The Unsung Heroes Of International Racing

Months Away From Home, Keeping Champions Race-Ready

It starts with a trunk. Before a world-class racehorse boards an aircraft bound for Dubai or Riyadh, someone has spent the better part of a week making sure that trunk is packed correctly — rugs of varying weights, racing equipment, medical kit, supplements, feed bags labelled with the precision of a child's school uniform. Long before the roar of the crowd, there is the quiet, methodical work of the travelling head lad, the unsung logistician without whom international racing could not function.

These are the people who manage quarantine paperwork across multiple jurisdictions, keep horses calm across time zones, and spend months away from home while following campaigns that span six or more countries. Five of them — Federica, who works for the prestigious yard of former legendary trainer Marco Botti, Lucy Brocklehurst and Kieran Kourdache of Karl Burke Racing — a powerhouse operation currently dominating the British flat racing scene from Yorkshire —, Maddy O'Meara of Andrew Balding Racing — one of the sport's most historically significant and prolific multi-million pound training establishments at Kingsclere —, and Marine Henry, the travelling head lass for trainer Nicolas Caullery — a highly respected, progressive force in French racing based at Chantilly — offered a rare account of what it means to do this job, from the first item placed in the trunk to the horses they have loved most on the road.

Packing The World Into A Trunk

The 48 hours before a major shipment are, universally, the most intense of the preparation cycle. Maddy O'Meara describes what amounts to a second removal: "Every horse has probably one or two trunks for all of their belongings — much like us when we go away with a suitcase. A lot of places you have to take your own feed, so all the feed bags get bagged up in clear bags, everything labelled for which horse — a bit like a child at school — so nothing gets confused with another horse's kit."

At Karl Burke Racing, the system is built on lead time. Lucy Brocklehurst notes that horses receive vet checks and fluids well before departure. "We are lucky to have a good team of travelling head lads who work through a checklist, organise everything, and make sure it is all weighed up and ready. The horses have vet checks and receive fluids beforehand to keep them hydrated."

Kieran Kourdache says the element that surprises most outsiders is the paperwork. "Every piece of equipment in the trunk has to be written down and itemised — vet certificates, import certificates, customs paperwork. It is getting harder and harder to transport horses abroad, even within Europe." He also points out that the attention to detail extends to the horse's comfort in transit, noting that they travel meticulously equipped in specialised travel boots, overreach boots, and a protective sheepskin-lined head collar.

Marine Henry, who has made the journey to Dubai for a decade, keeps bridles separated horse by horse. "I like to keep one bridle per horse so that if any horse falls ill, the virus does not spread," she explains. Marine operates in a dual capacity during these long-haul stints: she serves as Caullery's head lass and as the international physiotherapy supervisor, tasked with overseeing the physical well-being of all international horses based in Dubai, not just those from her own stable.

Federica adds a final discipline before departure that speaks to the precision the role demands. "Last step, I sit in the office with my boss, and we discuss the routine of the horse, from morning and afternoon exercise, to feeding instructions and medication or supplements if needed."

Keeping A Horse Settled On The Road

Once the plane lands, the real work begins. Climate, water, routine, environment — everything a horse has known is suddenly different, and the travelling head lad must bridge that gap without delay.

Maddy O'Meara's method centres on reducing feed slightly in the opening days: "a lot of the time they go off their feed for a couple of days, they're probably a little shell-shocked” and, without exception, avoiding local tap water. "When we're in a foreign country, we never use the local tap water — we always use bottled water, just to make sure nothing upsets their digestive system." To eliminate guesswork, Maddy's protocol also requires taking blood samples immediately on arrival to clinically verify that the horses' internal baselines are well within the normal range.

Kieran Kourdache takes an approach built on replication. "What we try to do when we are abroad is mimic the horse's routine at home as closely as possible. They are fed three times a day, just as they would be at home, and ridden out at the same time. The only thing that changes is the track they are training on."

Lucy Brocklehurst describes arriving to find stables prepared and vets waiting at the planeside. "Once you arrive, transport is always waiting, along with vets who check the horses and clear them before they are moved to Meydan or wherever it may be. The stables are already prepared on arrival, so you just have to make sure the horses are comfortable, happy, and not stressed."

Marine Henry has found that the weather does much of the settling work. "Most of my horses settle into their new routine within three days when they arrive in Dubai. The harder adjustment is when they come back to cold weather — some of them, particularly fillies, can become a little flat after that."

Federica offers a counter-intuitive observation: "Surprisingly, horses adapt to jet lag faster than we do. Their internal clock is regulated by the dark-light cycle, and they have a unique sleep-wake pattern — short, scattered naps during the day — which allows them to adjust faster to new conditions."

