Racehorse coach Oliver Greenall makes showjumping debut at Bolesworth

“It’s one thing I’ve all the time needed to do,” says Oliver Greenall, as we stand ringside at Bolesworth Worldwide, offered by Al Shira’aa.

The racehorse coach, who holds a joint licence with Josh Guerriero and saddled Iroko to complete fourth within the 2025 Grand Nationwide, dipped his toe into the world of showjumping with a stable worldwide debut in Bolesworth’s newbie courses aboard O’Balou De Bourguignon.

“I’ve solely not too long ago began showjumping, so it was all a bit daunting the primary week – I used to be making errors and we saved having fences down – however this week has been masses higher,” says Oliver.

In traditional sportsman fashion, he’s already mulling over the place he might enhance. However to go from by no means actually having showjumped – no less than not since he was a toddler – to leaping in 1.15m courses at a serious present in a brief house of time is not any straightforward feat.

“I feel we’re each fairly mentally and bodily drained now,” says Oliver, on the finish of his second week of leaping, which included ninth place with a transparent spherical in Thursday’s Peel Port Logistics pace class.

“It’s been a protracted couple of weeks, however it’s been nice, a very good expertise. I’m so glad I’ve been in a position to do it, you by no means know, I may need one other go…”

Oliver, who had success as newbie jockey earlier than taking out his coaching licence, relies a stone’s throw from the present and has been serving to Bolesworth director and showjumper Nina Barbour put together for the Magnolia Cup charity race at Goodwood this month.

“Showjumping has all the time been one thing I needed to have a superb go at. I received this horse from Anthony Condon to have as a driving horse at residence,” he says, explaining that the pair are nice pals and Anthony, who gained the CSI3* grand prix on Bolesworth’s first week, has been nudging him to have a go.

“Nina has been coming to journey on the yard and he or she stated, ‘Effectively, why don’t you come and do Bolesworth?’ I’ve been for a load of classes, did two little reveals beforehand – becoming these in alongside racing – after which I got here right here.

“The primary day the horse was actually spooky, then ever since then, he’s been completely good. He’s an actual, protected, schoolmaster, and so chill. At residence, I soar rails and hedges with him, he’s good.”

He provides: “I’m studying; each time I soar, Anthony provides one thing else, ‘It’s worthwhile to go a bit tighter, it’s essential to have a look at the clock, it’s essential to be taught the strides’. You suppose you’re getting it after which there’s extra to be taught. I by no means actually appreciated how technical and troublesome it truly is, the margins are so nice.

“Being native, family and friends have come to observe. It’s been a tremendous expertise.”

It’s been a busy fortnight – alongside showjumping, the yard has had runners throughout the nation, and Oliver has been forwards and backwards to France for gross sales. The day job doesn’t cease, though for Iroko, it’s nonetheless summer time vacation season.

“He’s in good kind,” says Oliver. “He’s nonetheless in Eire at Martinstown on his holidays with [2025 Cheltenham Festival winner] Jagwar, however he’ll be coming again any day and the plan is to return to the Grand Nationwide with him.”

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H&H senior information author

Lucy is an skilled information journalist, reporter and presenter. Since becoming a member of the Horse & Hound group in 2015, Lucy has reported from main international sporting occasions together with the Tokyo Paralympic Video games and a number of European Championships, in addition to Badminton, Burghley and London, to call just a few. She has lined present affairs and sports activities information throughout the total spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, in addition to human and equine welfare, business information and courtroom circumstances.