Equine Products UK - Trainer on the up - Harry Fry | Trainer Magazine | European Trainer Article Index

Oct 6

Oct 6 Equine Products UK - Trainer on the up - Harry Fry

TRAINER ON THE UP

Trainer on the up Harry Fry After four years working as assistant to champion National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls, Harry Fry took the plunge and set up his own operation with the backing of his mentor  and landlord Richard Barber in 2012. Harry was lucky that his career was kick started by the success of hurdler Rock On Ruby who Harry had been closely involved  with during his time assisting at the Ditcheat Academy. When Harry started his training career, he was Britain’s youngest jumps  trainer. By the end of his first season with a license, he proved that he had a big future in the sport with 20 winners and a strike rate of 28%. Topping this in his second year with 34 winners and another excellent strike rate of 29%.  Equine Products UK are delighted to have a top young trainer like Harry Fry as a client. Harry has got to use the full Equine Products UK range over the past couple of seasons and the results speak for themselves.  Who has been your greatest influence as a trainer?  Richard Barber and Paul Nicholls. Both Richard and Paul have taught me that fit horses win races; also never over complicate things the simple approach is usually the best way.  What has been the most useful and advantageous piece of advice given to you with regards to training? Keep things simple! What advice would you give to a trainer starting out on their own? Have a very good team behind you, it’s impossible to do it all by yourself. It is a very tough game and when things don’t always go to plan you need a good support network behind you.  If you could spend the day with any other trainer, who would it be? Aidan O’Brien, he is a true professional. I especially admire how he and his team deal with the press.  What piece of training equipment could you not live without? The horse walker is a vital piece of equipment for warming up and down. I do not know how trainers coped without them in the past.  What is the main quality in a horse you look for when buying? Size and scope. We like to buy big scopey horses. It does require patience from the owners but a lot of our horses progress from the point-to-point field, we believe this to be an ideal nursery school for these future chasers.  Looking at genetic traits and temperament, who is your  most reliable stallion at the moment? Oscar has been very lucky for us. We would fill the yard up with them if we could. They may not always be the most beautiful but they are tough and genuine and will always try for you.  What is your favourite racecourse?  Newbury, as it is big galloping track that seems to suit our horses.  What is your proudest training achievement? Unofficially winning the champion hurdle with Rock On Ruby...  Does technology feature in your training regime?  Apart from the BBC weather, no!  What do you do to go that extra mile with regards to your horses’ wellbeing? I treat each one as and individual, it is vital to know the likes and dislikes of each and every one. What suits one horse doesn’t necessarily suit another. Ciara, my fiancée and assistant trainer, is always on the yard and feeds every day so she is always on top of any issue that may arise. It is also very important to keep bugs and viruses out of the yard, as soon as one shows any sign of illness they are isolated immediately.

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