When Things Go Wrong

The stakes in international travel are high, and the list of things that can go wrong is long. Maddy O'Meara's principal concern is travel sickness. "My biggest concern is always travel sickness, which is why we keep such a close eye on temperatures and general demeanour — how they're drinking, how they're eating, any little sign of concern." She is unequivocal about the threshold for travel: "If there's any concern, the horse stays home — full stop."

Kieran Kourdache recounts a logistics failure from another yard that illustrated the solidarity of the travelling community. A courier company failed to dispatch a horse's feed and tack, leaving everything behind in England. "Regardless of who we work for and the rivalries that exist between horses, nobody would ever see another trainer's horse go short. We all came together — some of our feed was shared, saddles were loaned out so they could ride out. Racing is a close-knit community, and we are all willing to look after each other."

Federica experienced her most frightening moment on the road to Windsor when her horse began colicking an hour from the racecourse. "In that situation, there's not a lot that can be done — you feel helpless and fear for the life of the horse. Luckily, we reached the racecourse in time, the horse received medical care immediately, and everything went well. But that was a nightmare."

Lucy Brocklehurst and Marine Henry count themselves fortunate, both noting that thorough preparation has so far kept serious problems at bay.

The Weight Of Personal Sacrifice

Behind every seamless international campaign lies a personal cost that rarely registers in race-day coverage. Kieran Kourdache is candid. "Some people missed Christmas this year, others miss family occasions — weddings, christenings."

Prize money, he says, is what makes the sacrifice meaningful. Having a world champion like Royal Champion win out in Saudi Arabia — and follow it up with a superb, proud performance at the highest level in Hong Kong — was incredibly lucrative and deeply satisfying for everyone who works hard back in England.
Federica's husband, who also works in racing, understands the demands of the calendar. "He has always been supportive and happy for me, knowing that this opportunity doesn't come along often. You need the right horse to take you around the world, and there are not many."

Maddy O'Meara captures the acceptance that experience brings. "I'm used to it now, and my partner is used to it too. It is what it is like; it's my job. I absolutely love it."

The geographic scale of these campaigns is staggering when viewed across a single calendar. Marine Henry's upcoming season perfectly dockets this relentless transcontinental mileage; her itinerary sees her flying out for a massive winter-long stint in Dubai running from November through to the World Cup in March, interspersed with international trips zigzagging back across Europe into Germany, England, and throughout France. Marine accepts the lifestyle completely: "You accept that you will be away from home for perhaps three, four, or six months, depending on where the horses are sent."

Lucy Brocklehurst voices the pull that draws them all back. "You cannot help but want more of those trips. You are always looking for the next horse that could take you abroad."

The Horses That Make It Worth Everything

Ask a travelling head lad about their favourite horse on the road, and the answer arrives wrapped in something close to reverence.
For Lucy Brocklehurst, it is Dramatized. "It had been a dream of mine to go to the Breeders' Cup — one of those things you think is never going to happen. She had already proven her class by winning the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, and though she finished second at Keeneland, she was one of my favourites. She was quite quirky, but she really enjoyed being abroad, and we saw a different side of her."

Kieran Kourdache reserves his greatest affection for Holloway Boy. "He won at Royal Ascot on his debut, which was unbelievable," Kieran recalls. This season, Kieran personally accompanied him on a rigorous international run out in Qatar, where the horse ran a superb race to secure a close, high-class placing. "I think he has worked out that if he tries hard every year, he earns himself a nice warm winter holiday."

When Marine Henry reflects on her favourite companions, her first instinct is to name Golden Wood. This horse gave her an extraordinary introduction to the racing world during her very first trip to Dubai. But in her heart, nothing compares to Batwan — everybody called him Batman. "He was the horse of my life. I went everywhere with him: Dubai, Ascot, Goodwood, across France. He was the easiest horse I have ever had. He would jump into the lorry, step off the other side, and be completely relaxed wherever he found himself — no stress, eating well, happy everywhere. He was very special."

Maddy O'Meara settles on Bellum Justum, who gave her the first overseas win in the Nashville Derby. "That was a brilliant trip and a very special day." However, the horses closest to her heart remain Bangkok and The Foxes, both of whom she absolutely loved to take away because they always ran to the absolute maximum of their ability. To top off a storied travelling career, she also keys on the unforgettable experience of looking after the brilliant Kameko during his high-profile bid at the Breeders' Cup.

Federica, meanwhile, reaches for God Given, trained by Luca Cumani — a sensitive mare who won the Lydia Tesio. The historic victory carried immense emotional weight, as it was famously the last Group One race ever to be held on Italian soil. "Those are the ones that make you feel a bit special. For what you do, and how you do. And it's a good feeling."

The international programme will keep expanding — more countries, more prize money, more months away from home. The trunks will be packed and re-packed, the routines maintained across time zones and hemispheres. And somewhere in the middle of all of it, the travelling head lad will be doing what they have always done: knowing exactly which horse runs a naturally high temperature, recognising the moment one steps off the plane not quite right.

The sport could not travel without them.