country living


Geoff Harker TRAINING FOR SUCCESS


Geoff Harker enjoyed his most successful season as a trainer in 2010 and even the statistic of 21 wins from 16 individual runners doesn't tell the whole story, as Geoff and his team had to rehabilitate no fewer than 10 of these horses following previous injury or loss of form.


Geoff has held a Trainers licence for seven years and with his wife Jenny, he runs G.A. Harker Racing, which is


currently a team of seven staff and 42 horses. Geoff and Jenny bought their yard at Stockhill Green near Thirsk six years ago and are increasingly focused on the flat racing season.


Living on-site, Geoff is actively 'hands on' with every aspect of the operation and that extends to riding five lots each day, meaning he does quite literally sit on every horse in the yard each week. In this way, he gets to know each one of them as an individual and it allows him to feel how performance is improving.


A significant part of the yard's workload is focused on rehabilitation and the feeding regime is an integral part of his very successful, holistic approach. All of the horses are fed four times each day and


the diet includes a lot of natural herbs, managed by the yard's homeopathic expert, who visits two or three times each week.


Geoff also feeds rice bran oil which he feels “enhances muscle and improves a horse's ability to race and then recover.”


Talking more about his use of herbs, Geoff explains, “We use a lot of herbs for pain management and for 'mending' bony problems and our homeopath, who is qualified to carry out acupuncture, also uses that therapy very effectively on individual horses.”


It's clear that Geoff's attention to detail is producing significant success and the regime includes ensuring that every horse is turned out for a period every day, which he says is enough to produce a noticeable improvement in some of them.


The airy barns housing the stables are run efficiently and the management protocol includes the use of a bespoke, automated fogging system that 'mists' a herbal formulation every hour, 24/7, to


neutralise any residual ammonia in the bedding and support the horses' respiratory systems. It's another


example of the attention to both health and wellbeing that is attracting


increasing attention to Geoff's growing reputation.


The horses currently at Stockhill Green are owned by a variety of owners, including some based in Ireland. The


SOME OF THE WINNERS


16 horses produced 21 winners for Geoff Harker (pictured) last season and no fewer than 10 of them had been rehabilitated following injuries.


Notable amongst these was Eijaaz, the 10-year- old notching up four wins after recovering from chronic ulcers and seedy toe.


Owned by an Englishman, Irishman and Scots man syndicate, 7-year-old Tombi arrived with joint and back problems, but has recovered well


5yo Oratory 7yo Tombi and there are


Oratory is another


success, an


example of how valuable


Country Living Ezine Page 20


some daily turn out time can be. “He arrived as a 4-year-old and was more mentally tired”, explains Geoff, “and the change of scenery along with getting out in the paddocks has done him the world of good.”


“big hopes for Champ, a young gelding with joint problems that have been him”.


Adding an international flavour is the Brazilian-bred Born to be a managed under veterinary supervision to bring him back to


fitness. His ongoing regime includes the nutritional supplement FlexiVite HA, which includes hyaluronic acid and other biologically active substances to help maintain joints.


Contact Geoff Harker on 01845 501117. www.farmnequineproperty.co.uk


yard is sponsored by owner Alan Finlay of Pinpoint Recruitment, which Geoff and Jenny both say “is a massive boost from a real racing enthusiast that benefits both the yard and other owners.” Alongside the proven rehabilitation expertise for older horses, half of the yard is occupied by youngsters just starting on their racing careers and Geoff pays careful attention to giving them a well-rounded start in life.


Looking ahead, Geoff is ambitious and his plans include exhibiting at the Dubai International Horse Fair this month, where he and Jenny are aiming to attract new Gulf owners who like to enjoy British and European racing in the summer months. Longer term plans include training horses with the ability to race successfully in Dubai, an ambition more than matched by the proven ability of Geoff and his team to produce winners on home turf.


3yo Born to be a Champ


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