Stable Staff Week

by Hayley

The only word to describe Friday was 'manic', luckily, today has been much less so, but busy nonetheless. To celebrate stable staff week, we enjoyed sandwiches and cakes in the sunshine while James cooled down under the hosepipe - it really was another scorcher. As winners of the Lycetts Team Champion award, we are keen to say just how much we respect and value the team here. None of it is possible without dedicated staff and each one brings something to the team that is very important in keeping the whole machine ticking. Over the weekend, I saw a Facebook post written by a trainers travelling head girl in which she shared photos of the wash facilities and overnight accommodation at one of the racetracks. I believe the more modern accommodation was full and the old rooms had to be used, but to say they were run down would be a huge understatement. Stained mattresses and dirty sheets, mouldy walls and broken plug sockets - just a few of the special features on offer for staff who work long, hard hours. For staff who, were it not for them, racing would not be possible. The photos showed conditions that were fit for no one, certainly not for the backbone of racing, what a thank you for their hard work! It is not the most upbeat topic to write about, but necessary to highlight nonetheless. As President of the NTF (National Trainers Federation) and chairman of the Northern region, Ann will be bringing this to the attention of the relevant people. It must be said that many tracks look after and provide for racing staff very well. Now don't get me started on sub par weighing rooms standards and cold showers...

At Sun Hill today, James has begun steam cleaning the whole yard, a long and laborious task but absolutely essential. Though the American style barns that the horses are stabled in are large and well ventilated, regular steam cleaning is still really important in the quest to keep happy and healthy horses, along with feeding quality food and haylage. George, who still rides out twice a week when the horses are doing faster work, providing Ann with invaluable feed back, has been super busy with his 'day job', maintaining the grounds of Sun Hill with his sidekick and shadow 'Gunner' in tow. It's a good job he can't sit still and loves to graft, because he's certainly kepy busy married to Mrs D!