Luke Harvey: the routine was strict but they were the happiest years of my life

On leaving school aged 16 I went to become a stable lad/conditional rider at Captain Tim Forster’s yard at Letcombe Bassett on the Oxfordshire/Berkshire border and found myself in exalted company with the likes of Richard Dunwoody and top amateur rider Tim Thomson Jones around the place.

Before I left my father told me if I practised calling my yard broom ‘sir’ or ‘madam’ I wouldn't go far wrong and that’s the way it was in those days as there was an old-fashioned master/servant relationship in racing yards. The routine was strict and disciplinarian and it's outdated now.

Looking back, my formative years from 16 until 21 were the happiest of my life. The Captain certainly didn't suffer fools and everything had to be done properly and meticulously, but it was the best place I've ever been to as far as looking after the horses was concerned.