Witheford Equine Racing Services

Every horse deserves a chance

Witheford Equine

Starting Stalls

In addition to ‘starting’ yearlings, work is also undertaken to help racehorses with problems at the stalls. This is mostly undertaken at Westcourt with a backup service both at the trainer’s yard and by arrangement at racecourses as ongoing support.

Getting ready to load at the races

Yearlings at John Oxx's

The Curragh, 2008

Stalls work at Westcourt

Under orders........

Gary and Patrick Hills day 2 at John Oxx's, The Curragh, 2011

Yearlings at John Oxx's

The Curragh, 2008

Witheford Equine Limited

Westcourt Stables

Westcourt · Burbage

Marlborough · Wiltshire

SN8 3BW

Office 01672 811423

Fax 01672 811416

info@garywitheford.co.uk

Racing Services

Witheford Equine Ltd provides specialist equine services to the horseracing industry. Gary has worked with some of the best known trainers in the industry and his expertise in dealing with racehorses spans over 30 years. His expertise and accessibility has earned him an excellent reputation and many trainers count him as an essential part of their team.

In addition to starting yearlings and dealing with remedial cases, he regularly attends trainers’ horses both at their yards and at racecourses to provide ongoing support.

Craig Witheford is as dedicated to his work as his father and always in demand. With the combined skills of both Withefords we are able to offer more support than ever for remedial work at Westcourt, at trainers’ yards and at the races.

Yearlings

Whether for homebreds or directly from bloodstock sales, our starting service for yearlings includes full livery, keep and ongoing welfare with farrier, dentist, osteopath and veterinary attention as required. We assess their condition in preparation of working and monitor evidence of reportable vices for sales returns including medical observation (viral, joints, wind etc).

Starting process :

Lungeing / Long reining / Introduction of jockey
Ridden work with / without lead horse in school and on gallops
Preparation for riding out in a string
Roadwork in Burbage village
Horsebox loading issues
Regular updates with trainer

Stalls introduction :

Entry objection screening
Training for optimum jump-out
Issues resolved before return to trainer

Remedial work :

Resolution of ridden issues for yearlings that are already broken in
Overcoming issues with starting stalls or loading into horseboxes
Working with racehorses that are unsettled or distressed at the races
Dealing with horses who have problems going down to the start

Witheford Equine is a company registered in England and Wales with Company No 3574879
Registered Office Westcourt Stables, Westcourt, Burbage, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 3BW
VAT Registration No 717 9615 07
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Keeping things calm during the loading process

Yearlings at John Oxx's

The Curragh, 2011

On the way to the start at Lingfield

Craig’s jockey skills are held in high regard and invaluable for the trickier cases and for stalls tests. He covers race meetings all over the country with and independently of ‘Witheford Senior’ and is proving to be just as talented and successful!

At the start of each season, some trainers prefer that a bulk stalls screening session is undertaken for ALL the horses at their yard. In this way a planned schedule of work can be prepared to identify those horses with specific issues.