About Us

DEAN IVORY

Dean’s love affair with horses goes back to childhood when he used to ride ponies in local competitions and when he also took an interest in the broodmares owned by his grandfather.

During his father Ken’s time as a trainer, Dean would ride out and school the horses and he played an enthusiastic and key role in all aspects of the training operation.

In 2002, Ken handed over the reins to Dean and the winners have continued to flow from Harper Lodge Farm consistently ever since.   He has already trained nearly 400 winners and the stable goes from strength to strength.

 

2016 was a record season for the fourth year running with over £600,000 in prize money earned.  Stable star, Librisa Breeze won two valuable handicaps at Ascot, over a £¼ million in prize money and improved two stone in the ratings since joining Dean and the team.

 

Dean’s quiet but confident and considered approach in both training the horses and communicating with owners filters down to all the staff and there is a very warm, friendly but professional atmosphere at Harper Lodge Farm.

 

Having started off as an owner himself, Dean knows the importance of communication: “Relationships with owners are important to me because as an owner, I learnt that this personal liaison makes so much difference.

“It’s just lovely to be part of the whole game. I don’t have to be training: I do it because I love it.  For me, the greatest thing is putting a smile on owners’ faces when they’ve had a winner.”

THE STABLES

Nestled in a quiet part of leafy Hertfordshire, Harper Lodge Farm Stables is a 115-acre private training establishment in Radlett, Hertfordshire.  Driving through the automatic wrought iron gates along the private avenue of perfectly manicured yew trees, one enters an equine haven.
The front quad, the main stabling area comprises 20 large, airy wooden boxes on four sides surrounding the lawn where horses can have a pick of grass after morning exercise.  The eye is drawn to the old clock tower below which is a painting of Dawns Delight, winner of 17 races for Ken Ivory.  Many top class horses have been stabled here, even including three-time Grand National winning legend, Red Rum, who stopped off here during his tour of “opening” betting shops in the 70s!
There is additional stabling and currently the yard has some 60 horses in training with wonderful training facilities.   The gallop is a mile all-weather polytrack with a gentle climb and twists and turns, so the horses learn to go left and right handed.  Other training facilities include a nursery gallop, a railed 200-metre all-weather trotting ring, a ménage , an undercover horse walker and an equine spa to cool the horses’ legs after racing.
The latest addition is a superb, large indoor school inside the perimeter of the trotting ring and to keep the horses happy and relaxed, there are also plenty of turn-out paddocks with shelter for the horses to unwind during the season.
Close by the M25 and M1, the yard is ideally situated for getting to local racecourses such as Windsor, Ascot, Sandown and Kempton but also tracks further afield.
Owners are welcome during the week or at a week end and indeed part of the welcome is a new Owners’ Room where Owners can relax over a cup of coffee and watch a recording of their latest winner.
If you would like to visit the stables, to arrange a personal tour, please contact the Racing Office on 01923 855 337 or call Dean on his mobile – 07785 118 658.