SEPTEMBER NEWS UPDATE

It’s an exciting time of year at Higher Crockermoor. The horses are now doing three canters up the hill gallop each day as we continue to build their fitness ahead of their seasonal returns.

As ever, much will depend on the weather and, most importantly, some rain to ease the ground, but all being well, we hope to start getting the majority of horses out towards the end of October and into the beginning of November.

Schooling is now a weekly part of the routine, and we’re delighted with how the horses are progressing. They are all in rude health, and it is particularly rewarding to watch the younger horses coming along in leaps and bounds. We have a lovely cohort coming through this season.

Among them is a gorgeous young horse by Affinisea out of Phantom Queen, who has really caught the eye. He is a lovely stamp of a horse, from a family rich in black-type success, and by a sire who is rapidly establishing a fine reputation in the National Hunt ranks. We are looking to put together a small partnership, and there is plenty more on him below.

Before looking ahead, we also wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined us at Higher Crockermoor for National Racehorse Week. We welcomed more than 300 people through the gates, and it was fantastic to see so many people enjoying the horses and getting a glimpse behind the scenes at the yard.

Most importantly, the weekend helped us raise an incredible £8,500 for Henry James. Henry lives with Transverse Myelitis, a rare neurological condition caused by inflammation of the spinal cord, which has had a significant impact on his mobility and means he requires specialist equipment to support him in everyday life.

We are hugely grateful to everyone who donated, bid in the auction, volunteered their time or helped make the event such a success.