North Yorkshire's racehorse centre, Middleham, has 15 yards and over 500 horses in training at any one time. Just over 220 of these are based at Mark Johnston Racing, the biggest of Middleham's yards which is split across three locations. The gallopsAt 5.55am, I pulled into Kingsley House. The sun was up... just. It was straight out to Middleham's gallops to watch the first set of horses being exercised.  | | Assistant trainer, Jock Bennett |
Despite the name, 'gallops', it seems that not all horses actually gallop. Jock Bennett, assistant trainer at Mark Johnston Racing, explains that working up to a race is a complex process: "We wouldn't start a horse cantering straight away, we'd give it 4-6 weeks of walking and trotting before we actually ask the horse to canter. "Then we'd usually see the horse canter for about a month before we'd see it gallop. We monitor it all the time to make sure it stays fit, healthy and sound, then hopefully after a gallop or two it's ready for the racecourse." SwimmingRidden exercise is not the only type which horses in training get, apart from the four automated horse walkers, horses also build up fitness by swimming in the equine pool. Swimming is an effective way to exercise horses who for one reason or another can't be ridden. It is a strenuous activity that most horses seem to enjoy. International air travelWhilst exploring Mark Johnston's yard, assistant trainer Jock Bennett introduced me to one horse who had recently flown back from Dubai. It seems that international air travel is all in a day's work for these horses. Jock even assured me that they are given inflight meals, although his claim that he and his colleagues were the equivalent of stewardesses was taking it rather too far! | 
