Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm - The anglo-swedish duo taking French racing by storm

Article by Katherine Ford 

Training partnerships are now firmly established in racing. Father and son (or daughter), husband and wife, or experienced trainer and long-standing assistant; these entities are now regularly seen in Europe and beyond. The association of George & Zetterholm Racing, one of the newest names in the French jumps trainers’ column, doesn’t fit in any of the usual categories but has already proven its efficiency in less than a year of operation.
Twenty-four-year-old Noel George, who found his way to France during Covid, is a former amateur rider and the son of Gr. 1 winning British trainer Tom George; whereas dynamic Swedish-born Amanda Zetterholm boasts a wealth of experience in a variety of capacities in racing and bloodstock around the world. The pair have no background together, and a chance remark has seen them launch as one of France’s most exciting training operations. 

“We knew each other, but that was all; and it was (fellow Chantilly trainer) Tim Donworth who suggested we set up together,” explains Amanda. “Noel wanted to train in France, but of course it is complicated to set up here, so it was a good opportunity to do it in partnership. I told Noel I’d found this yard I love, so we went to visit it together, and he said he’d love to train here. I bought the yard exactly a year ago, in September 2022”.

Creating a masterpiece

Amanda and Noel each bring their own talents to the partnership, “I’m the Louvre, and he’s Thomas Gainsborough”! Amanda’s marketing background shines through with her metaphor illustrating that she provides the solid base for Noel to fulfil his role as “the artist” with the horses. 

Growing up in Sweden, Amanda Zetterholm enjoyed riding and show jumping but didn’t have any involvement in racing until studies took her to Australia, where she spent time with David Hayes and Matthew Ellerton. “My first job in racing was with agent Damon Gabbedy, who taught me a lot about the breeding side. Then I went to South Africa and spent three years with Mike de Kock, which was a great experience—between Dubai, England and South Africa. He is very avant-garde”.

In 2013, Amanda was recruited by the Aga Khan Studs as commercial executive and has fulfilled a variety of roles for the famous operation. She currently balances the burgeoning training career with work for the Aga Khan Studs but is soon set to devote herself fully to George & Zetterholm Racing. “I’ve spent 10 wonderful years with the Aga Khan Studs, but I will finish at the end of the year; I can’t do both. They’re very proud of what I’ve achieved”.

Add to these achievements a successful amateur riding career on the flat, a stint as Goffs French representative and an instrumental part in the setting up of the stable of former partner David Cottin, with whom she has two young sons, Winston and Clovis, plus success in buying young jumping stock to sell on, which has set her up financially to be able to buy the Chantilly yard; it is clear that Amanda is not shy of a challenge or a busy schedule. 

Well-defined roles

“We passed the trainers’ licence together, and the idea was always that Noel wanted to do his training regime. He’s on the track every morning with the horses. I’m out here maybe three times a week currently, but that will change once I finish with the Aga Khan Studs. We both discuss and do the entries. We’re on the same wavelength, and I would say I am a very easy partner. I have a lot of experience, and I don’t feel I have anything to prove.

“In France, there is so much paperwork. I deal with the business side, the staff and the logistics; and I do the communication with the owners, which I love. I don’t feel the stress that Noel feels with the owners as he is the one who has directly prepared the horse, so I can be more relaxed. I am there to reassure them and make sure that they have a good day out. We are very complementary. Noel is a very confident person. You need to be confident to be a good trainer because the horses feel the confidence, and the owners too. He passes that confidence on to everyone”.

Living the dream in France

Noel George displays a confidence which belies his years, and in France he has found an opportunity to fulfil a dream that he had not imagined possible. “Since I left school, I aimed to train flat horses because I didn’t see economically and business-wise how it could work training jumpers in the UK”. After a year with Graham Motion in the USA and summer holidays with Sir Mark Prescott and Joseph O’Brien, Noel George has learnt from some of the best on the flat. 

The French connection came about by coincidence, although there is family history across in Chantilly as father Tom George spent time with the pioneering François Doumen in the days of The Fellow, whetting his appetite for cross-Channel raids. “I remember when Dad always used to come over with runners and then Halley won the Gp. 1 Maurice Gillois. I wasn’t there that day but I remember it—Dad built his new kitchen because of it! That stuck in my mind, that the French prize money is amazing… I was meant to be going to Australia as an assistant, but then Covid happened and French racing started before anywhere else; so I moved over to work for Fabrice Chappet”.

Noel didn’t speak French when he arrived but learnt quickly—thanks to language apps, Chappet’s former assistant, and now young trainer Xavier Blanchet, as well as being motivated to communicate when chasing a few French girls!

