Building a racing dream

2009-01-21

After spending the last 6 years looking for suitable land to build his dream yard, racehorse trainer, Ed Peate, finally found his dream plot and set to work.

Ed and his wife, Tanya, found 94 acres perfectly suited to their plans for a 50 box stable yard just outside Brinkley, near Newmarket. Their plans also incorporated additional facilities to enhance the yard including a six furlong all weather gallop, a collecting ring of a furlong round, four lunge pens and a horse walker.

In his 15th season of breaking and pre-training yearlings, Ed certainly has a good idea of what makes a racing yard hum with efficiency and the elements needed to ensure the horses’ needs are met. Having been impressed by the yards in which he had previously worked, which were built by the stabling manufacturer Scotts of Thrapston, he decided to instruct Scotts to help realise his dream.

Zoe Docherty, Buildings Division Manager at Scotts commented on her first visit to the proposed site: “The views from everywhere were stunning. Our initial discussions revolved around making the yard as efficient as possible, and ensuring it was warm and comfortable for the staff, horses and owners visiting the yard.”

Another factor requiring careful consideration was ventilation, which needed to be at the heart of the build process as it can greatly affect the development of the horses breathing and respiration. “Maintaining the health of the horses is paramount in training any thoroughbred so the provision of good stable ventilation formed a major part of the brief. Fortunately, Scotts had many ways of increasing ventilation, within their stable design, so I opted for the majority of additional features suggested by the Scotts design team to promote the best possible circulation of fresh air for the horses,” explains Ed.


Scotts was able to increase their standard roof pitch from 25 degrees to 40 degrees not only greatly increasing the headroom within the boxes but significantly improving the air flow too. As standard, Scotts offers a window and grille to the front elevation that is not obscured by the top door thus maximising its efficiency. Ed chose, however, to add a window and grille to the rear of each box thus providing cross ventilation and additional light. These windows allow the wind to be directed up into the box for better airflow and increased ventilation rates within the stable whilst avoiding leaving the horse in a draught. It is then allowed to escape at the rear through additional ventilation at eaves height.

Ed also decided to specify a fully vented roof ridge, as an additional feature. This was perfect for this yard as it encourages the wind passing over the ridge to create vortices that suck out some of the air from the box, increasing air movement inside whilst not creating draughts.

Over and above the fundamental requirements of the yard, Ed also wanted to create a yard with character, so worked with the design team on how best to blend the building with its surroundings. “We decided to specify clay terracotta tiles for the roof that matched other buildings in the vicinity and that offered warmth in the winter months and assisted with the boxes staying cooler in the summer,” adds Zoe.


“Following completion of the project, the horses settled in immediately and are all doing very well. I feel this is down to the sociable arrangement of the stables; all the horses can see each other which keeps them relaxed. Similarly, staff have quick and easy access to all the facilities so the whole operation works incredibly well and is easy to manage. Everyone who visits the yard remarks on the ambience. It is incredible that in a yard of this size, a wonderful atmosphere has been created of calm and proficiency.” Ed proudly states.

Zoe feels: “This can be attributed to the way the yard has been divided up into four quadrangles, but ultimately is down to the management of the yard by Ed and Tanya who have put their souls into this dream project”.

In regards to the future, plans are already in place to extend. Ed remarks: “The team and I have been flat out and are already considering our options for future expansion. The Scotts design team suggested that we allowed for this potential growth in our original drawings, which I’m glad we did and we’re delighted to be considering this step so early”

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