About:
ONE thing I have learned, in my years as a racing correspondent, is that the privilege of standing around different stables in the hectic morning hours will usually tell me a lot about the trainer. You can sense a mood. It emanates from the staff, from the horses, from the look of the yard. Such elements are more profound indicators than mere success and failure.
Every yard will have its hot streaks and its periods in the freezer. It comes with the territory. But a good trainer will impose more permanent virtues that create an atmosphere of teamwork and positivity. I have felt that atmosphere on every visit to Sandhill. The staff are not only smart but smiley. Unlike some of the sour, slovenly types I see elsewhere, they look as if they enjoy their job, and their role in a Premier League jumping team!
The horses are well presented and demonstrably happy. And there is a cordial, relaxed feel around the place that never descends into lazy standards. Racing is a transient industry, sometimes ca sually so. Horses, staff and owners come and go. Yet the talent of Philip Hobbs is in looking after each category with equal thoroughness, so that few leave and even fewer improve for doing so. He used to tell me he would not allow any owner to have more than six horses, for fear of a dominant force causing envy or resentment.
Time and success has brought a different perspective but the arrival of more prolific owners has not harmed the atmosphere. Philip makes sure of that by giving every owner, large and small, his share of attention. Philip trains 112 horses at their yard in Somerset, has sent out over 2000 winners and has finished in the country’s top six National Hunt trainers since 1999. Philip has brought most of the winners himself, from either England, Ireland, France or Germany.
Woodchip Gallop: Our 5 furlong woodchip gallop is uphill and 8 inches compacted depth throughout. It is laid on a stone and a terram membrane which ensures perfect drainage through the wetter months. The horses will do the majority of their work on this gallop during the season going up twice. It has a good incline which is a huge help to building up the horses muscles and improving their fitness.
Polytrack Gallop: Our polytrack gallop has an incline over 3 furlongs is 6 inches thick and is laid on a tarmac membrane which provides excellent drainage. This gallop was laid in 2002 by Martin Collins Enterprises. It provides a perfect surface for schooling when the schooling ground is too firm, too soft or frozen.
Schooling Arena: Our outdoor all weather schooling arena plays a huge part in the training of horses at Sandhill. The arena has a fibresand surface which is great to school horses of all ages over poles, barrels and easyfix fences so they are fully prepared for jumping on the racecourse. We also use the school to break in any young horses which enables us to give them a great education before they are ridden on the gallops.
Services:
Racehorse Training