Meet the trainees - Reece O'Connor

Hi my name is Reece O Connor. I’m from Dunshaughlin Co. Meath and I’m 16 years old. I’ve had an interest in horses since I was 3 or 4 years old. Before I came to RACE I did a good bit of showjumping, hunting, hunter trials and pony racing,  I still do. When I was around 12, I started riding out for Noel Meade. It’s great riding out there with all the people, and listening to what the lads and girls have to say, helping you improve and even watching the likes of Sean Flanagan, Johnny Moore, Ger Fox and all them.

The normal day in RACE would be getting up at about 7:15 am and heading for breakfast.  We would head down to the barn for 8:00 am and muck out two boxes either in the straw, bottom barn or the main barn. Then we would tack up and ride the first lot. The lots could either be heading out to the Curragh plains, Maddenstown gallop, schooling or on the RACE gallop. After first lot we would go up and have breakfast and after that we would go back out and ride out our second lot. When all the riding out is finished we would hay/feed or skip out all the horses.

The thing that surprised me the most about RACE is the amount of schooling and all you do in the barn. School here isn’t that bad and the teachers are sound as well. Everyone around campus and the staff are good too.

I got sent out to Conor O’ Dwyer’s  on the 20th of November 2017.  A day in Conor’s would be starting at 7.  We will tack up first lot and put the Horse on the walker and before we take that lot off we put on our second and so on. As for the gallops, we would usually use the Fox Cover and the Sand round up at the Schooling Grounds on the Curragh.  We would either box them over or ride them over. All the lads in Conor’s yard are great like Ricky Doyle, Niall, Lee and Conor himself. I really enjoy Conor’s and feel like I’ve learnt plenty already.

I am excited to finish out the course and see what else we do during it. When I finish the course I hope to take out my Conditional License. I don’t know what Trainer I want to stay working for as of yet. I could also stay in RACE as a Senior and stay working with Conor.

Reece training on RACE Gallops September 2017