About:
We run a small, friendly yard which specialises in giving individual attention to each of the horses. Caroline has been involved with horses all her life. Her father, the late Dick Saunders, rode as an amateur and successfully trained with a permit. He rode Grittar to win the Grand National in 1982. Her mother, Pam, rode in point-to-points and enjoyed many years in the hunting field.
Caroline evented successfully as a teenager, beginning in the Pony Club and going on to compete for the British Junior Team at the European Championships. She began riding in point-to-points aged 16 years and rode many winners. She rode 18 winners under National Hunt Rules and was the first lady jockey to ride at winner at Cheltenham Racecourse, winning on Ptarmigan III.
Caroline had a very successful career training point-to-pointers before taking out a full license in 2006. She trained Castle Mane to win the Cheltenhan Foxhunters and the Champion Hunter Chase at Punchestown and Gunner Welburn to win the Aintree Foxhunters. Her husband, Gerald, now trains the point-to-pointers in a yard adjacent to the National Hunt horses.
Our stables are converted from the old farm buildings and offer airy, well ventilated accommodation for the horses. The yard is surrounded by quiet country lanes which are suitable for road work and gentle hacking, offering many varied rides for the horses and plenty of hill work which is ideal for the horses coming back from grass. We also have installed a new three furlong all-weather cushion track gallop which lies on a gentle gradient. It is invaluable in frosty weather as it does not freeze and is easily accessible from the yard.
The one-and-a-half mile uphill grass gallop has been laid down for over 40 years, the horses are working on wonderful old turf. Running alongside the grass gallop is a rotovated gallop which is kept for use when the grass becomes too firm. These gallops are ideal for young horses as they work uphill and can do plenty of slow work to build up their muscles. The schooling facilities are within easy access of the yard, hurdles, small fences, schooling tyres and five larger steeplechase fences, including a ditch are also available. There is also a large outdoor, all weather arena which is used for teaching the young horses to canter and jump.
There is an array of poles, fillers, barrels etc. to improve their jumping techniques. There is also a horse walker at the yard which can take up to six horses.
Services:
Racehorse Training