During the period with Classic-winning Chappet, Noel oversaw a string of horses running under a provisional licence for his father Tom. “I was giving orders to Dad’s horses on the same gallops, and it was a help that I knew the farrier, the feed suppliers etc”.

Provisional training operations in France are restricted to three months, but the experience served to reiterate the financial sense of racing in France but also the accompanying bureaucracy.

“I eventually passed the trainers exams, which aren’t easy! It’s not just knowing the language, it’s knowing all the anatomy of the horse, in French, the employment laws, how to write a payslip—all the different taxes… For that, having Amanda is a huge asset because I can focus on training the horses and she does all that complicated stuff”.

Noel is also full of praise for his father Tom. “He’s a great source of advice for me; I ring him whenever I have a question. We couldn’t do it without him. He’s put his neck on the chopping block by pushing a lot of the horses over here, and it seems to be paying off”.

Top-class training grounds

Another huge advantage for George & Zetterholm Racing is their stable and accompanying facilities. The yard, on the outskirts of the village of Avilly-St-Léonard, has already sent out three winners of France’s feature Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris as former owner Christophe Aubert was responsible for Line Marine (2003) and Mid Dancer (2011 & 2012). 

This is part of France Galop’s huge Chantilly training domain, but being slightly out on a peaceful limb compared with the more famous locations of Chantilly, Gouvieux, Lamorlaye and Coye-la-Forêt, it has all the benefits of a private establishment. “We can’t praise France Galop enough for all they do for us,” says Amanda. “When the English owners come over, they just can’t believe it, and even Noel’s dad has his own amazing facilities; but he has to run it all himself. This area of Avilly has been almost dormant for several years and so the France Galop teams are very keen to revive it and make improvements”. 

In concrete terms, this means that Noel and Amanda, having the only active stable in the vicinity, have exclusive use of extensive schooling facilities and gallops. “We’ve got cross-country, steeplechase fences and hurdles. They are a little bit smaller than the racecourse ones, but I don’t think you have to jump big in the mornings. It’s better if they’re a bit smaller as they give the horses confidence. We tell the France Galop staff the days when we will be schooling and they make sure everything is prepared”.

Noel adds, “The training centre is incredible, and we are so well looked after by France Galop who really want to help us. They give the horses the best chance possible. We have a 2000m sand gallop through the forest, which we use daily; then there’s a big 2000m sand circle which isn’t watered but in the winter it’s very good for the youngsters—it’s like a racecourse! We have to go to Chantilly to use the grass, but I think it does the horses good to go on the lorry”.

Schooling is an integral part of training jumpers in France; and Noel admits, “I’ve watched videos of how Macaire and Nicolle do all the French schooling and we’ve mixed it with the English way; and it seems to be working”.

The French policy of regular schooling has been adopted, and here again, the French system offers benefits. “The likes of James Reveley, Felix de Giles, Nicolas Gauffenic, and Kevin Nabet will be in nearly every Wednesday. It’s not like in England where the jockeys might be riding up north or down south and are less available for schooling. The horses, especially the older ones over from England, love it. It gives them a change, especially with the different steeplechase obstacles like the bullfinch the bank, the white wall… And as we don’t have the hills they have in England, it is good for fitness”.

“The horses jump more in races here. In a two-mile hurdle in England, they jump eight small hurdles; whereas round Auteuil over two miles, they jump 12 mini-English fences. If you lose two lengths at a hurdle here, it makes such a big difference as the next hurdle comes much quicker than in England. Jumping is very important”.

Making financial sense

Jumping is important, but prize money is even moreso; and in less than a year of operation, the stable has already earnt plenty. “We’ve had 100 runners for 800,000€ in prize money, so that’s 8000€ per runner which is a great statistic. French racing is very lucrative,” says Amanda, while Noel emphasises the point further: “The very fact that a horse can be in training and not cost money is a huge benefit. The number of horses that pay for their training fees in England is very few; whereas if your horse isn’t paying your training fees here, you probably need to think about moving it on. It’s an incredible way to be and a massive advert for French racing. It just takes the pressure off everything”.

Capacity is maybe the only source of pressure currently for George & Zetterholm Racing. The yard has 25 boxes and 14 turn-out paddocks, with a further 15 boxes rented nearby and a barn with 16 more stables under construction at the yard. “We are limited in space, and we want to focus on quality rather than quantity,” says Amanda; although Noel’s ambitions have no limits. 

