Category Archives: Bodies And Societies

A range of equestrian bodies and societies that support the profession and the interests of all its participants.

NEW FEMALE TALENT FOR HORSE SCOUT: AMY MURPHY

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“There isn’t much life outside horses but I’ve never been one for shopping anyway” confesses racehorse trainer Amy Murphy. A familiar tale among Equestrians. Ellie Kelly caught up with Horse Scout’s latest advocate about racing dreams, being a woman in a man’s world and unhealthy eating habits.

At 24 years, many young people are still working out what to do with their life but Amy Murphy was already making waves in the racing world. Last August she gained her trainer’s license, departed from the security of a job as Assistant Trainer and set up a race yard, becoming the youngest trainer in Britain.  Her first season got off to a phenomenal start with nine winners and 12 placings from just 30 runners.

Amy Murphy Racing

Training racehorses was the dream from her early pony-mad childhood days. “I was in the Pony Club and did a lot of hunting but I was bitten by the racing bug” Amy explains. I started riding out for local trainers at 15 years old and I became fascinated by the training, buying, management and everything else involved in the industry. I loved the perfectionism and attention to minor details that could be the difference to winning or losing. So I decided that is what I wanted to do.”

Amy’s racing pedigree is excellent- her father Paul is a highly regarded breeder of Flat and National Hunt horses and she grew up on Whychnor Park Stud in Staffordshire deeply entrenched in the world of racing. “Whenever dad had a runner I was always sick that day so I could go to the races,” Murphy laughs. “But Dad was clear with me and told me that I had to get an education before I went into racing.”

Amy Murphy Racing

This started at Hartpury College where Amy completed a course in Equine Science. On finishing here she went straight into getting practical experience. ”I wanted to learn from the best” she says. This included a job with trainer Tom Dascombe before a winter spent in Sydney with leading female trainer Gai Waterhouse. On her return, Amy was then offered an enviable position as Assistant Trainer to Luca Cumani, arguably one of the best flat trainers in the world. This was followed by a stint with one of the best known National Hunt trainers, Nicky Henderson.

After less than a year training from her base Hamilton Stables in Newmarket, Amy has already amassed 27 horses with 12 owners- a mix of Flat and National Hunt horses. These include a Middle Eastern Royalty and Amy is just setting up an affordable racing club “so people can enjoy the social side without huge outlay” she explains. “It’s a small operation at the moment but my dream is to get the business off the ground and eventually be a big trainer with 100 horses” she says “In the short term it’s about keeping my horses healthy and fit”.

And being a woman in a heavily male dominated world? “It just makes me more determined” she states. “It’s certainly never put me off. Although racing is changing and woman are proving they can do it, both as trainers and jockeys.”

Amy Murphy Racing

A typical day starts around 5am and finishes around 6pm and Amy rides out on the gallops with the other stable staff. Unsurprisingly, Amy’s year round season allows for few days off. “It’s seven days a week most of the time but I take the odd Sunday off, which I like to spend with my family” she says.

As well as training and overseeing the day-to-day running of the yard, Amy deals with much of the admin and promoting the business. “Horse Scout will be a great asset to my business in terms of marketing and building up my network” she says.

LAST BOOK YOU READ- AP McCoy’s Autobiography.

HOW DO YOU START YOUR DAY- A Coffee with lots of sugar.

GUILTY PLEASURE- Galaxy chocolate. WHAT COULD YOU NOT

LIVE WITHOUT- My Labrador puppy, Milo.

BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR CAREER SO FAR– There are so many! Obviously all the trainers I have worked for but also my Dad, Paul Murphy. He has been a real mentor, particularly on the business side.

PHILOSPOHY-  You never stop learning. Anywhere I go, I walk in with open eyes.

To find out more about Amy Murphy or her racing club visit www.amymurphyracing.com

Amy Murphy Racing

 

 


Horse Scout invests in star show jumpers

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Horse Scout, which has secured global investment to further develop its innovative equestrian social network platform and help riders boost their professional careers, is to sponsor the next round of young show jumpers on the British Showjumping and Haddon Training Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) programme in its mission to nurture future Olympic stars.

Applications for the 2016/17 AASE programme open at the end of July and those accepted will have the opportunity to be coached and trained by some of the top sporting coaches and experts in the UK including Heike Holstein (flatwork) and Andrew Saywell (jumping).

