Blog

In the absence of runners and a much less onerous schedule it’s easy to find time to reflect on goings on worldwide and closer to home. Our kids will learn about these days in history classes, they’ll tell their kids about spring 2020 or “cowonaviwus” as it’s referred to in this house. We’re very fortunate here in the west of Ireland, plenty of space, plenty to keep us busy. We’re safe and healthy for now. Our problems pale into nothing alongside London, New York etc. Every day you look for signs of it abating, please God it peters out. Having the horses to train and the yard to look after is a blessing. Beautiful weather doing what you love and in the absence of targets and pressure you can really dream about what the current crew can do. I reduced numbers to about 15 from 22 or 23 once lockdown kicked in and for the first time since I started 3 seasons ago there is an air of order and calm about the place. We have good riders and good people about so we’ll enjoy it while we can. People talk about the challenges for small trainers, I’ve never been happier to be a small trainer. Keeping 60 plus horses on the go with 20 plus members of staff would be a tough station at present. Momentum is gone for now but if we were going somewhere 4 weeks ago we’ll get there 4 weeks from now or 8 weeks if that’s what it has to be. We’re very lucky with the group of owners we have. Great friends in the bunch and as of now they’re positioned to stick this out. If you’re an owner reading this not knowing what to do or whether if your involvement is tenable, speak to your trainer, keep communicating, everyone knows the score. Horses are easier to train with a target. A leads to B leads to C and 5 days later run. It’s simplistic enough and if B or C wasn’t better than A or B and if they’re not as good after C as they were after B then abort and try again. We’re in ticking along mode but they’re getting fit and well and fitter and weller all the time and we could do with working a few or running a few before someone gets savaged. 😂 Nice to see, my fridge was on better terms with itself that some of the horses last year. Getting left behind is the most excoriating feeling of them all. It’s fucking lonely. This is nirvana compared to last year. In an industry sense the breeze up consignors are going to be under the most pressure right at the moment. This is their time. Yearlings, foals, horses in training will be affected but there will be time for this to distil out, it’ll become clearer. Anyone looking to explore options for 2 year olds should give us a call. Before spitting tea and toast everywhere, look it up, we do okay with babies. We won 4 maidens in Ireland last year, well 3, Lougher was a maiden winning a winners race (ahem). The point being it’s another way to get horses moved. Bigger risk but bigger reward. The international flat market is strong and a Lougher, Dean Street Doll or Thebeastfortheeast will always sell. Equally with horses in training. This will pass, there’ll be good days, great days again. Stick with them, this will turn, it always does. On that optimistic note I better watch these kids. Afternoons are pancakes and mud kitchens, dance offs and movies. Interspersed with stone picking and yard duties. Stay safe, stay well and keep chins up. Be grand, in time.