Facilities
Ben Pauling Racing offers some of the finest facilities in Britain for the care and training of racehorses. Ben and assistant trainer, Tom work closely together to devise specifically tailored training programmes to help every horse reach its full potential. The yard has been designed and built solely with the horses health and well-being at the fore and we believe offer some of the most up to date facilities in the country.
94 Stables
We have stabling for up to 94 horses. All stables have memory foam flooring and with windows for improved ventilation. Two barns have separate outside pens for each individual stable which is extremely beneficial to many of our horses’ mental wellness, all with a fantastic view! Each barn has a veterinary room which is safe, quiet places for our vets to assist any horses that may need some additional TLC.
Welfare Barn
The Welfare Barn will house the hydrotherapy spa. These are used to treat a multitude of injuries. The cold temperature on the horse’s lower limb can be used for injury prevention, general maintenance of the horses’ limbs and increase mobility. There will be solariums which have a myriad of benefits to our horses from increasing blood circulation, aiding development and recovery from muscular injuries. They can also be helpful for horses that need some warmth after damp and cold training sessions! The welfare barn also has a tack room, washing and drying room and fabulous facilities for our staff.
6-Furlong All-Weather Gallop
Our main gallop is 6 furlongs in length and 5m wide. It is made from shredded carpet fibres, which makes the most fantastic surface to ride on from a jockey’s point of view and also seems to considerably reduce the number of injuries that occur at home. This gallop is great for building a horse’s stamina. It has an amazing resilience to the frost, with the top two inches forming a frost-blanket that protects the main bulk of the gallop – hugely helpful in the unpredictable British climes!
Round Gallop
This deep sand gallop is 2 furlongs round and replicates the soft ground often seen on a racecourse. It is mainly used for slow, steady work and really makes the horses use themselves properly. The surface provides perfect conditions for all sorts of weather.
All-Weather Schooling Strip
The all-weather schooling strip is 3.5 furlongs in length. It is a fantastic addition with the unpredictable and changing ground conditions we have. It is made up of shredded carpet fibres, 4.5m wide, has three EasyFix hurdles followed by three EasyFix fences proving invaluable for year-round schooling for horses of all abilities and ages. Ben firmly believes that the horses must be well schooled at home before they head to the racecourse – after all, jumping is the name of the game!
Trotting Ring
The trotting ring is 2 furlongs round and perfect to warm the horses up before they go onto the gallops. It is also a good chance for Ben and our assistant trainer, Tom to ensure the horses are all moving correctly.
Loose Schooling Ring
Inspired by the great Henrietta Knight this is where we teach young horses to jump or alternatively improve a horse’s jumping technique without a jockey. It is multi-functional and can double up as a lunge pen or an outdoor school to enhance a horses education and strength.
Horse Walker
A horse walker is an essential part of any racing yard – whether it’s to give them a walk before they are ridden, for rehab from an injury or just to keep a fresh one busy. Big enough for ten horses and covered, means whatever the weather it is in use.
Farmland
We are exceptionally lucky at Naunton Downs to have acres and acres of off-road hacking and bridleways. We have access to the headlands and farmland all year round and with the varying hills and terrain it is great for the horse’s pre-season fitness, a change of scene from the gallops or just a change of scene for our riders!
