Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Dan Horsford
Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Dan Horsford is a dual-purpose racehorse trainer based at Sharpridge near Marlborough, where he spent much of his career learning his trade before taking out his own licence in 2025. Dan joined Alan King’s team at Sharpridge in 2010 and progressed through the yard to become assistant trainer in 2013, ultimately spending around 15 years with the operation and 12 years in the assistant trainer role.
That long association gives Dan an unusually deep knowledge of both the horses and the training environment at Sharpridge. When the opportunity arose to establish his own operation there with the support of RHM Horses, he was able to begin from a yard and set of gallops he already knew intimately.
Dan now trains a mixed string of Flat and National Hunt horses alongside a young team, supported by his wife Jade and RHM Horses. The aim is to combine the experience developed during his years with one of Britain’s leading dual-purpose trainers with a progressive, owner-focused operation of his own.
Dan trains from Sharpridge Farm on the Barbury Castle Estate, surrounded by approximately 2,500 acres of Wiltshire countryside. The site provides an unusually varied training environment, with multiple all-weather and grass gallops, extensive hacking and facilities for both Flat and National Hunt horses.
At the centre of the operation is the 4½-furlong Sharpridge Hill all-weather gallop, which climbs approximately 300 feet and provides a demanding conditioning test. The yard also has a six-furlong ‘Carpet’ gallop with a gentler incline and cushioned surface, allowing horses to undertake faster work or lighter exercise depending on their individual programme.
Four additional grass gallops offer different distances and gradients when conditions permit, while horses can also hack throughout the surrounding Barbury Estate. For jump horses, the schooling grounds contain hurdles and fences of varying heights; Flat horses have access to three-bay starting stalls. An indoor school allows education and exercise to continue throughout the year.
The yard also benefits from a horse walker, extensive turnout and well-ventilated stabling, giving the team the flexibility to vary each horse’s workload and routine according to age, experience and individual requirements.
Dan took out his trainer’s licence in early 2025 and made an immediate impact. Robber’s Bridge became his first winner when landing a handicap hurdle at Market Rasen on 20 April 2025, just his fifth runner as a trainer. Ten days later, Nivelle’s Magic provided the yard’s first Flat success at Southwell.
The progress continued into 2026. Trojan Tale made a striking winning debut at Wincanton in January, pulling seven and a half lengths clear in a bumper, while Eddie My Eagle developed into a novice-hurdle winner for the yard.
Dan has also enjoyed a productive 2026 Flat campaign. Miss Lady Grace won successive handicaps at Goodwood and Chester, Grey Soul won twice at Ffos Las, and Cruden landed the valuable John Smith’s Stayers’ Handicap at York in July.
Dan’s philosophy centres on horse welfare, precise training and long-term development. Rather than applying a single system across the string, the aim is to tailor preparation around the needs of the individual horse, making use of Sharpridge’s varied gallops, surfaces and terrain to build fitness while supporting both physical and mental wellbeing.
The welfare of the people around the horses is considered equally important. Dan and the team place an emphasis on trust, collaboration and creating a positive working environment, with the belief that happy, motivated staff ultimately contribute to better care and better-performing horses.
Owners are also intended to be closely connected to the operation. Building strong relationships between owner and trainer is one of the yard’s stated priorities, alongside clear communication and giving owners the opportunity to understand their horse’s development and racing programme.
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