There is a Jackdaws Castle in Highclere, Hampshire, which is a Grade I listed building. This is not to be confused with that, however, being the home of Jonjo O’Neill’s yard. It was once described by Tony McCoy as being the ‘finest training establishment in Europe’, with only particularly brave or remarkably arrogant people disagreeing with what AP McCoy has to say on the matter.
It is located on 500 acres of land in the heart of the Cotswolds, where O’Neill works to train more than 100 horses for the rigours and excitement of life on the circuits.
A Brief History of Jackdaws Castle
Located in the Cotswolds village of Temple Guiting, Jackdaws Castle was purpose-built in the early part of the 1990s by a millionaire property developer called Colin Smith. Smith was also a racehorse owner and wanted somewhere to base his company, Ford Farm Racing. It was soon occupied by David Nicholson, who worked as a salaried employee and went on to claim the Champion National Hunt Trainer crown not once but twice, first in 1993-1994 and then again a year later. He retired in 1999, at which point Richard Phillips briefly called the yard his own.
In the late part of 2000, however, John Patrick McManus, better known as JP, decided to buy Jackdaws Castle in order to have somewhere for Jonjo O’Neill to operate out of closer to Cheltenham Racecourse. Prior to then, O’Neill had been working out of a base in Penrith, Cumbria, working there for 14 years and striking up a good relationship with McManus during that time. The move to Jackdaws Castle proved to be an inspired one for O’Neill, however, sending out Don’t Push It from the yard in 2010 to win the Grand National, then winning the Gold Cup with Synchronised two years later.
The Facilities
With 500 acres of space to deal with, it is fair to say that Jackdaws Castle has plenty of room to ensure that the facilities on offer are amongst the best in the business when it comes to training horses. The result of that is facilities that are state-of-the-art, including several gallops, with two all-weather options that are five furlongs in length and a mile, plus schooling grounds that have hurdles, brush hurdles and chasing fences. On top of that, there is also an equine swimming pool, an equine solarium and an indoor school.
Around the 500 acres are more than three miles of horse walks, meaning that horses can be offered a variety of different exercises and conditions. Here is a closer look at the facilities:
The Gallops
When it comes to a racehorse’s training, the gallops are arguably the most important of the facilities that will be used. That is thanks to the fact that a horse’s training revolves around workouts there on a regular basis, so O’Neill Racing boasts a combination of grass and all-weather conditions that aim to replicate what horses are likely to feel underfoot during their time racing. The gallops in question are as follows:
- Three grass gallops, one of which is six furlongs and the other two of a mile, each having their own incline
- Two all-weather gallops, one of five furlongs and one of a mile, both based on a hill
- A four-furlong, deep sand round gallop that is great for long work to teach young horses
The Schooling Grounds
Jackdaws Castle has an area that offers ten handmade hurdles and the same number of handmade fences, which are built from the same sort of birch that is found at Cheltenham Racecourse. Half of them are on an all-weather surface and the other half on the turf of the Cotswolds. The schooling lane, meanwhile, promises around 15 different types of jump, which includes tyres, barrels, Easyfix hurdles and fences plus Badminton-style fences.
The Equine Swimming Pool
There are numerous different benefits offered to horses by swimming pools, which is why they are often seen as an important part of a horse’s training and therapy. That is why there is a bespoke swimming pool available at Jackdaws Castle, which serves as both a training aid and plays a crucial role when a horse needs to recover and rehabilitate. It allows for the relief of pressure on joints, ligaments and bones, which is perfect thanks to the mix of both buoyancy and resistance.
Getting a horse to train in a swimming pool not only promotes the development of their muscles but also improves their cardiovascular fitness, which can be a crucial component in a race. This also means that injured horses can be kept fit without making their injury worse, which then leads to a quicker recovery and one that is more effective than merely getting them to rest in a box.
The Equine Solarium
Most of us feel that time spent in the sun is the perfect way to recover from our ills. Things are not overly different for horses, which is why Jackdaws Castle has an equine solarium on site. There are numerous therapeutic benefits that are there for horses, so the special infrared bulb heaters provide a warming effect that can see both circulation improved and tense muscles start to relax. Think about how you feel lying on the sunbed with nothing to worry about apart from the noise the kids are making playing in the pool and you’ll get some idea what we’re talking about.
The point of the equine solarium is to offer a complementary aid to the other things that are put in place to aid a horse’s recovery. It isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach either, with the infrared heaters able to be completely adjusted so that there can be specific services in place for the needs of each horse. There is also the added benefit of being able to use the equine solarium to dry the horses after they have been in the wash-down bays, which are nearby.
The Indoor School
Although horses will often have to race in all conditions, come rain or shine, there is an understandable reluctance from some to get out into the bad weather for training. The good news is that the indoor school at Jackdaws Castle ensures that horses can be trained irrespective of what’s going on outside. The surface allows for numerous different activities to be carried out, with 2,251 square metres of space to play with.
The indoor school at O’Neill’s stables has four horse walkers available, used regularly as part of any training regime. It is an ideal space for training and acclimatising young horses to get them used to life working under a top trainer. There are obstacles available to be trained with, which include French-style double-sided Tecrail fences, which are ideal for novice horses to gain some confidence on. They allow for confidence to be regained and also limit the risk of injury.
Horses that are going to be used on the flat can be placed into starting stalls so as to get them used to what that feels like, introducing them to such equipment in a safe environment. The indoor school in general is the perfect place for young horses to be loose schooled in an ideal area, whilst it also gives the trainers a chance to evaluate what they’re working with before any exercises get underway.
The Owners Suite
Although not part of the training of the horses themselves, the Owners Suite is the perfect place for those that have invested money in O’Neill Racing to get a sense of what is happening with their horse. It used to be the trainers’ accommodation, but has been redesigned in order to offer spectacular views of the stables. The room itself is stylish and modern, but also provides access to balcony doors that allow the owners to see the horses going out to train.
If you are an owner and are not quite sure whether or not you’ve made the right decision, you need only take a look around the Owners Suite to be confronted by a wealth of different trophies and memorabilia that Jonjo O’Neill has won during his illustrious career. This includes the saddle that was used when he won the Gold Cup with Dawn Run, plus the medical plates and screws that were put in his broken leg to fix it. With Wi-Fi and TVs around the place, to say nothing of some food and drink options, this is an excellent place to relax on your visit.
Can You Do a Tour?
Given the fact that Jonjo O’Neill was crowned Champion Jockey twice in a career that included a Gold Cup win, as well as winning both the same event and the Grand National as a trainer, there is a desire from many to spend time seeing what Jackdaws Castle is all about. The good news is that private tours are available, with packages there for 14 guests to have a look around the place and see the team in action.
For horse racing lovers, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will see you go on a tour of the facilities as well as be able to enjoy a question and answer session with some of the trainers who are charged with getting the horses ready for action, including possibly Jonjo O’Neill himself.
