by Kyle Galley
A Gippsland workshop this weekend aims to capitalise on an increasing awareness of how retired standardbreds can make perfect riding horses.
Ten retired standardbreds and their riders will be in Warragul on Saturday, August 26 to attend a clinic conducted by Mark Jones, a Macclesfield based horseman who has a number of years experience in retraining horses for the next stage of their lives.
Mark has a great interest in standardbreds, and over the last 20 years he has gained an incredible amount of knowledge and experience in the horse industry. Mark not only retrains horses from the harness racing industry but also off the track thoroughbreds.
He also runs a comprehensive step by step program designed to teach and support horse owners and trainers providing them with skills and safe horse handing practices.
Mariah Lakeman, a former Student of the Year with the Gippsland Harness Training Centre, and a registered HERO retrainer, has been attending Mark’s clinics for a couple of years now with a retired standardbred that she purchased from the GHTC, and horses she is retraining for the HERO program. She was able to pass on to Mark her experience of the many great qualities associated with the standardbred horse.
On Saturday, Mariah will attend the latest clinic with two HERO horses she is currently retraining, which will soon be for sale. Sacha Sallee, an employee of Mark’s, will also be in attendance on Saturday and has applied to also become a registered HERO retrainer.
Jenni Lewis from the GHTC will also attend to provide background information on how standardbred horses are trained during their racing careers, as well as pushing the message that the breed makes a perfect choice for riding purposes.
Saturday’s clinic is a sell-out, and, hopefully some of those in attendance will come away with a greater understanding of the standardbred horse, and may show an interest in learning more about the breed.
There is an increasing interest and awareness of the standardbred breed in the greater Gippsland region, from horsepeople not previously exposed to pacers or trotters.
With industry training options already available in the region, along with the presence of the HERO program, it is hoped that this weekend’s clinic can also increase the profile of all aspects of harness racing in an area where there is a huge, untapped potential audience for our sport.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
