Adolescent Up-to-date Zealand harness racing driver Gemma Thornley openly admits that she misses home but is elated about all the opportunities her work in the UK offers.
Thornley is employed by 23-year-old American eventer Cosby Green, who is currently ranked 136th.th in the FEI World Ranking of Eventing Athletes.
Green has ridden up to five-star level and trains her horses at Chedington Estate alongside Up-to-date Zealand equestrian greats Tim and Janelle Price.
“We only rent the boxes. There is an Australian event and a show jumping competition here, Tim and Janelle, and German and Belgian riders are also based here,” said Thornley.
Thornley looks after six horses and works six days a week, with most days being varied.
“I start work at about 7:30 a.m. and do normal horse work like mucking out the stalls. After that, I get the horses ready for Cosby's riding. Every now and then, I take horses out and gallop them. There's also a lot of water treadmilling. We go to a local gallop trainer and gallop the horses up the hill.”
Thornley lives in Beaminster, 15 miles from Dorchester and 145 miles south of London. Beaminster has a population of 3,000 and she says living and working in Up-to-date Zealand is very different.
“The roads here are terrible. It's not fun driving the truck, but I'm slowly getting used to it. I miss home a lot and I miss my racing. Everyone tells me it's getting colder at home and that's why it's easier to be here.”
Gemma received her early education at Tai Tapu Primary School before going on to Lincoln High School and, like most country girls, she had a horse and enjoyed eventing.
She says being on the other side of the world has given her great opportunities that many adolescent horse people from Up-to-date Zealand would not get.
“At all the local events you see the world class riders, it's pretty incredible. When I first came here we went to Spain for a gigantic show jumping event. I flew there and then it took us three days to drive home through Spain and France. But my biggest next event is badminton, which is very chilly. To see that in real life will probably be a bit crazy.”
Badminton runs from the 8th until the 12thth in May, and Thornley says the riders and horses will be stationed there for six days.
After Badminton, the stable will head to Ireland at the end of the month.
Outside of work, she would like to go to a local gallop meet.
“There are a few show jumping meetings taking place nearby.”
Thornley represented Canterbury in age group rugby. She would like to see the All Blacks play England later this year if she can. And of course she keeps an eye on the results of the Up-to-date Zealand trotting competitions.
“Dad keeps me updated on all the news from home (laughs). I miss some of Dad's horses that I worked with a lot.”
It was exhilarating to watch Crystal Hackett win the Group One Taylor Mile last Friday.
“It’s great to see the juniors scoring great goals at home.”
On her days off, Gemma enjoys day trips in her trusty Toyota.
“I managed to get to London for a few days (not by car) and do all the tourist attractions and felt a little overwhelmed. It was chilly to see all the eminent sights.”
Thornley says the nearest harness racing track in England is five hours north of where she lives, but she plans to visit some of Europe's biggest racecourses when she can and money allows.
“Unfortunately, we were in Ireland when the Elitloppet was running. I wanted to go there, but it didn't fit into my schedule and it was quite pricey. Before I leave, I really want to see some European harness racing.”
She had a good record as a junior in Up-to-date Zealand, scoring 65 winners in six seasons as a rider. Last season she scored 31 winners, with Bella Button and Lizzie Richer each contributing six winners to their season tally.
In addition to badminton and Ireland, Gemma's mother Carolyn and her aunt Linda Malloch are coming there in June or July and she is looking forward to it.
Gemma is unsure how long she will stay in the UK but plans to return home.
“It's this harness virus that never leaves you. Hopefully people won't have forgotten me when I get home (laughs). I'll always have dad's horses to drive, but hopefully I can go back to the good stable.”
from Bruce Stewartfor Harnesslink
