*Disclaimer – This is a sponsored post*
Last week we had the pleasure of visiting Karl Burke Racing to go behind the scenes of horse racing. You may have seen that a few weeks ago we spent the day at Catterick Races and Evie in particular had some questions about the horses and how they are cared for. So being invited to see a yard where racehorses are trained and cared for was a great opportunity.
National Racehorse Week
National Racehorse Week, a celebration of racehorses is taking place from 10th to 18th September. Over 150 venues across the country including trainers, studs and aftercare centres will be opening their doors to the public for free.
It’s a fantastic opportunity to see behind the scenes in a racing yard and see the high level of care that these equine athletes receive.
Karl Burke Racing
Karl Burke Racing is located at Spigot Lodge in Coverham, North Yorkshire. Here, Karl and his wife Elaine have been training horses since 1991. The yard has seen many improvements over the last decade and now has 130 stables. The ongoing development at Spigot Lodge has made it one of the best equipped thoroughbred training facilities in North of England.
“Spigot Lodge, steeped in racing history, is named after the 1821 St Leger winner Jack Spigot. The 1849 Epsom Derby winner “The Flying Dutchman” trained by John Fobert was also prepared at the yard and famous trainers such as Henry Hall, Colonel Lyde and more recently Sam Hall and Chris Thornton have continued to produce other high class winners from Spigot Lodge.”
When we arrived at the yard we were able to have a wander around the stables to meet the horses. It always amazes me how friendly and gentle these huge animals are! We got to see the stables being mucked out and the horses being brushed by the staff at the yard. It was clear to see the love they have for the horses.
Next we watched the horses being tacked up and taken out to the ring. It was interesting to see the process of getting a horse ready, it’s certainly not a quick process.
We were also able to see some of the horses on the walker. This is essentially a giant wheel that allows several horses to be exercised at the same time, helping them to maintain their fitness levels.
The life of a racehorse
Thoroughbred fouls are usually born early in the year and spend a few months with their mother before being weaned.
The first year or two of their lives will be spent getting used to people and being handled. They will then begin training by getting used to being tacked up and carrying a rider. They will start off with a slow canter and build up from this.
Racehorses receive world class care and attention throughout their lives. They quickly become used to race days and when they aren’t racing structure and routine is incredibly important for them.
When a racehorse retires from racing they are often retrained as riding horses, showjumpers, eventers, dressage and showing stars and therapy horses. This was one of Evie’s biggest questions and now she has her answer!
Did you know a racehorse eats a whopping 35,000 calories per day?!
What to expect from your visit
Although each yards open day will offer something different you can expect some of the following from your visit…
- Meet the horses
- Daily fitness training
- Watch schooling
- Vet care demonstrations
- Farriery
We thoroughly enjoyed our yard visit and would encourage anyone with an interest in horses or horseracing to take advantage of these free open days. It’s a great opportunity for both adults and children to learn more about these beautiful animals.
Karl Burke and his team will be opening their doors to the public on Wednesday 14th September. You can find a local open day via the postcode search on the National Racehorse Week website.
Thank you for reading.
