The Facilities at Portree Stables
Portree Stables boasts a range of top class facilities designed to train and take care of our horses. Included in this are a variety of gallops (all-weather, sand and grass), a walker, an arena, comfortable and spacious stabling, a fully equipped horse transporter, an indoor ring and not forgetting, acres of lush green Irish paddocks.The lastest addition to this already impressive list, is a natural equine spa.
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Natural Equine Spa
Our environmentally friendly equine spa is replenished by a natural spring. The water is kept crystal clear, fresh and maintained at a temperature of between 2 and 4°C by the spring's natural flow.
It refreshes and invigorates horses after exercise.
Walker
Our walker is a Conaty's Eight, and as its name suggests, can exercise eight horses at a time. It is covered and has an all-weather surface to prevent slipping.
The walker is very good for general light exercise and for horses that are recovering from injury or arriving back into training.
All-Weather Gallop
The all-weather, carpeted in woodchip, is a mile and one in total - 5 furlongs oval and a 3½ uphill finish.
The horses will work to the top before walking back down - they then repeat the process over again. In between, the horses' breathing can be monitored and their levels of fitness assessed.
Sand Gallop
The sand gallop is made from Wexford Sand of a challenging 5 furlong oval that tests the fitness and stamina levels of horses about to race.
Grass Gallop
Portree boasts a seven furlong grass gallop.
Also on grass there are seven furlongs with seven hurdles and a further seven furlongs of steeplechase fences.
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Arena
Portree Stables also has an all-weather arena for schooling which is of great benefit to the yard. It allows horses practice their jumping whatever the weather - be it too firm or too wet to school on the grass.
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Stabling
There are four American style barns here at Portree designed with high roofs ensuring good air circulation and light. We also have outdoor stables, again with high roofs.
Indoor Ring
The ring is equipped with jumping facilities. It is here that young horses loose-school to get their first taste of jumping i.e. without a rider over small poles. When Tom is confident in a horse's technique it will be ridden over the same poles until such time as he feels it is ready to tackle bigger obstacles such as logs and baby hurdles - the differing types of obstacles keep them interested and willing to learn. This groundwork is vital in making sure they are ready to tackle the real hurdles on the gallops here at Portree and finally, the racecourse.
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The Paddocks
The paddocks at Portree Stables are of lush green grass with lots of natural minerals. All of the horses get turned out to paddocks daily (weather permitting). Our paddocks here at Portree are of great benefit to our young stock.
They grow plenty of strong bone and progress into competent racehorses.
Transport
We have one large horsebox capable of carrying 4/6 horses in comfort. It is installed with CCTV monitoring, ventilation fans and temperature monitoring units.
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