Stories From The Saddle: Jack Veysey

Grangeclare Glory and Jack winning at Upcott Cross (Tim Holt)

36-year-old Cullompton-based farrier Jack Veysey has enjoyed a splendid season, with two wins each on his only two horses – A Force To Reckin and Grangeclare Glory – both of which he owns, trains and rides himself. A true amateur and one-man band, Jack has always enjoyed a good strike rate (this year’s was four wins from six starts), having also had multiple winners The Dapper Fox and Ellipsism. In his final feature of the season, Jake Exelby spoke to Jack after his win on Grangeclare Glory at Upcott Cross – as he was waiting for the clouds to clear so he could go skydiving with a bunch of friends – to find out how he manages to take on, and regularly beat, the professionals.

How did you become a farrier? Who do you work for?

At school, I always wanted to be a farrier after seeing ponies being shoed. I was probably quite naïve – I didn’t realise what it was all about and thought it would be a jolly round the countryside!

I’m self-employed and have a varied business, from racehorses to eventers, to hunters, to hackers. Last week, I helped with the pony racing at Exeter and my trainers include Chris Honour under rules and Martin Sweetland and Lara Pope who have pointers – they’re all friends more than customers.

Talk me through your career in racing so far and how you got into point-to-pointing in the first place?

My parents weren’t horsey, but our neighbours’ children had ponies and got into it through them. I hunted as a teenager but wasn’t in pony club– I didn’t have the right type of horse – and wasn’t even aware of pony racing. For me, it was all about survival and trying to stay on!

I left school at 16 and worked for a few yards, intending to do that for a year, which turned into three. I worked first for Simon Burrough, then Grant Cann and Ollie Bush. I started riding out for Martin and he let me have a spin in the Axe Vale Members, on Abbey Shadow in 2008. We had a lovely spin and did two circuits before pulling up. It was seven years before my next ride!

How has your riding career progressed?

I started late, because I didn’t qualify as a farrier until I was 25 and only really started riding after that. I did a year at Moreton Morrell College, then a four-year apprenticeship, during which time I stepped away from racing, although I rode out for Grant and Chris Down, as my boss at the time shoed Chris’ horses. When I finished my apprenticeship, I went to the United States for a short stint, then started to build up my business and would ride out for Chris before work

Tell me about your horses - The Dapper Fox, Ellipsism, A Force to Reckin, Grangeclare Glory. How did you come to get them?

After I qualified, I reconnected with Martin, and we went to Ascot Sales and found The Dapper Fox. He’d run in points for his breeder, Chris Dawson, who stands the sire Dapper at his Nunstainton Stud. I ran him at Black Forest Lodge to get a feel for him, and we were tailed off when he stood off the third last and I heard someone gasp, so pulled him up! Next time, at Cothelstone, the main aim was to complete, and we were well behind for most of the race, but kept on, closed on the two leaders, and led in the final yards. I was in disbelief that it had happened. The Dapper Fox was an out and out stayer, and slow as a boat, but so consistent (he won seven and was placed 25 times for Jack).

Ellipsism came from James Ridley, and I can’t tell you why I did so well with him – I suppose I found weak races! He didn’t give me a lot at home and ran his best races in headgear, but was a nice horse – unfortunately, I lost him.

A Force To Reckin was my first young horse. He was quite sharp to begin with and buried me a few times at home. I didn’t think he was the right horse for me, which is why I bought Grangeclare Glory – I never intended to have two – so sent him to Chris Honour, who ran him in a novice hurdle. Chris then said he thought I would get on with the horse and it’s worked out, which I didn’t expect. First time, at Badbury Rings, I just thought I’d see how we got on then pull him up, but he travelled strongly and pulled his way to the front. Then, after we won at Kilworthy, I decided to put him away. He’s only five and needs to mature mentally and physically. I’m not sure whether to keep or sell him.

Grangeclare Glory (who won at Vauterhill as well as Upcott Cross) used to be with David Pipe and he’ll definitely come back next season. It’s hard work balancing shoeing with keeping one horse going, let alone two, particularly in the deep dark winter!

You usually have a good strike-rate, and all your horses bar Four O'Clock Fox have won races. How do you train your horses?

I don’t know how to answer that! I suppose that I treat them like hunters, turning them out before I go to work, then riding them out in the afternoon. I do a 50/50 split of roadwork and galloping, and twice a week I take them to Chris Down’s place, for the all-weather gallop and schooling facilities.

How hard is it taking on the professional operations? And what does it feel like to beat them?

It’s not about who you beat, just satisfaction in having a winner.

What's your favourite course?

It’s hard to pick one. I enjoy winning at my local courses and qualify with the Silverton, so Dunsmore is my local track – it used to be Black Forest Lodge. And I love riding round Flete Park – it’s not a traditional racecourse, more like a cross-country track. It’s fun to ride – much better than it looks.

What do you enjoy most about pointing?

It’s my hobby and I enjoy every aspect of it, not just race day but getting my horses fit and getting them to the track. Then there’s the satisfaction when they run above expectations.

What are your ambitions in pointing and racing?

I’m into my pointing, but I’m older now and just want to keep enjoying it. I might consider sending A Force To Reckin under rules, and maybe riding him myself, but I’m not getting over-excited about it.

What would you do if you were in charge of the sport?

I don’t think I’m qualified to say!

As an owner-trainer-rider, what do you think of the new race conditions for next season? Do they help or hinder you?

I think the current system works but can’t condemn the new regulations yet – I’d like to see them in practice. There have been a lot of walkovers this season and I understand the sport needs more runners, but I don’t think forcing horses into Opens is necessarily a good thing.

How would you encourage more people like yourself to participate in the sport?

Pony clubs and pony racing will hopefully bring more people in, but it’s difficult when you lose the connection with hunting. All equestrian sport is struggling – British Eventing is also suffering abandonments – as it’s expensive and takes a lot of time and effort. 

Do you hunt yourself?

I used to qualify The Dapper Fox and Four O’Clock Fox but rarely go out now you don’t have to qualify your horses – I don’t have the time.

Apart from skydiving, what are your non-horsey hobbies?

The skydiving is a one-off – you caught me on the only day I’m doing something vaguely interesting! It’s nice to take a breather from the horses in the summer.