Kylie Grass – Auckland (Kariotahi Beach and Counties)
Horses featured early in Kylie’s life, initially learning to ride on a childhood friend’s horse, which began her lifetime passion for the Thoroughbred.
It wasn’t long before Kylie was mucking out stables for leading local trainer Neville Atkins, who prepared Ring The Bell to win the New Zealand Derby and Secured Deposit to win both the Wellington and Auckland Cups and compete in the Melbourne Cup. The pay was simple — she got to ride a horse as her reward! She then spent a number of years as a teenager learning training from the ground up, before enrolling at Waikato Polytechnic and gaining a qualification in advanced equine studies.
Soon after obtaining her formal education in horses, Kylie was offered a position in Sacramento, California USA. This was an invaluable opportunity to learn more and Kylie jumped at the chance. She was asked back and ended up working on the Sacramento property twice.
Upon returning to New Zealand Kylie begin freelance riding for local trainers before setting up her own stable — Pinnacle Racing.
Pinnacle Racing was initially set up to offer a pre-training service with her point of difference using Auckland’s long flat west coast beaches. With great surfaces, long straights and surf to cool the horse’s post-workout, the beach work delivered great results in both achieving fitness or rehabilitating injuries for an ever-growing list of clients.
After successfully rehabilitating racehorse Barbara for Tiley Racing, Nigel suggested Kylie get her license and take Barbara as her first runner. At just her 4th start she saluted the judge and has developed into a progressive stayer. Word of Kylie’s good work got out and soon more opportunities arrived, working with horses for top trainers Stephen McKee, Stephen Marsh and Peter Williams. Horses respond to Kylies training and beach work which provides a unique environment for them to thrive.