Episode 426: Natalie Jarvis

John Tapp Racing

Great to catch up with a highly qualified lady who couldn’t imagine a life without horses. Despite holding a Bachelor Of Arts and a Degree in Accountancy, Natalie Jarvis opted for a career as a horse trainer. Natalie and husband Luke are currently running a successful training operation at the beautiful South Coast hamlet of Moruya. She talks about Thorotek Racing’s headquarters.

Natalie says she likes to keep all horses in an outside environment.

She talks about the grass track facilities, beach and river swimming availability and the peaceful bushland riding trails.

The trainer acknowledges husband Luke’s role in the operation.

She’ll long remember the thrill of producing four winners on Moruya Cup day with 130 stable clients in attendance.

Natalie takes us back to childhood days at Terrey Hills where she and sister Stephanie were riding horses from an early age.

She talks of her parents who had little interest in horses as their daughters were growing up. Today they’re keen followers of Natalie’s horses.

Natalie looks back on her two stints at Sydney’s Macquarie University.

She remembers her two years in the Racing NSW Finance Dept.

Natalie recalls her visit to an open day at the Hawkesbury TAFE equine management school and the good advice she received. She was directed to Muskoka Farm at Gunderman where her education with thoroughbreds began.

She remembers a learning stint at the Hawkesbury Valley stables of trainer Warwick Hailes.

Natalie fondly recalls the experience gained at the Ingham’s Belmont Park spelling and pre-training farm at North Richmond. During this time she met her future husband.

She looks back on the horses who got her training career under way.

Natalie talks of her regular use of the Inglis Digital platform and the handy horses she’s been able to source.

The trainer explains that she and Luke are prepared to travel to distant meetings within a five hour time frame.

Natalie acknowledges the jockeys with whom she’s enjoyed successful associations. She’s still riding the lion’s share of trackwork herself.

Had racing not gotten in the way, this lady would probably be running a busy accountancy firm by now. Like so many before her, Natalie Jarvis is totally “hooked” on racing.