The McMasters are called on when a horse is retired from racing but might have something to offer in the equestrian field.
“The guys at Lindsay Park are very good. They give us an absolute rundown on the horse before they come here and can tell us any of their quirks or difficulties,” Sammi said.
“We will normally have a ride when they first get here, just to assess them and see what they need going forward. From there, we work out how they’re going, what they’re going to do and get them into a bit of a routine.
“Generally, they end up in work five or six days a week doing bits and pieces of slow work, dressage, a bit of jumping and sometimes going out down the road.
“It depends on the horse and we tailor the training around them.”
Lisa’s first job out of school was working in stables at the former Epsom training centre, which led to a stint with Bob Hoysted during the time Manikato was in his care. She passed on her love of thoroughbreds to her daughters, who are accomplished performers in the show ring.
They use their farm at Locksley, around 15km from Lindsay Park’s Creighton’s Creek property near Euroa, to get them ready for whatever discipline they have in mind.
Imported galloper Pilote D’essai, winner of the Ballarat Cup and Pakenham Cup in 2016, is one the McMasters are now working with.
“He had a spell after he was finished racing and was very out of shape when he arrived, so there’s been a lot of work to get him into shape and get his muscles working in different ways, which are different to racing,” Sammi said.
A fierce-going on-pacer as a racehorse, Pilote D’essai, like most of the McMasters’ pupils, needed to be trained to concentrate on other areas in his new career.
“They learn how to race and they learn how to run and that creates tension in the way they move,” Sarah said.