Helen Sharp (HS): You train your horses on the beach a lot, how does it help the horses?

Simon Duggan (SD): We like to use the beach as a change up in our daily/weekly training routine for numerous reasons. The surface is generally good along the edge of the water where the waves are constantly ‘naturally grading’ the sand, therefore there are no voids or sudden changes in surface. We race our horses on an oval track so we like to use the beach for straight line ‘fast work’ as running around corners can be sore on horses. The sand and salt in the air help both the horses’ feet and respiratory system – I compare that to naturally nebulising a horse with saline (which is salt water). The option to go into the water straight after training helps with recovery on their legs with the movement of the sea water waves – it’s a spa for the horse.

HS: In terms of training on the beach, do you think it has a positive effect on their head as well as their body?

SD: Yes, as well as benefits mentioned above, training on the beach can really relax a horse, the same old routine going on the same daily exercise can get monotonous not only for the horse, but also me as the trainer. This can especially be noticed in ‘hot’, hard to handle horses. I also always find it can be a great way to freshen up a horse who may have had tough races within a generally short period of time.

HS: Have you ever had any problems training on the beach?

SD: The only beach we use to train horses is Benone beach on the north coast – it always has a great surface, other beaches may have ripples in the sand and stones or rocks here and there, whereas Benone has approximately six miles of straight golden perfection I’d say. Because of this I find there is usually always plenty of room for everyone to use the beach.

The only problems you can really have is going when the tide is too high. You want to ensure the tide is as low as possible and we use a website called www.magicseaweed.com to arrange what time/day suits to go to the beach. Some people on some beaches may have issues with public or authorities not permitting them to train horses by the sea, but I generally find the public love to see the horses training on the beach, especially when they see the horses rolling in the sand afterwards: I think that warms everyone heart.

The only other thing I would say is that some beaches can also get very busy, but again I think it’s up to the trainer to be sensible and use their initiative in hot weather especially – there will be peak times the beach will be busy with the general public and obviously you want to avoid these times as best you can.

HS: Do you go in the sea with the horses and if so how would you do it and for how long?

SD: Yes we always go into the sea after training – usually only up to the top of the horses legs/under their bellies. They will just walk in the water for 10 minutes.

HS: Do you ever go deep enough to swim the horses and if so, why? Or if not, why not?

SD: No. Although I think swimming is another good addition to a horse’s training regime, I don’t think the sea is the place to do it for safety reasons.

You may do it and get away with it 99 times out of 100, but the current can be unpredictable and you are putting both the horses and your own life at risk – swimming needs to be done in a more controlled environment I’d say.