The programme also gives participants (age 16-19) access to experts that focus on them as an athlete: a physiotherapist to help reduce imbalances and weaknesses, a dietitian to advise on nutrition, and a media trainer who can help develop communication skills.

Aimed at developing and preparing talented young upcoming athletes at the top of their game, the AASE programme provides training and education for those who have a real chance of excelling in their sport and competing at European and Olympic level.

The AASE programme also develops the riders into young professionals within the sport with many progressing to start and run their own businesses.

Haddon Training has delivered AASE for British Showjumping since 2013 with 100 young riders completing the 12-15-month programme which culminates in a Level 3 nationally recognised qualification — equivalent to two A-Levels and 85 UCAS points.

Corinne Bracken, AASE Programme Manager, says: “The programme covers all the core components including technical, tactical, mental and physical skills delivered by industry experts, plus those that are essential to attracting owners and sponsors to the sport. It’s great that global organisations such as Horse Scout recognise the importance of supporting future stars.”

How to apply:Any young rider seeking details on the AASE application process should contact staci.cox@haddontraining.co.uk


The Pony Club Supporters Fan Club: Hastoe Hill Stables

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How Fantastic: Hastoe Hill Stables Going all out to support The Pony Club

Horse scout Blogger spotted that Hastoe Hill Stables has its own Pony Club Club especially to help their Kids count up their badges at their BHS Approved Equestrian Centre. Cool.

At Hastoe Hill Stables we run a pony Club centre for all our younger clients. The Pony Club scheme allows children to learn important topics and achieve badges and progressive tests. Our pony club is split into three groups:

FALABELLA – For children under the age of 10 years, who have never done pony club before. In the falabella sessions we focus on the basic of horse care, working towards mini achievement badges in grooming and pony behavior.

MINI – For children under the age of 10 years, who ride in our lead rein and beginner group lessons. In Mini sessions we focus on being comfortable around the ponies and knowing how to look after, feed, groom and care for the ponies. We also work towards mini achievement badges and the bronze progressive award.

JUNIOR – For children over the age of 10 years, who ride in our novice and intermediate group lessons. In Junior sessions we focus on the big achievement badges, like Mucking Out, Grooming and Handling and Saddlery. We also work towards both the bronze and silver progessive awards.

SENIOR – For teenagers, who ride in our novice and intermediate group lessons. In the senior sessions we focus on some of the more advance badges such as Equine first aid and native british breeds.

We really try to make the sessions as fun as possible, we also offer special pony club activities throughout the summer holidays, such as jumping clinics, pony camps and extra badge sessions.

NEW SPRING/SUMMER 2015 COURSE!

1.   Choose a group:

FALABELLA – for first time members who have never been on one of our pony club courses who attend lead-rein and beginner groups. Also members must be under the age of 10 years.

MINI – for members who have attended our pony club courses before and who attend lead-rein and beginner group lessons. Also members must be under the age of 10 years.

JUNIOR – for members in our beginner and novice group lessons, who are above the age of 10 years.

SENIOR – for our teenaged members in our novice, intermediate and advanced lessons.

PLEASE NOTE:

All our Current Pony Club members can stay in the same level groups for the Spring/Summer term.

2.     Choose your time:

FALABELLA – Sunday at 14:30 half hour sessions

MINI –   Wednesday at 17:15 or Sunday at 10:30 half hour sessions

JUNIOR – Saturday at 10.30am or Saturday at 14:30pm 45minute sessions

SENIOR – Friday at 18:15 45minute sessions

Please make a note of all the dates which the course will run on:

WEEK WEDNESDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
WEEK 1 6th May 8th May 9th May 10th May
WEEK 2 13th May 15th May 16th May 17th May
HALF TERM
WEEK 3 3rd June 5th June 6th June 7th June
WEEK 4 10th June 12th June 13th June 14th June
WEEK 5 17th June 19th June 20th June 21st June
WEEK 6 24th June 26th June 27th June 28th June
WEEK 7 1st July 3rd July 4th July 5th July
WEEK 8 8th July 10th July 11th July 12th July

3.     Sign Up:

Please make sure that you are a member of the Pony Club organisation, if not please look on our links page for a downloadable copy of the membership form. Click through here to Hastoe Hill Riding stables. The cost of the course includes all 8 sessions and the handbooks & workbooks as well as the badges recieved at the end:

12th July at 15:30 Badge Presentation.