“The dream eventually would be to compete with the top trainers in the championship, but we want to race on both sides of the channel. I’m English. I’ve grown up in England, and we’ve got English owners; so our dream is to win big races in England too. I can’t see why we can’t do that training here. We have amazing grass gallops; we can do racecourse gallops at tracks like Compiègne, so we can get them as ready as anyone in England. Cheltenham is quicker to access for us on the lorry than it is for Gordon Elliot and Willie Mullins; and Kempton is closer to us than Pau”!

Again, the support from Tom George will be key, as horses will spend a few days at his Down Farm in Slad near Cheltenham to acclimatise and school over British obstacles. 

“I can understand why Britain is not a priority for many French trainers, as there is so much money to be won here; but we have owners that are buying horses to win on big days and they want to win at the big meetings. When we do get on the boat, hopefully we will bring a few winners back for France, with English owners and English and Swedish trainers”! 

Lower limb anatomy and how it can be conditioned for racing

Article by Adam Jackson MRCVS 

Better understanding the appropriate levels of exercise and training while the horse’s body grows and develops has been a topic of research for many years. Although it has been shown that young, growing horses are well-suited to adapt to conditioning, it is vital that continued research is performed in order to develop thoughtful and strategic training methods to promote healthy, fit and sound horses with long careers and lives.  

Horses’ limbs consist of dozens of muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and joints that allow the horse to move as well as support its body weight. The limbs function to provide thrust and movement while absorbing impact and bearing weight.  Most of the horse’s weight is supported by the fore limbs, while the propulsion of the horse is provided by the hind limbs. In addition, the horse has two apparatuses referred to as the stay apparatus and suspensory apparatus. The stay apparatus allows major joints in the limbs to lock so that the horse may rest and relax while standing. The suspensory apparatus is designed to absorb shock, carry the horse’s weight, and prevent the overextension of joints. Finally, the hooves are important structures that maintain support and traction as well as provide additional shock absorption.  

Since the cardiovascular system provides blood supply throughout the body, by responding to various stimuli, it can control the velocity and amount of blood carried through the vessels, thus, delivering oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and other important substances to cells and organs in the body.  It plays a very important role in meeting the body’s demands during exercise, stress, and activity.  

Exercise is used to increase the body’s ability to withstand repeated bouts of similar exercise with less impact.  With a strong and healthy cardiovascular system, there is an improved ability of the musculoskeletal system receiving oxygen, thus, allowing muscles to better their capacity to use oxygen and energy.  However, the adaptation period for each of these physiological systems do differ as the cardiovascular system adapts faster compared to the musculoskeletal system. This is often an overlooked consideration when developing training programmes for horses. 

It is important to understand the various functions, structures, and adaptive processes of the horse’s musculoskeletal system such as bone, articular cartilage, tendons, and ligaments in order to develop appropriate training regimens. 

Bone has many important roles that involve locomotion, the storage of minerals (especially calcium and phosphate), soft tissue and vital organ protection, and the support and containment of bone marrow. Bone is a specialised connective tissue, and together with cartilage forms the strong and rigid endoskeleton.  The bone is continuously altering through two processes called bone modelling and bone remodelling, involving four cells referred to as osteoclasts, osteoblasts, osteocytes and bone lining cells.  

Osteoblasts secrete bone matrix in the form of non-mineralised osteoid, which is then mineralised over a few weeks to form a bone matrix.  Osteoclasts are involved in resorption of bone as this process occurs faster than the formation of bone. When the bone surfaces are not in the development or resorption phase, the bone surface is completely lined by a layer of flattened and elongated cells termed bone-lining cells.  Osteocytes are derived from osteoblasts and are highly specialised to maintain the bone matrix.  They are designed to survive hypoxic conditions and maintain biomineralisation of the bone matrix.  Osteocytes also control osteoblastic and osteoclastic activities allowing bone remodelling.

The function of bone modelling is to alter and maintain shape during growth. As the horse grows and develops, bone modelling occurs with the acquisition and removal of bone.  While the young horse grows and develops, bone modelling allows the bone to endure strains from everyday work and exercise. The adult skeleton undergoes a minimal amount of bone modelling. Due to the presence of the high frequency of bone modelling in young horses, their skeletal strength is highly influenced by strains to their bones during exercise and daily use. With this knowledge, it has been concluded and confirmed that short-term dynamic exercise of an adolescent can lead to beneficial changes to its bone morphology.  

