Nicky Henderson Welcomes Families for Autism Acceptance Week at Seven Barrows

Clouds parted and the sun broke through over Seven Barrows in Lambourn, just in time for a very special visit. This Autism Acceptance Week, top trainer Nicky Henderson LVO OBE generously took time out of his busy schedule to give us a personal tour of the yard, and it

really was a behind the scenes experience like no other. Autism in Racing was delighted to team up with Berkshire-based charity Parenting Special Children, inviting a group of families who use their services to spend some time in the spectacular Valley of the Racehorse. Accompanied by AIR host Rosy, the session involved learning about the intense hard work that goes into producing the winners Nicky is famous for.

After a warm-up for the horses, it was all aboard the waiting cars and a drive across the fields, following them to the sand training track – Constitution Hill and JonBon among the group being put through their fitness paces. Our families watched on, with Nicky and his team providing insightful commentary and answering questions as the laps ticked by.

A tour of the stables included meeting Constitution and JonBon in their boxes, a huge excitement for our group but seemingly nothing out of the ordinary for these equine legends. Their gentle natures and welcoming stable lads offered our families the opportunity to connect up-close and take pictures alongside them, a highlight of the visit. It was a real privilege and pleasure to be able to facilitate this visit for Parenting Special Children, with CEO and Founder Dr. Ruth Pearse commenting on how supportive and inclusive the event was, expressing her thanks to Nicky and his team, along with AIR for offering this unique and inspiring experience to local families.