All change: no summer jumpers for Tim Vaughan after yard transformation

Tim Vaughan, traditionally a force to be reckoned with during the summer jumps season, will be barely represented over the coming months having decided to use the enforced coronavirus lockdown to complete some drastic alterations to the way he operates at his yard in Glamorgan.

Vaughan, 40, built his reputation over the summer months at the start of his training career, but when racing was suspended in March he decided to take the majority of his horses out of training and make a raft of changes to his business.

"I've literally got two jumpers in," said the trainer. "We turned everything out and won't be having runners until September or October, which is unusual for me."

Despite that, Vaughan says he has never been busier than over the past 12 weeks, bringing to fruition a plan he hopes will improve the efficiency of his stable 15 miles to the west of Cardiff.

Tim Vaughan: hopes his horses will thrive in their new locationCredit: Gareth Everett

"We're in the same location but where the horses were based, which was right at the bottom of a valley, we didn't feel like they were thriving in the winter season," he explained. "There wasn't enough air flow and movement down there and probably the design layout of the barns wasn't perfect either.

"Three seasons ago we built another barn right at the top of the hill to trial it and the horses started to thrive. But that meant we were inefficient, running back and forth between yards. We've been tipping along and making changes in the background but when Covid-19 set in, we decided to go for it and move the entire operation up there. We're sat right at the top of a hill now and the horses will be far better for it."

With a new home for his 90-strong team for the winter and new facilities to complement, Vaughan has been able to convert and rent out the vacant bottom yard, with a new veterinary practice and saddlery shop among the businesses to have moved in.

"We put in a new all-weather schooling strip, walkers, lunge pit and even the stable office has moved," he said. "It would probably have taken the guts of two years to get there as it's impossible with the horses in but we've managed to get it done in 12 weeks.

"I set myself a target for July 1 to bring the lion's share of the horses in for the winter. We're going to miss the summer but the bigger picture is we're hopefully set up for life."

The former chartered surveyor and champion point-to-point rider has been training since 2008. It has always been his ambition to make an impact during the core jumps season and, with the continued support of his owners, that remains the goal.

"My owners have been very sympathetic and knew what I wanted to achieve," he said. "They've been great and kept supporting us – hopefully we can repay them now. I'm super excited. It's given us a chance to press the reset button and it's time to rock and roll."

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