Stable Lass: Tales from a Yorkshire Racing Yard

by Gemma Hogg

'Poignant and compelling, an equine Bridget Jones.' Racing Post Being a stable lass is probably one of the hardest jobs in the country, and yet for Gemma Hogg it is the most rewarding. She works in the beautiful Yorkshire market town of Middleham and if her colleagues are occasionally challenging, then the horses are downright astonishing. Now, in Stable Lass , she takes us into the closed world of a top racing yard, from the elation of having several winners in one day to the almost indescribable grief of losing a horse. Like most stable lads and lasses, Gemma arrived in her yard as a teenager fresh out of racing college and had to cope with living away from home for the first time, as well as adapting to the brutal long hours, backbreaking work and often treacherous weather. She describes falling in love with Polo Venture, the first racehorse in her care, the pure exhilaration of riding him on Middleham Gallops for the first time and what happens when a horse takes against you, from the growling gelding Valiant Warrior to the potentially lethal Broadway Boy. She brings to life the characters around the yard, from straight-talking boss Micky Hammond to the jockeys starving themselves to make weight, the wealthy owners and the other stable lads and lasses who come from a range of different places and backgrounds. Stable Lass by Gemma Hogg is a unique look into the world of horse racing filled with heart-warming stories and amazing thoroughbreds – some loveable, some cantankerous, all impressive.

Genres: Nonfiction, Horses

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[... · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this one was fun! Definitely recommend to anyone who's into horses, British jump racing (even though I'm more of a flat racing lass myself), or wants to know what's it like to work as a groom. While there wasn't much about the races themselves, there was a lot about horses as individuals, and it's one of the strenghts of the book (the other being a great flow and humour!) 4.5*

[Lissa Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable and a genuine account of life in a racing yard. Anyone who has ever worked in a racing yard will recognise the characters and anecdotes and enjoy reliving that sense of community, unique to the racing industry. For those who follow racing without knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes, I thoroughly recommend it.

[Bodil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book, at the least if you are into horses. I don’t know that much about horse racing (and then mainly from the Black Stallion books!). It’s on the whole well written and an easy read. It is mainly reminiscences from her early years as a stable lass, but also reflections from her present position as assistant trainer. From her lighthearted stories one is nearly excused for not realizing how competent she becomes.
However, I would have liked a bit more about how the training of the horses is done, what takes place on the racecourse and other more general things. I am afraid that she doesn’t realize quite how ignorant some readers may be! And I would gladly have read another 100 pages! I do hope that she writes this book, too!

[Aoife · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really nice, simple book about what life is like on a racing yard - especially for a young girl who wants to make it to the top.

As someone who is horse mad, and once thought about being a jockey, being able to read a first-hand experience of a stable lass in a racing yard was really interesting. I thought the writing style, and storytelling was a bit on the simple side but considering Gemma is a horsewoman and not a full-time writer, this is to be expected.

The way Gemma tells her stories about different experiences, horses and people she met during her career as a stable lass was done in a really nice, conversational way. This is a nice book to curl up with alongside a cup of tea, and a dog to cuddle and maybe, if you're lucky, a horse as well.

[Lucy-Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable, accessible and humorous book telling stories from Gemma Hogg’s time working as a Stable Lass in a Racing Yard. Her job was to look after the racehorses, everything from 6am starts for mucking out and feeding, to riding them on the gallops and accompanying them to the races.
I didn’t know much about racing stables and the close knit communities that form, but this book brought that to life and it was very readable and accessible to a novice! The tone of the book is very conversational and
The characters are brought to life through both the stories & the wisdom they passed on to the rather naïve & innocent young Gemma in her early days. We also learn about some of the pranks that were played - of course some names have been changed to protect the guilty!
I particularly liked hearing about the different characters that the horses had, and Gemma’s obvious affinity for the animals and her work really brings this book to life. I would recommend it to anyone who would like to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes of the Racing industry, has a liking for animal stories, or just likes a good real stories/biography type read.

I listened to the audiobook & whilst I would have preferred Gemma to narrate her own stories (the author always brings books to life & especially when it is such personal stories/experiences) but Elizabeth Bower did a great job. (Her voice was just perhaps not quite “Yorkshire” enough!)

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, although it wouldn't be one of my usual reads. I know a little about horse racing and enjoy visiting the racecourse from time to time but this book really gave me an insight into the world of horse racing. I know so little about the racing stables and the lads and lasses that work there but Gemma helped to open up that world to the reader - it's early morning exercising at around 6am, the gallops, the pranks played on each other by racing stable workers, the drinking and the camaraderie (at times a little too close and personal!) and mostly the sheer passion for horses and riding. She also helps the reader to understand the very special relationship that can occur between a horse and a person, a real falling in love experience. The book takes us through Gemma's early days in the stables, where her innocence is so appealing, through the nasty experience of bullying, tragic loss of the horses and the uncertainties of the life. We find ourselves rooting for her, wanting her to succeed and I was genuinely delighted when she and Tim finally married. The book also wets our appetites concerning its location is a lovely part of Yorkshire. It was in reading an article about the area of Middleham that I first came across a review of this book. It hasn't disappointed.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book which provides an insight into the world of horse racing and for me, someone who knows a bit about horse racing but nothing in depth, it was fabulous!

