Witheford Equine Racing Services

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.

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.

Yearlings

Our starting services 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 (sales returns) including medical observation (viral, joints, wind etc).

Starting process :

Lungeing / Long reining / Introduction of jockey

Ridden work with / without lead horse in schooling environment 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

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.

Our residential Stalls service includes:

Full livery, keep and ongoing welfare

Farrier, osteopath, vet or dentist as required

Daily work session in stalls

Canter work as directed by trainer to maintain fitness, if required

Preparation for stalls test

Our external Stalls service includes :

Practice sessions on course

Stalls tests

Follow-ups at trainers' yards as required

Attendance at race meetings throughout the UK and Europe

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.