Olly Murphy Racing - Wednesday 26th August

Katie and The Butcher Said

Hot on the heels of our last visit was a trip to Olly Murphy Racing in Warwickshire, the progeny of Gordon Elliott, where he was assistant trainer for several years before moving to his yard just outside Stratford-Upon-Avon. This one however was a special one, for it was here we finally got to meet someone who has brightened up the lives of so many people on Twitter with her tales and experiences of life with her ex-racehorse, whom she is now training to undertake dressage and show-jumping. We are of course talking about Katie Clements, who is better known as one half of the legendary duo “Katie & Grumeti”.

Katie aboard Mizen Master in First Lot

Katie and The Butcher Said

She had been able to arrange the visit and opportunity to ride out through Grumeti’s previous owners, and she was also able to meet some of their horses currently in training with Olly Murphy, such as The Butcher Said and the strikingly beautiful Champagnesuperover, who will be going novice hurdling this upcoming season.

Champagnesuperover

Champagnesuperover

The differences between her dressage riding and racehorse riding are very much poles apart, so if you would like to hear a detailed breakdown of the styles of riding, opportunity and how much she enjoyed the experience provided to her, please go to https://katieandgrumeti.com/blog/ and take a good look through some of her pieces. She can explain it much better than the two complete amateurs who just take photographs and write, as we have only ever ridden a pony at a school fete 24 years ago! Very much would learn to ride however, if the chance ever arose and mentioned to some good friends in the past, so perhaps when we head up to meet Grumeti we could be given a crash course from Katie? ( Comments or emails on who would like to see that are very welcome!!! )

It was a huge pleasure to meet Katie, and we feel as though we have struck up a friendship with a very kind, knowledgeable, funny and witty person, just the kind of person you need in this day and age. Long may the good times continue, especially when she knows the best place in the country for a proper fish finger butty and cakes….

Jordan on Westerner x Present Leader

Jordan and Spirit of Waterloo

Restandbethankful

Brewin'Upastorm

Olly Murphy has a huge wealth of talent at his stables, headed up by his Grade 1 winner in Itchy Feet, who was on an away day when we visited, but given the strength in depth he has at his disposal, it won’t be long before another Grade 1 is on his record, surely?

Flickr Album here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/153708976@N07/albums/72157715775958691