Facilities
At Kinneston, our principal motive is to focus on the fitness and health of the horses in our care. We believe that for them to fulfill their potential they must be in the right zone mentally and physically, and this is the way we ensure an owner will receive maximum reward for their investment and time.
We are fortunate to have the facilities to allow us to do this; they are a continual work in progress with us seeking to make improvements month by month. We believe that our superb facilities can maximize a horse’s fitness which combined with a quietly-efficient and relaxed yard will allow horses to thrive and be at ease.
Over recent years the facilities at Kinneston have benefited from a major upgrade with the construction of a new barn, horse walker and two new all-weather gallops; a five furlong carpet fibre gallop and a three furlong oval sand gallop. These complement the existing three furlong cushiontrack hill gallop and the 80 acres of grass gallops which, combined with two all weather schools, varied schooling facilities and extensive hacking, has created an exceptional private training facility.
Schooling Line
Here we have a line of tyres, barrels and hurdles finishing with a small fence. This is helpful for getting the horses used to jumping a variety of obstacles and also for improving technique and concentration.
Schooling Hurdles
This is a line of four rubber schooling hurdles up an incline. Here the horses can school alone or upsides over something similar to what they will face on the racecourse. The hurdles are spaced relatively close together so the horses have to learn to think quickly and prepare for the next jump.
Schooling Fences
For horses preparing to run in steeplechases we have two easyfix schooling fences which are solid but inviting. We also have the option of placing blue barrels in front to encourage the horses to focus and make the correct shape over the jump. They are easily moved onto fresh ground when required throughout the season.
Deep Sand Gallop
This three furlong oval sand gallop was installed in 2017. With a surface of deep sand it is very good for conditioning without the need to go too fast, and is particularly useful for horses less suited by the hill gallop. It allows us to give the horses a real variety of work to improve different aspects of their fitness.
All Weather Arena
The arena has an all weather surface and is used every day for warming up the horses at walk, trot and canter, before they go to the gallops. It is also used for technical jumping over poles, barrels and Easyfix hurdles, or for horses in need of extra flatwork. In addition to this we have a round lunging ring with a carpet surface.
Sand Gallop from above
A different view of the deep sand gallop described above.
Cushion Track All Weather Gallop
Our original Cushion Track all weather gallop is a stiff three furlongs uphill. It starts with a gradual incline then flattens out at halfway, followed by a steep climb before levelling out to finish. This gallop is very good for improving fitness using interval training methods.
Carpita Fibre All Weather Gallop
This five furlong Carpita Fibre gallop was built alongside the sand in 2017. It is excellent in cold weather, never freezing, and the carpet surface is easy on the horses which keeps them fresh, as well as being a very good gallop for faster work.