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Sun Hill offers everything a racehorse trainer could want; its 50 acres are set in the most beautiful of surroundings amidst quite country lanes. The land around Sun Hill Farm is divided into a series of post and railed paddocks ensuring that the horses in training have safe time outside. The larger fields are used for schooling and turning out those horses currently 'roughed off' from work.
Sun Hill was designed from the outset to be compact and very easy to work. The hub of the yard is three big interconnected American style barns, one existing and the other two built by Ann to her specification.
The original barn houses the feed room and a very large tack room including a laundry that is home to a huge industrial washing machine and a network of pipes for drying washed rugs, along with a storage area for bedding and haylage. Every horse at Sun Hill has its own bridle, girth, head collar and grooming kit here.
The yard houses purpose built integrated American Barns, a stand-alone American Barn and a separate horse isolation unit.
All of the stables are fitted with rubber floors making them warmer and more comfortable for the horses. This is especially important as it helps alleviate stress on joints and reduces arthritic conditions brought on by the wear and tear of training and racing. The flooring also reduces the amount of shavings needed in each box which cuts down on the dust in the environment, in turn minimising potential respiratory problems and poor performances on the racecourse. The rubber flooring system enables the stables to be steam cleaned and disinfected once a month, killing unwanted infections and viruses quickly and helping the horses to maintain a healthy immune system.
Hygiene in the yard is paramount. Specialist Irish vets visit the yard every three months to test for bacteria, fungus and other potential problems which may affect the horses' performance on the race track. The vets take samples of haylage, bedding, water and feed. Swabs are also taken from the walls along with air samples for evaluation back at the labs. Nothing will stop a horse from getting a virus but rigorous systems in place like these means they recover quicker and get back on the track with no long term detrimental effects.
Sun Hill has an exceptionally good 6 furlong uphill all weather gallop. George, who helped with the design, maintains it is "as good as any I have ridden on". The gradual but stiff climb helping to get the horses race fit without them realising just how hard they are working. "Going uphill on such a good and forgiving surface helps reduce stress to the limbs and cuts down on injuries" explains Ann.
The yard has three 6-horse walkers (one under cover), both fitted with rubber floors, along with an all weather lunge ring and a new solarium has recently been installed. A purpose built gravel path provides a safe route to the gallops once the winter frosts arrive and the lanes become icy. The yard also has its own parade ring in an area to the front of the yard as well as a 'play pen' for horses which need time out in a more controlled space.
The schooling facilities at the yard include starting stalls, poles, hurdles, steeplechase and cross country fences.