Inside an RoR Insight Day
Amy Bannister Bell, RoR Wales Regional Development Officer
Back in 2023, I wanted to offer something new to RoR’s educational programme in Wales, offering members a peek behind the curtain of the racing world. The idea for RoR Insight Days was born, and we ran two hugely popular events with Tim Vaughan and Rowley Racing. Now, in 2024, we’re rolling them out across the country!
These days are all about getting behind the scenes of racing yards, showing attendees a day in the life of racehorses in training. Understanding what the life of a racehorse in training is like is important as this is where lots of common behavioural issues can stem from e.g. not standing still to be mounted because during their racing career they are always legged up on the move.
On 4 April 2024, a sell-out group of 30, a mix of RoR members and BHS coaches, gathered for our second RoR Wales Insight Day, held at Venetia Williams’ picturesque Herefordshire yard, nestled along the banks of the River Wye.
From witnessing horses swimming to observing them being exercised on the gallops, attendees were treated to a comprehensive tour. We were even lucky enough to get up close with L’Homme Presse who had recently been placed in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. One thing that was interesting to see, was that every horse at Venetia’s yard enjoys daily turnout, which not surprisingly resulted in a yard of very happy horses.
After the yard, we headed to a local village hall for lunch and an afternoon presentation. The session delved deeper into the retraining process, the framework of British racing and supporting the second careers of former racehorses. We then facilitated open discussions on various topics where everyone shared stories and tackled common queries.
These days aren’t just for RoR owners - if you’re thinking of taking on a former racehorse, you’re welcome to join us too. For those coaches looking to add to their knowledge, you can gain six CPD points from BHS when attending an Insight Day. One coach even said, it was “the best piece of CPD I’ve ever attended!”
Special thanks must go to Venetia and her team, particularly Beth Crozier, whose insightful tour made the day truly memorable.
I love organising and delivering these days and can’t wait to hit the road to deliver them across the country in the coming months.
For further details, check out our upcoming events:
RoR Midlands Insight Day with Kim Bailey - 27 August 2024
RoR Scotland Insight Day with Nick Alexander - 28 August 2024