What we did on our holidays

With only the odd horse in the yard during those heady, glorious, summer months, time was spent sprucing up Dodlands Steading. Both Garry and Callum spent a couple of months based back at home with us, and gave us the 'kick up the back-side' needed to get organised in attending to a myriad of odd-jobs.

Like most NH-based racing stables, with the horses out to grass, we took the opportunity to power clean each of the boxes, and apply a re-coat of paint to stable doors, and creosote to the fences.

A bit more obvious to our regular visitors, will be the re-organisation of the plumbing in the yard - thanks Mark - much needed tidying of those 'spare rooms' in the stable area and re-discovery of just how much space we did have at the bottom of the yard.

But the perfectionist in Garry didn't stop there, as he managed the construction of a white running rail which now runs about 2/3rds of the way up the 'Up the Middle' gallop. Our chase fences have been re-stocked with birch, and with the fine, fine weather, we've been able to cut and store several hay-bales from our grass gallops.

All the best.....

Well, we're glad you came, and it was so sad to see you go, but while you were here we had us a real good time...to mis-quote a 70's rock'n'roll song.

Two of three of horses who were in with the brickwork won't be around this season. Allan Gilchrist home-bred mare Mia Matriarch (twice placed in bumpers/hurdles), Potassium Partnerships winning hurdler King Kalium and Dave McComb's dual winning hurdler Leith Walk have all been retired from racing.
Indeed, Leith Walk is now based 'in the paddocks' in Ireland where she has been covered by potential high class NH stallion Yeats.

It's not just some of our equine friends who moved on, regular weekend work rider for the passed few years Lewis Ferguson has joined Alan King's yard as a stable lad/amateur rider. Callum Whillans has joined the well-run NH yard of Venetia Williams as a conditional jockey (he's still got a couple of years left on that licence). We're proud of the fact that a fair number of local lads who've started their career at Dodlands have gone on to achieve race-riding success. Wilson Renwick, the Whillans boys themselves, Keiron Edgar, Craig Nichol and accomplished amateur Russell Lindsay to name a few.

Anyway, all the best to all.

Dual winning hurdler Leith Walk

Incremental changes

We've touched on this subject in the past, and we are firm believers in making small changes - just one or two for a spell - and being able to 'measure' the difference made. And it's not just the impact or improvement in wellbeing of the horses we're thinking of here, as our team members mean everything to us as well.

So what's on the go at the moment (September/October '13)? Over the last couple of years, both Garry and Callum have worked at large stables (100 horses plus), and have suggested a couple of things. Nothing new really, but importantly new to us at Dodlands. As mentioned elsewhere, Callum is working as a Conditional Jockey down with Venetia Williams, but Garry is around here for a spell, and is making a significant contribution alongside Ryan & Matthew. Anyway, the horses are being fed more often - as in fed less but more frequently - to aid digestion and lessen the possibility of stomach ulcers (which can be hard enough to detect).
Each horse has it's own grooming kit, neatly compacted in his patented brand of kit bag. That's right Garry, isnt it?

So, maybe the horse numbers are slightly down this season, but the enthusiasm of the team is as high as ever, and with many new ideas up our sleeves, we've got so much to look forward to this season. 

The well-packed open ditch

So, what's in store in 2013-14

Down slightly in numbers from previous seasons - but, of course, room for a couple of new horses (just get in touch!).

Several of our string that we though were cast-iron 'definitely maybes' to score last season never quite managed to get their nose in front. The ability is still very much there, as recent gallop work has shown, so with competitive handicap marks we hope success comes the way to the likes of Snapping Turtle, Mini the Minx and Nodda High Kid.

Old (to us anyway) favourites such as dual winners Bollin Fiona and Shadow Boxer will again not be far away under the right conditions. Promising hurdling mares Bollin Julie and Ellistrin Belle are expected to fare well in handicap hurdles. We always have a clutch of lightly raced/unraced youngsters looking to progress in bumpers and novice hurdles, and Nearly May and an unraced River Falls gelding are ones to note in that category.

One new horse who joined us at the start of summer is Hartforth. The 5yr old has had a couple of flat outings for the yard, but we think he has the shape of a horse suited by soft ground and three miles.

So, we're delighted as always with our current team members plus the enthusiastic weekend lads, and very happy with our training facilities and set-up.

You know, it's all about fun and enjoyment, stable visits, gallop watching and those special, nothing-like-it-in-the-world race days.

Oh, and do try to get down to Dodlands on a Saturday morning - the place is buzzing, atmosphere electric and as for the gossip, well..............

Best of luck for the season to all our owners and jockeys.