The Part-Timers of Jackdaws Castle - Part 6

As well our team of full time staff, the yard has a small band of

part-timers who ride out. They all have other careers or jobs or, in this

case, university studies but have become a much loved part of the mornings...   

Reka Varvedo works four mornings a week at O’Neill Racing, starting originally as part of her university placement year. She is studying a BSc (Hons) in Equine Performance and Rehabilitation at Hartpury University and, since June 2025, has been a big part of the team as a parttime rider.

Horses are a huge part of Reka’s life, in particular her beloved Castlegate Lad, nicknamed Mr T, her thirteen-year-old Thoroughbred cross Irish Sport horse, who she has owned for nine years. ‘I have been lucky enough to compete my horse in British showjumping and had the most wonderful opportunity to take him abroad to Budapest to showjump for a season while visiting family and friends,’ she explains. ‘It was one of my most memorable seasons, with the bonus of bringing two trophies home and competing at the National barns. Additionally, I’ve competed a few friends’ youngsters in local events as well as in low level eventing on Mr T.’

The majority of Reka’s horsey experience lies outside racing, where she has worked in many different equestrian disciplines. ‘I worked at a prestigious showjumping yard abroad while competing in Budapest (Cseszterlint Stable) and had the opportunity to work with Olympic eventer, Jonty Evans for a summer.’ Reka is a conscientious rider, with a thirst for knowledge on and off a horse. ‘All these yards have taught me valuable things and skills that I utilise and remember every day. Additionally, I have had a lot of experience with Hartpury Therapy Centre (run by Kathryn Nankervis), gaining valuable knowledge and experience with rehabilitation and performance analysis, including being trained in managing horses on water treadmills as well as high speed treadmills.’

Reka, 22, grew up in Worcestershire and being half Hungarian, also spent a lot of time in Hungary. She now lives in Evesham and has two family dogs; a border collie Charlie and Rufus, a Cockerpoo.

Did you have a horsey childhood? Surprisingly no. I only sat on a horse for the first time when I was nine. My earlier childhood consisted of swimming for Evesham Swimming Club at a fairly decent level, helping the team get to Nationals. After I stopped swimming, I rode more regularly and, around fourteen-years-old, I started helping at my local riding school.

What made you initially think about working in the racing industry? Through a friend, Eliza House who used to work at O’Neill Racing, who recommended I try it! I had seen photos of the equine swimming pool at Jackdaws Castle and thought it would be a great addition to all my rehabilitation knowledge (water treadmills, high speed treadmills and other modalities like a Zamar ice machine).

After one morning, I got the racing bug! After a couple months of swimming the horses, I asked to ride. I’d never had any experience or previous interest in racing, as I never had any knowledge to what it entailed. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking horseracing is bad, abusive to horses and jockeys are crazy, but coming to work here allowed me to learn otherwise. Pretty quickly, I saw the care, effort and love behind the scenes in racing, and how the horses flourish under such care and dedication.

What did you initially learn about riding racehorses? Originally, I was just supposed to ride one horse in the morning and then swim for a couple hours, followed by helping on the yard. After a few rides on Let Me Go Boys, I realised how different a style racing riding was compared to a more traditional showjumping/eventing/dressage style.

After a rather embarrassing video of me being bolted with up the gallops, the ‘performance analysist’ in me wanted to learn to ride in a proper racing style and have the strength to properly hold a racehorse! Pulling and politely ‘half halting’ doesn’t always do the trick, using your seat and legs and body to work with the horse tends to lead to more promising results. Learning this style has helped me with all other aspects/disciplines of riding and horse handling – if you can handle a racehorse, you can handle just about anything else.

Favourite rides at O’Neill Racing: My first honourable mention is MacMolly – the first racehorse who let me experiment with my riding and helped me understand the correct technique for racing. Recently I’ve enjoyed riding Giant’s Way, Mr Rafiki, Just Adair and So Proud. I found these horses challenging to begin with, but all have ultimately helped me gain confidence and skill.

