Te Akau Team Spotlight

Te Akau team member Barb Remi is passionate about her charges and has been a part of the stable routine for the last 18 months. The love for all things equine was a seed planted during her childhood in the Chatham Islands by her father John Remi. John was the first horseman to bring thoroughbreds to the island and young Barb learned to look after the family horses and even rode track work.

She recalls, “We had local racing, it was very different back then with little communication, but it was fun and competitive. I've qualified in other fields and tried different paths, but I keep coming back to the horses. It's my career and also my hobby. I spend all my time with horses and family, just like when I was growing up.”

Barb enjoys the pedigree side of thoroughbreds as well, citing bloodlines and the Te Akau facilities as two of her favourite aspects of the job. “The horses here have such nice breeding and I'm into breeding, I really enjoy looking at their pedigrees and watching families run well. We have top facilities here for the horses. I just love the way that they are looked after and managed so well, and that they get to enjoy time in a paddock every day.

“Vicky (Cold Snap) and Cleo (Persia) are my special girls that I have taken under my wing, but I just enjoy getting to know their personalities and watching them perform on the track- it's so rewarding. Staff at the farm does a great job naming them; their names are very appropriate and match their character.”

Barb with Alchemy's Flight

Story and photo credit - Stacey Bridgman

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