Life After Racing

Ballarat Cup winner Grand Dreamer broke a leg in training but after rehabilitation at Shory Park is ready to be rehomed (Image by EJIM Photography). RIGHT: Nikki, Finn, two staff members and their Shory Park students (Image by Kiah Lucey Photography).

LIFE AFTER RACING

There’s strength in numbers

Rehoming racehorses is a full-time business for Nikki Cook, Shory Park’s Director, Head Trainer and Coach, writes JO McKINNON.

Incredibly, 31-year-old Nikki Cook has had nearly 300 Thoroughbreds through the gates of Shory Park for training or rehoming last year alone. Additionally, the recent demand for Off the Track (OTT) horses has been so high that she had to give a special call-out to trainers and owners across Australia in an effort to source more horses.

You’d think that COVID would have slowed things down, but that’s far from the case. “I’ve been so busy over COVID it’s been nuts. I really thought 2020 would be a terrible year for us with no competitions, but project horses and anything under $5,000 seemed to be the perfect purchase for people. They were just flying out the gate and going to the best homes,” Nikki says.

Six years ago, the former real estate agent decided to work full-time with OTT horses and established Shory Park, south-west of Melbourne on the Surf Coast. Since then, she’s built a highly successful business and now employs a team of nine.

These days, Shory Park is a bustling stable with up to 35 horses in full work at any one time. Horses are sourced from and sold all over Australia, including Darwin and WA. While Nikki doesn’t pay for transport costs to Shory Park, once horses enter the gates they becomes Nikki’s sole responsibility.

Before new arrivals begin any form of training, they’re given a holiday. “They all get three months out in the paddock to eat grass and be a horse. That’s a non-negotiable for us. It’s so important for them to let down physically and mentally. When they’ve just finished racing, they have to have that time out,” Nikki explains.

After their break, the horses are brought into work and eventually ridden up to six times a week by experienced horsewomen, including Nikki who, despite the daily pressures of running the show, finds the time to work up to 10 each day. “It’s important for me to ride all the OTTs to get a feel for them and ensure I match them correctly with a new home,” she says.

When a horse is ready for market, they’re placed on the Shory Park website with a detailed background and accompanying images. Some find a suitable home within just a few weeks of being advertised, while others take a little longer to place. All horses are guaranteed no matter whether they’ve been sold as companion horses or have gone to professional homes, and if they don’t work out they can be returned to the care of Shory Park.

Nikki, who prides herself on her integrity, scrutinises potential owners to ensure they’re a good fit for the horse. And occasionally she has to say no to buyers, which is never easy. “We do it quite a bit and it’s sad because we want to find homes for them. We’ve had one horse for 12 months but I don’t want to let him go to an unsuitable home. They have a home here for as long as they need,” she says.

Whilst the wellbeing of all the Shory Park horses is a top priority, Nikki runs the property as a professional and commercially successful business. “If we sell a horse, we get the kicker. It’s a balance,” she explains, “some work

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out great and we get a really good win on them, some not so. I’ve had one horse for three years. He’s cost me $5,000 in surgery and he recently hurt himself in the paddock again.”

Whilst it’s had its challenges, Nikki’s delighted that Shory Park has been a success. “I operate a very successful business and I’m very happy with where I am financially, although it's taken a long time to get here.”

Initially running Shory Park while still working as a real estate agent, Nikki believes her sales ability, strong negotiation and people skills, and understanding of marketing, have proved invaluable: “I think it’s important to focus on not only riding a horse well, it’s also the business side you need to be able to keep up with.”

Nikki grew up with horses and, like many, went through the Pony Club grades. She also completed an Equine Certificate II, and showed horses as a teenager before moving into dressage. It was this discipline that taught her the importance of teaching young horses to be supple and correct, so that they’re ready to begin a promising career after their days on the track.

Named Racing Victoria Retrainer of the Year in 2019, Nikki is now sharing her knowledge and skills with OTT horses in her new eBook Buying a Horse: “It’s all about helping people to purchase that ‘perfect match’ horse. We have so many people coming to us who have dealt with dodgy people and bought unsuitable horses.”

She is also developing a YouTube series that will explain how to choose and buy the right horse.

At the moment, Nikki is happy to keep Shory Park’s OTT numbers to no more than 35 horses in work at any one time, but she has some exciting projects lined up for this year that she hopes will expand their facilities and increase

TOP: The wellbeing of all Shory Park horses is a top priority (Image by Kiah Lucey Photography).

Winding down with a visit to the beach (Image courtesy Shory Park).

RIGHT: Nikki was named Racing Victoria Retrainer of the Year in 2019 (Image courtesy Racing Victoria). the numbers of OTTs they can train.

Many people are now venturing into racehorse retraining, and Nikki encourages anyone who is willing to work hard to get involved in what can be a very rewarding journey. “I always tell people to go for it because if it’s your dream and what you enjoy you’ll be good at it, but it’s not as easy as people might think. I ran at a loss for a lot of years before I made a profit,” she says.

For more information, or to order Nikki’s eBook, Buying a Horse, visit www.shorypark.com