New foundation-funded schooling trials offered to safely prepare horses for racing

6 Jun 2025

A new initiative, designed to simulate a race day to support the training and preparation of racehorses for the track, is being delivered across 2025 by the Horse Welfare Board with funding from the Racing Foundation.

The schooling trials are aimed primarily at horses training for jump races offering crucial race-day experience to horses and jockeys before they compete in official races.

The programme is open to horses of all ages and stages in their careers, from young unraced prospects to seasoned racehorses returning after a break. 

To simulate a race day, the new schooling days feature 6-8 ‘trials’ per day, with each typically involving 10 to 12 horses. Crucially, these are run at a slower pace than a competitive race and horses are not required to jump every obstacle or complete the course.  

By simulating real race conditions horses gain valuable race-day experience without the pressure typically found on the racecourse.

Kim Bailey, winning trainer of the Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle during his career welcomed the initiative: 

“They’re a great innovation and very worthwhile, certainly for young horses who will be running in the spring,” he said. “It brings horses on, gets them in the horsebox and allows you to do something different with them. Getting them to gallop round a grass course in a different environment has got to be good news.” 

The schooling trials is one of a number of projects that the Racing Foundation has funded via its £3million, 3-year grant to the Horse Welfare Board to deliver the activities cited in the industry’s ‘A Life Well Lived’ welfare strategy.

For more information on the schooling trials click here.