Bone remodelling is a different process, in which old and damaged bone is renewed, which enables the bone to respond and adapt to changing functional situations. Bone remodelling is usually a coordinated relationship between bone resorption and bone formation. This process occurs throughout the horse’s life with the renewal of primary, damaged or old bone. Osteoclasts absorb old and damaged bone, and the osteoblasts form new bone and lay down new bone matrix until the earlier absorbed bone is replaced. In those animals with musculoskeletal disease or damage, there is an imbalance of osteoblast and osteoclast activity. With the knowledge that osteoblast activity to make new bone takes months whilst osteoclast activity of removing old and damaged bone only takes a few days to two weeks, bone that is being repaired is at a high risk of further injury as bone removed has not been completely replaced.   Multiple studies have shown that exercise while growing can provide lifelong benefits; however, it must be done with care and knowledge.

In addition, many studies have shown that exercise of a dynamic nature in moderate distances, such as that achieved in the pasture or prescribed short-distance high-speed work is beneficial to musculoskeletal development and may prevent injuries when entering race training. It has also been observed that long slow work does not increase bone strength. Below is a summary of the young horse response of the various types of exercise.

Articular cartilage is a highly specialised connective tissue found in joints with the role of providing a smooth, lubricated surface of articulation and to help transmit loads with a low amount of friction. The articular cartilage is a hyaline cartilage (flexible and strong tissue providing a smooth, slippery surface) with a dense “ExtraCellular Matrix” (ECM) consisting of specialised cells called chondrocytes, collagen and proteoglycans. These components help to retain water in the ECM that is required for the joints mechanical properties. As age increases, hydration of the matrix does decrease, resulting in stiffness. Chondrocytes are residential cells in articular cartilage that play a role in the development, maintenance, and repair of the ECM. They do respond to a variety of stimuli, including mechanical loads, growth factors, hydrostatic pressures, piezoelectric forces (formation of electric charge with force). Because of the lack of blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves as well as being a harsh biomechanical environment, there is a limited capacity to heal and repair. In addition, chondrocytes have limited potential for replication, thus, have limited healing capacity; and chondrocytes survival depends on an optimal chemical and mechanical environment.  

Maintaining joint health is vital, which requires the preservation of healthy cartilage tissue. Inactivity of joints is detrimental to articular cartilage; thus, regular movement of joints and dynamic loads is needed to provide a normal articular cartilage structure and function. Biochemical responses of the cartilage to exercise are not nearly as well known compared to bone. While the confinement of young horses stunts joint development, excessive straining of cartilage can also reduce joint development. It has been observed that pasture access was optimal for the development of joints and the confinement or excessive sprint exercise (12–32 sprints of 40 metres for 6 days a week for 5 months) causes detrimental effects on the joint and may be deemed as unnatural exercise.  It is also thought that exercise is needed well before two years of age to allow cartilage thickening as well as the avoidance of confinement. It can be concluded that further studies are required with respect to level of exercise and type of exercise in order to achieve healthy cartilage tissue as there is clearly a fine line between frequency and intensity of exercise.  

Tendons and ligaments are distinct but closely related tissues that have unique and important roles in musculoskeletal function and musculoskeletal disease. Tendons and ligaments are dense, fibrous connective tissues that connect muscle to bone or bone to bone, respectively.  These tissues transmit mechanical forces to stabilise the skeleton and allow body movement.  Tendons and ligaments consist mainly of collagen type I as well as small amounts of collagen III, IV, V, and VI. There are also various proteoglycans in tendons and ligaments that both organise and lubricate collagen fibre bundles. The elasticity of tendons and ligaments is due to the large amount of type I collagen. During locomotion, the tendon decreases energy cost to the horse by acting as a spring to store and release energy while stretching and recoiling in the stance and swing phases of each stride. Tendons and ligaments have blood vessels and nerves that allow the homeostasis and response to injury.  

Tenocytes are tightly regulated by a series of growth factors and transcription factors that allow the synthesis, maintenance, and the degradation of the tendon extracellular matrix. Tendons are elastic, but tearing may occur if there is excessive loading on the tendon and the repair of collagen is a slow process. In addition, tendons have crimp morphology where the tendons buckle in a state of relaxation and act as shock absorbers.  Unbuckling of the tendon occurs during loading.  This crimp morphology may be disturbed if an injury occurs and also is reduced in older horses.  

Due to the variation of activity of tenocytes in foals and young horses, it has been observed that both a lack of exercise and excess of exercise can impair tendon make-up and subsequent functionality. With the current data and research that has been gathered, it can be concluded that if horses take advantage of spontaneous exercise when in the paddocks (which they often do), the developing tendons may benefit and be at a lower risk of injury when racing training starts. 

