Episode 602: Colt Prosser - a genuine “do it yourself” horseman from the NSW northern rivers.

It’s always a delight to welcome country horse people to the podcast and this week we go to the NSW mid north coast. We introduce a great all round horseman from idyllic Wauchope, a pretty little town of 6,500 on the Hastings River just under 20km from Port Macquarie. Colt Prosser grew up in the town and learned about horses from parents Grant and Debbie Prosser. Debbie was a very successful trainer, and Grant one of the most respected farriers in the state. Colt gained experience under two astute outside trainers before going solo in 2010. More than 300 winners later he’s firmly ensconced as one of the best bush trainers in NSW. He begins by talking about Bjorn Ironside, one of his recent winners at Port Macquarie.

He says the October 10 meeting was a great day out for the whole family.

Colt speaks highly of Bjorn Ironside’s rider Luke Rolls who’s just back from injury.

The trainer takes us back to the altercation he had last year with a runaway Angus cow. He came off second best in the unlikely collision.

He says the legacy of that accident has precluded him from trackwork duties.

Many are curious about the trainer’s unusual christian name. Colt sets us right.

Colt sings the praises of mum Debbie who made her mark as a trainer on the northern rivers. She’s still a valued member of the team.

He says Debbie was the natural choice for the role of Secretary of the Wauchope Jockey Club.

Colt talks of Grant’s skills as a farrier and remembers the esteem in which he was held by local trainers.

The 43 year old says he learned the art himself as a youngster. He continues to shoe most of his own horses.

He reflects on a further five year stint with the now retired Brian Guy on the Gold Coast. He had one special favourite among the many talented horses in the Guy stable.

Colt says he’s the only trainer to use the facilities at the Wauchope racecourse where his father is the track curator. He explains that the Wauchope Jockey Club conducts only a handful of meetings each year and is restricted to no more than eight horse fields.