October 28, 1999. Copyright, 1999, Graphic News. All rights 
reserved

Dave Bartle Ð head groom who flies with racehorses
By Midge Todhunter

LONDON, October 28, Graphic News- As head groom for one of the 
world's busiest horse air-transporter companies Ð Newmarket-based 
Curragh Bloodstock Shipping Agents Ð Dave Bartle has 35 years 
experience of flying racehorses around the globe.
61-year-old Dave has overseen the transportation of some of the 
world's finest equine superstars to all the major international 
races Ð including Lammtarra to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 
in Paris, Sheikh Albadou to win the Breeder's Cup Sprint in the 
U.S., and Singspiel to win the Japan Cup in Tokyo.
Thoughts of a nervy racehorse combined with a turbulent flight 
seem to have all the ingredients of a recipe for disaster, but 
Dave, who has spent a lifetime working with horses, says they 
almost always travel well, and are invariably better passengers 
than their accompanying humans.
'At take-off and landing we stand with the horses,' says Dave, 
'but, to be honest, the actual flight is a better ride for the 
horses than they get on a normal trip by road.'
'There's no sudden braking Ð no roundabouts Ð and no bikes 
getting in the way!' explains Dave, who can get through a 10 year 
passport in two years and reckons he's read just about every 
paperback printed.
Pilots, too, play their part by avoiding difficult weather 
conditions wherever possible. Some flights like 747's are 
combined passenger and horse-freight Ð others are freight only.
On a typical week Dave may travel to Kentucky, then on to Dubai, 
back to England, over to Ireland, and perhaps another trip to 
Dubai before Friday. In one weekend, Curragh Bloodstock will have 
30 grooms attending to well over 100 horses being flown to the 
U.S. Dubai, France and Ireland.
Three years ago Dave Bartle and five of his associates were 
honoured by the International Racing Bureau at The Derby awards Ð 
racingÕs top recognition event held in Piccadilly, London Ð for 
their outstanding contributions to global sport.
'It's really all about good old-fashioned horsemanship, talk to 
them, keep them calm Ð and giving them confidence is what's going 
on. And remembering the horseman's code: the only predictable 
thing about horses Ð is their unpredictability.'

Source: Curragh Bloodstock Shipping Agents