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By Betsy Branscome Times Community Newspapers Staff Writer
Their basis for knowledge hearkens back to a time when a pitchfork was as likely to be in their hands as a set of reins. Rubbing, hotwalking, raking, tack cleaning, turn outs, bandaging, bathing — EclipseAward winning trainer Leo O’Brien said that all of those, and more, added up for a grade one education in horsemanship from the ground up.
“I think that’s what makes steeplechase horsemen the best overall horsemen,” said O’Brien, 57. “Working in a jumping yard teaches you by the school of hard knocks. You don’t get to just waltz in and get a leg up like the flat track riders. You’re expected to do the work yourself, and that’s where the invaluable education comes in. Steeplechase horsemen know horses, inside and out.”
As apprentice to Irish trainer Tom Taafe, of Arkle and Cheltenham Gold Cup fame, in a “mixed yard” of both flat and steeplechase horses, O’Brien said that each and every lad in the yard was expected to learn every aspect of horse care. “There wasn’t anything off limits for learn
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