Dr Jeremy Naylor has a wealth of knowledge and experience. After graduating from Veterinary School at the University of Bristol and spending time in equine practice, Jeremy crossed the Atlantic where he spent several years at Washington State University gaining an advanced training in equine exercise physiology and internal medicine. On his return to the UK after completing his PhD at Bristol, he worked for the Valley Equine Hospital in Lambourn before joining the champion National Hunt trainer Martin Pipe for two seasons. Here, Jeremy received an insight into the art of training winners while working as resident vet to the stable.

We are the only U.K. training stable run by a veterinary qualified exercise physiologist. Each horse is brought to its peak by experienced, caring staff using the latest techniques in health and fitness monitoring. At the yard where the great 'Sceptre' was trained, an unrivalled horse-racing past meets an exciting future.
 

Training Winners the 21st Century Way

Jeremy endeavours to put his wealth of knowledge and practical experience to good use here at Cleeve Stables; top human athletes are commonly trained using the benefits of science, so why not horses?

The horses are trained using a form of interval training, and heart rate monitors are used to measure the horses’ work rates during exercise. This enables Jeremy to set heart rate zones to which he wants the horses to work; thus a well-planned exercise programme can be used for each individual horse. Two electrode pads placed under the saddle and under the girth are connected to a transmitter at the front of the saddle. This conveys a signal to a wrist-watch monitor worn by the rider, enabling the horse’s heart rate to be monitored in real-time during exercise. The recorded exercise session is downloaded into the computer on returning to the stables.