Lance Noble - Horse Trainer

Lance Noble says his profession is more than just a career, it’s a way of life.

Challenging, rewarding and demanding are other words he uses to describe his life as a horse trainer, based in the highly competitive bloodstock centre of Matamata.

Apart from a brief period on leaving high school when he decided local council parks and reserves work in suburban Wellington was not for him, he has spent his working life in the racing industry. As the nephew of former successful jockey and Melbourne Cup-winning trainer John Carter, Lance figured that the racing game might prove attractive, so he went about finding a way in.

“I wanted to move north where the horses were, so I wrote a letter to the person in the racing industry who I admired most – Patrick Hogan – asking for some advice,” he recalls. “He referred me to Mary-Lynne Ryan, who was in charge of what was known at the time as the Waikato Cadet Scheme, and it went from there.”

That’s how, more than 20 years ago, Lance gained the perfect start to his fledgling career by gaining a job with renowned trainer and mentor Jim Gibbs. The 1980s saw a string of high class gallopers as well as horse-people moulded by Gibbs. His racing string included Tidal Light, Field Dancer, Mickey’s Town and Regal City, while jockey Michael Coleman and budding trainer Roger James were other examples of the Gibbs touch.

“It was a fantastic start being involved with such a hugely successful stable,” says Lance. “Working with so many good gallopers was great, plus I got to travel around the country and then to Australia and I also met people from all walks of life.”

That taste of overseas travel led to Lance doing stints in Asia and then on to Europe, followed by his return to New Zealand when accompanying high profile European galloper Vialli to be trained by the O’Sullivans at Matamata.

“I’ve learnt a lot along the way, especially the way that the love of the horse is the common denominator and allows people from all walks of life to stand alongside each other,” he says.

In more recent years since establishing his own stable Lance has also realised the level of dedication required to succeed. “You have to be committed, there’s no other way you can expect to achieve your goals. That’s a challenge in itself, and then there’s the realisation that working with livestock things can go wrong, just like that.

“I suppose that’s why it can be so hugely rewarding when things do go right and you come away with a big result.” Lance feels fortunate to have the support of his wife Leigh as well as the backing of his clients, the people who own the horses in his stable.

“Without them behind me I wouldn’t be able to do it. Leigh is a tremendous help, what with all the paperwork that running this sort of an operation entails, and supportive clients are an absolute necessity.

“It’s a way of life that has its moments, but it’s a choice you make and the rest is up to you. Who knows what the future holds, but it is very encouraging for people like us that the government has realised we are an important industry and has finally done something concrete with its taxation review.”