In the yard and the village
Words and pictures by Sara Waterson
Although Paul was busy making the entries for the week and attending to other Monday morning matters so had no time to spare, it was a great privilege to be given the run of the yard for a couple of hours and to meet not only so many of the current equine champions in their respective disciplines, but also a few of those whose exemplary care ensures their horses give of their best on course. Around 45 full-time staff look after the full complement of 120 or so horses.
The trainer begins his daily routine before 7am, agreeing the exercise rota with his Assistant Dan Skelton and long-serving right-hand man Clifford Baker, whose title Head Lad hardly begins to describe his role in the yard. As relaxed and cheery as Paul is intense and driven, this team player complements his boss perfectly. Clifford posts the daily roster on the tack room door, and the three 40-strong lots go out in turn in groups for exercise, the Head Lad legging up each rider and ensuring he or she knows what is expected for that morning’s sortie. There’s nothing concerning the horses of which Clifford is not immediately aware; he now does less riding out as his supervisory role has grown, and frequently accompanies the horses to the races.
Paul watches most work on the two magnificent all-weather gallops, one of which – the famous Hill Gallop – covers just short of 4.5 furlongs in length but climbs a stamina-sapping 232 feet. The other, built in 1995, is a dead flat part-curving gallop for fast work once fitness is achieved.
The trainer also likes to supervise schooling sessions at Highbridge, (either in the well-appointed schooling ring or over fixed jumps in a paddock), before repairing to the office in the former dairy parlour of the main yard, dealing with vets or heading off for the races. If not racing, he will attend ‘evening stables’ between 3pm and 5.30pm to further discuss each horse’s well-being and routine with his key staff, before returning home to research more possible race entries and to liaise with owners – a great deal of every trainer’s life is spent on the telephone. It’s an immensely demanding life, but being crowned Champion NH Trainer for each of the last four seasons is some compensation!
At Ditcheat most of the huge administrative burden is cheerfully shouldered by Paul’s two PAs, Georgie Bown and Sarah West, who juggle all the entries, accounts, vets’ and physios’ and farriers’ appointments, owners’ enquires, H&S and Employment matters, and all the other myriad details which underpin the smooth running of a yard. He also has the support of his partner Georgie Browne (yes, it is confusing!) herself a former trainer, and of his father – a retired policeman – who lives nearby and maintains the gallops.
