what an amazing place to train horses from! They seem to live a very natural lifestyle there with plenty of turnout, forage and a nice horse-friendly set up. It isn’t modern or posh, but it clearly is a good environment for the horse
We did vlog it for anyone interested- Eventing Journey on YouTube
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I saw the vlog - what a fantastic natural landscape to use for their training!

I was remembering some of your commentary on the horses' confirmation when they paraded the horses today. Still no idea what I'm looking at really but it was interesting to note the variety in how they are all put together.
 
SaddlePsych'D said:
I saw the vlog - what a fantastic natural landscape to use for their training!

I was remembering some of your commentary on the horses' confirmation when they paraded the horses today. Still no idea what I'm looking at really but it was interesting to note the variety in how they are all put together.
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Incredible isn’t it?! It’s so interesting to compare such a wide range of different thoroughbreds and hone your eye in on what you like and don’t like. It’s just a privilege to watch such fantastic animals
 
TheMule said:
Incredible isn’t it?! It’s so interesting to compare such a wide range of different thoroughbreds and hone your eye in on what you like and don’t like. It’s just a privilege to watch such fantastic animals
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There's not many horses of any type I'd say 'nah don't like you' because I'm a 34 year old horse mad child, but there is something particularly magic about the racehorses I think.

And I have such huge respect for the strength and skills of the jockeys and work riders! It was nice to say hello to Lilly Pinchin today (tasked with supervising the mechanical horse which I don't think I would have envied) as it was her documentary which prompted me to book in for that particular open day.
 
They all sound like a lot of fun! Christian Williams photo's always look incredible so I'd love a visit to his yard.
My sister has shares in two horses with Jo and she's enjoying it so much. She gives updates every day, many of them hilarious!
 
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