Best aspect to riding out at O’Neill Racing: The confidence gained with working and riding with such a team. Yard members, riders, horses and owners have all given a wonderful experience. The most valuable part for me was gaining the confidence in myself in such a busy environment.

Worst aspect to riding out at O’Neill Racing: The tough nature can be a little tricky to handle sometimes. You fall off, get back up and crack on. It’s been positive in some ways to teach resilience and perseverance, but on tough days, it can be hard. Not to mention the weather! There are absolutely no fair-weather riders in racing!

Other jobs in racing: One of my favourite jobs to date is being fortunate enough to work with the horses owned by the Paddy Brennan Racing Syndicate. I help with the horses when they are at their home yard with training, schooling and hacking. Being a top ex-jockey, Paddy Brennan has helped my riding and knowledge of racehorses so much! The opportunity to school a high-grade racehorse over hurdles was incredibly fun… and what a rewarding job when these horses are succeeding on the track too.

How do you juggle studies and working in racing? For me, horses always win so I give myself firm deadlines to make sure I excel in academic settings. But studying what I love plays a huge part to how easy that is to accommodate. Everything I learn can be applied directly to what I do outdoors. Tricky horse? I refer to my knowledge of fitness training and different exercises. Injured horse? Refer to my veterinary modules and wound management and dissection classes. Tricky day? Distract myself with anatomy quizzing! I have often gone up the gallops reciting the spinal structure of the horse!

Do your studies and racing ever crossover? All the time. I try to relate them as much as possible to keep my knowledge sharp. With horses, I find everything correlates in some way.

How well does a job in racing fit in with studying? Surprisingly well actually! If you can manage an early morning start, it means I have all the afternoon to myself to study, work my own horse, focus on other commitments or relax when needed.

Advice for people thinking of studying and working in racing: It’s a tough industry, but set your goals, keep a set of codes and morals for YOU to run by. Be yourself with it and always be open to learn, ask questions and communicate. And don’t be too hard on yourself!

Hopes and dreams for the future in academia: I’d love to publish my own paper. I have positive hopes for my dissertation in researching and testing something that hasn’t been tested before. I strive to make a positive difference in the equine industry, be that in welfare, rider knowledge, horse knowledge etc. Additionally, I would love to continue down the veterinary pathway with horses.

Hopes and dreams for the future out of academia: I would love to have my own yard one day – working on so many yards had let me figure out exactly what I would like and not like on a yard. It’s a tricky point in life, trying to figure out exactly what career path to choose. But certainly horses, possibly veterinary. I love the idea of retraining racehorses and helping rehabilitate those that have had a tough career. I’d love to keep up riding competitively too.

In my spare time I also take pleasure in reading and writing books, something I would love to continue and eventually publish in the future.

Favourite food: I really enjoy a lot of traditional Hungarian meals. 

Favourite drink: I love tea and drink a lot of different herbal teas, green teas and black teas! But I also enjoy a classic lemonade or elderflower cordial.

Favourite snack: A cinnamon swirl.

Favourite holiday destination: Budapest is somewhere I always enjoy! Greece is also a favourite.

Favourite book: Where do I begin? Last year I read over 170 books so it’s hard to choose a favourite. Top four? Come Sundown by Nora Roberts. The Martian by Andy Weir. Fourth Wing Series by Rebecca Yarros and Robin Hobb’s The Farseer Trilogy.

Favourite film and TV program: The Martian and You’ve Got Mail are my go-to comfort films! My absolute binge-worthy series is Off Campus.

Favourite music: I’m a big fan of music legends such as Michael Jackson, Elton John, George Michael, Madonna and Queen. Plus, strangely for my age, I enjoy classical music too, like Patrick Doyle, John Williams and Ramin Djawadi.

Ideal day off: A long hack on my horse with lots of galloping over fields and jumping! Then, reading and time with family and friends.  

Ideal celebrity date: Wouldn’t you like to know?! Belmont Cameli.

Other hobbies/interests: Writing and reading books. Swimming.