Behind the Scenes of Jackdaws Castle; Jonjo O’Neill’s Training Facilities

If you’re a fan of horse racing, there’s nothing quite like getting as close as possible to the action. Attending your local race meets is one thing; but wouldn’t it be great to see your favourite horses off the track?

Leading UK-based racehorse trainer, Jonjo O’Neill, boasts some of the most impressive training facilities in Europe. Jackdaws Castle has played host to legendary racehorses and big winners such as Synchronised, Sunnyhillboy, Holywell, and Tarquin du Seuil.

So sit back and be prepared to be wowed as we take a behind-the-scenes look at Jackdaws Castle; Jonjo O’Neill’s incredible racehorse training facilities.

The Gallops

The bulk of a racehorse’s training programme revolves around regular workouts on the gallops. Jackdaws Castle proudly boasts the finest National Hunt training facilities in Europe and features both grass and all-weather gallops. The 500-acre estate features three-mile horse walks; all allowing horses to enjoy a diverse exercise plan without the need to use public roads or bridle paths.

Jackdaws Castle has three, mile-long grass gallops with varying inclines. Equipped with sprinkler systems to ensure optimum underfoot conditions, the gallops provide a thorough workout for the horses.

Ever prepared for the Great British weather, Jackdaws Castle also has a five-furlong Eurotrack gallop and a one-mile Polytrack gallop. If the weather isn’t on the teams’ side, these facilities mean the horses are still able to get their workouts. With a whole host of specialist equipment, Jonjo and the team are able to replicate underfoot conditions to keep training consistent.

Indoor School

Indoor schooling also forms a hugely important part of a horse's training regime. Measuring 25,000 square feet, the Indoor Complex at Jackdaws Castle includes a 215 x 130 feet schooling area, horse walkers and much more.

This facility is especially important in the training of young horses. As well as a replica Eurotrack surface for the training of novices, Jackdaws Castle’s indoor school also includes a number of facilities for yearlings.

These include training hurdles, helping prepare novices before they advance to the outdoor school. The facility also includes starting stalls. These help the team introduce young horses to this central piece of racing equipment; helping to prepare them for their first race.

Equine Swimming Pool and Solarium

Jonjo’s training facility doesn’t just focus on preparing the horses for racing. It also includes a number of state-of-the-art equine spa facilities; each helping in the recovery and rehabilitation of horses.

The equine swimming pool relieves pressure on joints, bones and ligaments, whilst providing enough resistance to ensure a thorough workout. Not only this, but swimming can also help maintain an injured horse’s fitness levels without causing any extra damage.

The equine spa also includes a solarium. Jonjo and his team see this as a hugely important piece of therapy equipment and use these solariums to gain a competitive edge over other horses on the track.
The three solariums are powered by special infrared bulb heaters and provide a pleasant warming sensation that is proven to relax tense muscles and improve circulation. The solarium also provides horses with much-needed vitamin D – something which is essential for joint and bone health.

Equine Therapy Bays

The final facility we will look at on this virtual tour of Jackdaws Castle is the therapy bays. These bays use magnetic pulse therapy (MPT) to help improve a horse's recovery from injury and lessen the severity of certain injuries.

This relatively new treatment is completely safe for the horse and is purely therapeutic. It has been known to reduce pain and inflammation, increase circulation and help with horse rehabilitation. Jonjo’s equipment includes a Temperature Therapy machine, providing continuous and programmable ice or heat therapy.

So there you have it; a sneak peek at behind the scenes of Jackdaws Castle. Getting to see horses in training – and then battling it out on the track – is a must for any horse-racing fan. By getting closer to the action in this way, you can see exactly what goes into training a winning horse.

Jonjo O’Neill is a leading name in the racing industry, having trained a Grand National winner and many other Grade One winners. Racing enthusiasts can visit Jackdaw’s Castle or even own a racehorse that will be trained by Jonjo and his team.