Conclusion

It is clear that further research is needed in order to ascertain the optimal amount and type of exercise that is needed in order to provide a strong musculoskeletal system and functional performance. However, it has been shown that prescribed exercise during the growth of the horse can increase the longevity of the horse’s health and performance. It has been observed that confinement and the lack of loading can result in weaker tissues and the loss of function of none, tendons, ligaments and articular cartilage.  However, it must also be recognised that medical attempts to alleviate pain so that a horse can continue to train through an injury can greatly increase tissue damage which is detrimental to the horse’s health and career. It is far more beneficial to provide an adequate amount of time for the injury to heal, thus, putting the horse’s health and wellbeing as a top priority.  

Nutritional Perspective

Bone development in yearlings from the sales ring to racing

Article by Des Cronin B.Ag.Sc, MBA

Maintaining the equine skeleton is vital to ensure optimal development of the young growing horse, minimise risk of injury in the performance horse, and promote longevity and soundness.

The skeletal development and health of a young horse begins in utero and ensuring the broodmare receives the correct intake of key nutrients will be critical to the growth of the unborn foal. Producing high-quality milk places a significant drain on the mineral reserves of the mare. Maintaining mineral intakes during peak lactation is vital to ensure the foal receives the best nutrition to support the rapid skeletal development in the early weeks and months of growth. During this time, bone formation, body size, and muscle mass greatly increase. Risk of defective bone and related tissue formation increases with one of more of the following:

• Poor diet with the incorrect balance of energy and nutrients in the daily ration

• Inadequate amounts of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P)

• A reversed Ca:P ratio

• Low zinc (Zn) or copper (Cu) in the diet

• Low Vitamin D

Feeding a young horse for a maximum growth rate is undesirable because bone hardening lags greatly behind bone lengthening. At 12 months old, the young horse could reach about 90 to 95 per cent of its mature height but only about 75 per cent of its mature bone mineral content.

Ideally, young horses should gain weight at a rate that their developing bones can easily support. Growing bones and connective tissues don’t have the strength to support rapid weight gain from overfeeding, especially energy. Rapid weight gain can also make other skeletal anomalies worse. In these cases the risk of developmental orthopaedic disorders (DOD) and unsoundness increases.

DOD and unsoundness can also occur during uneven growth. For example, switching an underfed, slow-growing horse to a good diet that allows quick growth (compensatory growth), increases the risk of DOD. Foals between the ages of 3 and 9 months of age are at greatest risk of DOD.

Fresh forages, for example grazed grass, usually provide enough major minerals such as calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) for the growing horse. However, there can be significant variation in calcium and phosphorus levels in all forages but particularly preserved forages (hay and haylage). Forage analysis should always be undertaken to determine mineral composition. 

For young fast-growing horses, the diet must supply the quantities of calcium and phosphorus needed for normal bone formation. In terms of Ca:P ratio, the ratio must be positive in favour of calcium. Horses are much more tolerant of high-dietary calcium than other species. For practical purposes, a good guideline would be to keep the ratio Ca:P between 1.5 to 1 and 2.5 to 1.  Grains (e.g., oats) contain 10 per cent of the calcium level found in typical forages. Grains are poor sources of calcium, both in terms of the amount of calcium supplied and their effect on Ca:P ratio in the diet. Where grains are fed, supplementation will be necessary to balance the diet.  

While some forages may contain adequate calcium and phosphorus, they will typically supply less than 20 per cent of the daily requirements for trace elements. Supplementation of trace elements will generally be necessary to support normal bone development.

Where concentrates are fed (especially low levels), supplementation may still be necessary to balance the overall mineral and trace element intake. Nutritional advice should be sought to ensure the horse's diet is correctly balanced.

To meet the carefully balanced requirements of key minerals, it is advisable to supplement the daily rations of growing horses and young horses entering training with an appropriate nutritional product. 

Make sure that the supplement used contains the correct ratio of calcium and phosphorus, as well as other key nutrients such as vitamin D and chelated trace elements (copper, manganese, and zinc) to support normal bone development.

Supplementing branch chain amino acids in the diet ensures that growth is maintained. Lysine plays a key role when protein concentrations in the body are low. Vitamin A supports collagen formation, which is a key component of the supportive structures of joints (tendons and ligaments). Vitamin D3 is added to enhance calcium absorption.

Although growth rates slow after the age of two, they are still juvenile in their skeletal development with some growth plates, such as the shoulder and stifles, yet to completely close. Although they may look like fully grown adults, it is still important to meet nutritional requirements especially if starting training and work. With the addition of exercise and training, a young horse's nutritional needs change.  The added forces from groundwork on the long bones and increased requirements of other nutrients like electrolytes need to be considered. 

Finally, horses all grow and develop at different rates because of factors such as genetics. Some youngsters will need  more support for longer periods of time than others, so it is important to manage accordingly.