Bryan Smart Racing team

Vicky competed in BSJA Show Jumping before she became involved in racing through the point to point field.  She was a successful amateur rider winning races in point to points and on the flat. She still rides out at Hambleton but spends much of her time these days managing the business and looking after the owners. Vicky enjoys schooling the racehorses and helping to find them suitable homes after their racing career is over and has produced some of her own horses to championship level in the show ring.  To find out more about Retraining of Racehorses click on our ‘Retraining’ page.

Vicky is a qualified Veterinary Nurse, completed a three year course in Veterinary and Veterinary Physiotherapist and also completed a Veterinary Homeopathy course finding that this natural system of medicine hugely benefits the racehorse as it treats the totality of the animal stimulating the body's own healing process and has no side effects or withdrawal periods.

One of the unique features about Bryan Smart's training yard is the constant presence of a physiotherapist and homeopath who also rides out and is personally involved with the horses. To find out more about Vicky's work in any of the above fields click on the appropriate areas on this website.

Hobbies:

• Walking and swimming
• Regional Co-ordinator for ROR (North East)
• Showing and show jumping with daughter Beth.

Beth has ridden since she was 4yo and has competed her ponies all over the country including at Hickstead and Horse of the Year Show. She left school in 2017 with three A levels in History, Biology and French and is now show jumping full time with her two horses Pandora’s Box III and Cludo IV. Beth is incredibly passionate about show jumping and is often seen in the outdoor school or on the gallops schooling and working on the fitness of her show jumpers and enjoys the benefits of the excellent facilities at Hambleton House. Since taking up show jumping full time Beth has successfully competed at some of the top venues in the country including at the Arena UK Premier Show-jumping Championships and the NSEA Championships at Addington. Beth is aiming at more Premier and National shows in 2018 where she hopes to bring more success to Team Smart.

Beth has a particular interest in Bloodstock and breeding and can often be seen at the sales with her Dad selecting the next crop of 2 year olds.

Beth is a Gain sponsored rider and credits this feed with helping her horses look great

and perform at the highest level. More information can be found by clicking the link www.gainequinenutrition.com

Beth is always happy to talk to any potential owners or sponsors.

Adam joined us in February 2016 to take on the role of Racing Secretary.

He graduated from university in 2013 with a First Class honours degree in Business and Enterprise Management; Adam was keen to follow his passion into the world of horseracing and is currently studying further qualifications with the Northern Racing College. His main responsibilities include entries, declarations and jockey bookings in addition to liaising with owners.

Kevin Edmunds has been assistant trainer since 2006.

He was previously head lad to Milton Harris and also rode as a National Hunt/Point to Point jockey. Kevin will be a familiar face to many both at home and on the racecourse where he frequently attends meetings when Bryan is unable to be present. He rides many of the horses at home and is very much a 'hands on' presence in the yard. He also looks after the gallops and makes our hay during the summer.Kevin relaxes by racing his German wirehaired pointers.

Beck (assistant trainer Kevin's wife) has an Equine Science Degree and organises the yard routine. She manages the horses and the staff equally well.

When she is not at work Beck enjoys working her German Wirehaired Pointer ‘Bandit’ and has been out on the moors counting grouse for the landowners.

Beck has a passion for photography and you will see many of her pictures on this website. She does commissions and can be contacted via her Facebook Page ‘Beck Edmunds Photography’.

Rakesh has been a member of the team since he arrived in 2006 from India at 17yo. In that time he has become an integral part of the team. Rakesh has been the backbone of Team Smart in the years he has been with us and nothing is ever too much trouble. He is renowned for his incredible plaiting skills and it is never a surprise when he comes home from the races with the Best Turned Out award including B.T.O. in the Racing Post Trophy in 2017 when he led up Alpha McGuire (no mean feat against some of the top yards including John Gosden and Ballydoyle!). Rakesh is also a keen cricketer and plays for South Kilvington where he has won awards for being the best batsman in the area.

Rakesh recently returned home to his native India to get married to his new wife Pooja.

Helen is the accounts secretary for Team Smart and comes in every Tuesday to do the book keeping.  She has over 25 years of admin, secretarial and accounts experience, gained in a variety of environments. In 2014 she started her own company offering a payroll and/or bookkeeping service for local small businesses. She was lucky enough to keep existing employers as clients of the new company and currently carry out work for racehorse trainers, farmer and a domiciliary care agency among others.

She is also joint secretary of the local Wensleydale Agricultural Show and wedding hostess for a local venue. Variety is the spice of life! 

In her spare times she loves to cook and is undertaking some cookery courses this year. She also tries to go to the gym at least three times a week which she says is very necessary to counteract the cooking.

Tony Eyre has done our transport since we moved up in 2002 and is part of the team at Hambleton House. He has travelled horses all over the country and abroad for us and is a well- known face at the races. Tony is always cheerful provided he has had his cup of coffee before he sets off on another long journey in his horsebox!

Londonderry Farriers are a family run business based in Londonderry, North Yorkshire, with a team of enthusiastic Registered and Apprentice Farriers.

Huw Dyer AWCF has over 40 years of experience in the industry. He has overseen the training of more than 30 farriers, including his son Tom Dyer DWCF who has joined the business. The team is completed by apprentices Will Crozier, Alex Bradbury and Danny Souter.

Minster Equine Veterinary Clinic is dedicated to providing quality professional care for horses in numerous equestrian disciplines.

Vet Matthew Swarbrick BVSc(Hons) MRCVS is present twice a week for routine work and veterinary care of the horses. After graduating with honours from Liverpool in 2010, Matthew undertook a two-year internship at Newmarket Equine Hospital where he developed an interest in Orthopaedics and Diagnostic Imaging. Following a brief spell locuming in Cheshire he returned to Newmarket as the Diagnostic Imaging Assistant at Rossdales where he focused his attention on advanced imaging modalities (MRI and CT) and furthered his knowledge of Equine Orthopaedics. He then worked for a year in Melbourne, Australia undertaking horses-in-training work and diagnostic lameness investigations. He moved to Minster in 2016 and is mainly involved in horses-in-training work, pre-purchase examinations, lameness investigations and diagnostic imaging. He is currently studying to become an Advanced Practitioner, specialising in Diagnostic Imaging, and has published peer-reviewed literature in a veterinary journal. When not working Matthew enjoys keeping fit, fishing, walking his lurcher and occasionally riding out for his trainers and hunting.