Gemma Hogg is a good writer as she goes back to when she first started out in the racing world and everything she went through to get to where she is now.
There's a lot of amusing stories passed onto her from her fellow stable lads and lasses along with some of the pranks that were played on one another. Dog poo in the boot, eww

Alongside this Gemma talks about the many horses she worked with during this time and her love and respect for them shines through here.

All in all a lovely book with some great pictures inside. Would recommend to anyone Horsy or with a interest in racing!

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sixteen year old Gemma leaves her family in Leeds to join the racing stable of Micky Hammond in isolated but beautiful Middleham. She's mad on horses and very enthusiastic but life as a stable lass is hard, long hours and poor pay, highs and lows.
This is book driven by passion. It is clear that Gemma was no academic at school but she had a dream to work with horses and made it happen, this book is a testament to her love for the racing game and the characters that inhabit it. The style of writing is breathy, fast-paced and naive but all the more honest for that and it works well in the context of this memoir. Being a racing fan I recognised most of the names mentioned and many of the horses which was even better.

[Kiren Parmar · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a completely refreshing read. This book showed the highs and lows of being in an industry that is still male dominated. Gemma' s personal story included where her love of horses came from, how she left home at 16 to embark on a career in the racing industry, 'learning on the job', and whilst in the passages it shows a woman who is very humble I also felt that Gemma must have a rod of steel running down her back and its her true grit to succeed that makes this a brilliant read. The book also sang out to me because it was quite factual too giving names of successful race horses past and present. My most favourite thing to read in the whole book was about the horses individual personalities , there were some real laugh out loud moments.

I recommend this whole heartedly.

[Retrievingme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light reading and enjoyable for racing fans, with an insight into the world where kids take up jobs away from home at 16, dealing with a pretty tough way of life. This did the trick for me after a difficult week at work (thanks to the virus). However I wouldn't really recommend reading it directly after Hemingway. The contrast is a little brutal.

[Mrs · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable and informative read.

As a racing lover I've always been fascinated by what happens behind the scenes and loved this book. A must read for fans of racing who care about horses.

[Ann robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Absolute Cracking Read.

I've always loved horses and this book was just the best. What a great read. Well written giving us background insight into her very interesting life. I laughed out loud at times as well. A few tears . I genuinely hope there's a follow up.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very insightful and quite easy to read. It was a lovely book to read as someone who loves horses myself. The way its written you can feel the emotion, personality and passion of which Gemma Hogg has for this job and from her as a person.

[Liz Kershaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a brilliant read

I couldn't put this book down. Funny, inspiring and sad in parts, but overall extremely well written. The best autobiography I've ever read.

[Sheryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought back a few memories, such as being traumatised when the horse in my care never came back after the race :(

[Emma Griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, lots of humour and a great depiction of life in a racing yard and getting into the industry.

[Linda Van roo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice easy to read (or listen) giving you a bit of an insight into the racing world.

[Samantha Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book and the insight into a racing yard

[Geoff Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed finding out all about the racing world

[Wilma Möller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ljudboken var ett väldigt mysigt sällskap

[katie lovatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant loved the honesty within the pages from a follow stable lass

[Emma Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet and easy read, makes you want to get out on the gallops at horrible o’clock in the morning!

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

We first meet Gemma on her first day at one of Britain’s top racing yards in 1998. She is sixteen and leaving the comfort of living at home with her mum and dad in Leeds to renting a grubby room close to Mickey Hammond’s stables in Middleham, North Yorkshire. This is the next step in Gemma’s career, she has already undertaken a college course but this will be her first time working daily with racehorses. She describes the unglamorous side to the job, the early starts and mucking out to the privilege of riding these amazing thoroughbred’s who are at peak fitness.

As a Yorkshire lass, Gemma is straight-talking, funny and honest. She tells of the ups and downs of working in an industry which was then dominated by men. Her love of horses shines out and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the horses (and humans) she has met throughout her long career. I felt the elation she achieved on winning a race, to the total devastation when a horse doesn’t get to do the journey home.

Horse lovers will adore this book, it is informative, honest and truly inspiring.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written from the heart, and plenty touches of humour, this book gives a really good insight into life in a racing yard. A very enjoyable but short read. One for anyone interested in horses and racing. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.