Popular North Yorkshire trainer Ann Duffield is continuing to invest in pioneering ways to keep her horses happy. PETER BARRON reports

RACEHORSE trainer Ann Duffield is a passionate believer in helping her “guests” to relax – whether they happen to be human or equine.

At the top of the hill from her Sun Hill Stables in Constable Burton, she has successfully diversified by building luxurious log cabins for those looking for a break in the midst of the peaceful beauty of Wensleydale.

It’s all about relieving the stress – and that same emphasis applies to the horses in her care.

A year ago, a state-of-the-art water treadmill was added to the facilities at the yard. A kind of equine foot spa, the Aqua Equine Treadmill not only supports rehabilitation but core fitness too. It helps the horses to build extra muscle and strength and improves posture, movement and cardiovascular fitness.

This year, Ann and husband George – the hugely experienced former classic-winning jockey – have invested in a specialist lighting system in the barns where the horses are stabled.

During the day, the Equilux Performance Lighting provides LED white light to encourage the production of the vital hormone Seratonin which boosts happiness and general well-being. At night, subtle red lighting encourages melatonin, which is known to aid relaxation and sleep.

The system is pre-programmed with sunrise and sunset times for the entire world in order to simulate dawn and dusk wherever it is installed.

Stud farms, where it has been used, are reporting significant increases in fertility.

Ann said: “We fundamentally believe in the benefits of having happy horses so it’s a question of looking at what we can do to make them more content.

“Horses are athletes and they need proper rest so we decided to invest in this system. We’ve already seen a difference, with the horses fresher in the mornings.”

Ann and George are going into battle with 50 horses for the new flat season and, with half of them two-year-olds, it has been an understandably slow start.

“We are a buying and selling yard,” explained Ann. “We look to buy youngsters at a good price and then advise our owners to take the money if they receive a good offer. With the levels of prize money in this country, it just makes good business sense.”

Rainbow Mist, the stable’s star two-year-old last season, is a good example. Bought for £12,000, he won at Thirsk and York before running a highly creditable race in the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster, and then being sold for a big profit to run in Hong Kong.

“We’ve got a really nice bunch of two-year-olds again but we want to increase the number of older horses,” said Ann.

However old they are, the Duffield horses are sure to enjoy the lap of luxury - just like Ann’s human guests up the hill in the Sun Hill Lodges log cabins.

HORSES TO NOTE

Shades of Mist: “A beautiful bay two-year-old colt. Like Rainbow Mist, he’s by Lilbourne Lad and owned by Craig Buckingham. So far unraced, he should make his debut soon and we like him very much.”

George Dryden: “Now a five-year-old, George is the stable star, having earned a rating of 100-plus. He won a hot spring at York last summer and ran really well to be placed in a Doncaster handicap. He’s owned by Stephen Bradley and he’s a really good horse.”

Clifftop Dancer: “A nice two-year-old bay filly by Canford Cliffs, she’s owned by The Jolly Beggars Sydnicate and is looking good on the gallops.”

Hilary J: “This four-year-old filly underlines the virtue of patience in racing. She was injured as a two-year-old when showing real promise on the gallops but her owners Rosamund and Elizabeth Stott, of Thirsk, were rewarded for giving her the time she needed when she won two races last season. She’s thriving again and ran well for a long way on her seasonal debut at Redcar last Monday before finishing fifth.