Depth of experience, top-rate facilities, and a willingness to customize training regimens to suit its clients makes Webster Training Center one of the country’s premier breaking and training facilities. Caroline and Rob Webster have been running the 70-acre Reddick, Fla., training center for the past eight years but their association with the land has a longer history. Caroline Webster first stepped onto the property 25 years ago when it was Doug Henderson’s Marablue Farm. She had just gone out on her own as a private trainer and was working for someone who had leased the farm. “I love it so much here, I came back and bought the training center part of the property”.
Rob Webster
Rob Webster was born in Ontario, Canada. He started working with race horses at Woodbine Race Course at the age of 14,and has never looked back! Rob learned everything he could from the ground up, hot walker, stall mucker, groom and exercise rider. He then rode races for 2-3 seasons before resuming his life as an exercise rider and assistant trainer to several Canadian based trainers Sam McComb, Noel Hickey,and the late Don Campbell.
Rob’s final job before moving to Florida was for the Hall of Fame trainer Jim Day,as a traveling assistant with such horses as Imperial Choice,Regal Remark etc.
He continued to work for Sampson Farm in Florida and also the great horseman John Nerud at Tartan farms.
In the late 1980’s Rob managed Valley View Farm for Buzz and Jean Burke, helping to foal and raise the great race mare Turnbackthealarm. He learned valuable skills about the 2 yr .old sales from an outstanding horseman.
When Rob and Caroline went out on their own,they trained for several different individuals from the Middle East,including Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan of Abu Dhabi,and Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar. Their duties included breeding the mares in Florida, raising the foals,breaking the young horses,quarantine,and flying with the horses to France and the Middle East.
Rob and Caroline also spent 5 wonderful seasons training at fair hill training center in Maryland, racing at Delaware, Atlantic City, Philadelphia and more.
Rob brings to his business a wealth of experience and knowledge,that he applies to every day life on their farm.
Caroline Webster
Caroline Webster was born in Northern Virginia and grew up riding ponies,show hunters,and event horses.
While living in Middleburg,she learned the craft of galloping race horses at the Middleburg Training Center,and surrounding farms including the beautiful Hickory Tree Stable.
Her most intensive training came under the tutelage of Olympic event rider Torrance Watkins. Torrance taught her importance to detail from checking legs, injuries,bandaging etc. that she still applies to every day life on her own farm.
Caroline decided to move to Ocala, Florida to learn the craft of 2 yr. old sales from the late Tom Lavery and his wife Betty.she learned how to break horses from the gate, farm management skills and more staying on as farm manager for a number of years. After meeting husband rob she spent several years as an assistant to trainer Noel Hickey,traveling to Woodbine Race Course for the summer race meet.
Caroline then took a private training job for an owner that leased the old Marablue Farm in Reddick. They loved the farm and racetrack so much that when it came up for sale 20 years later,they bought it and have settled down to raise and break young horses in a quiet beautiful setting.
Caroline believes that all young horses should be broken with a future after racing in mind,and tries to place as many graduates as possible in forever homes when their racing career has ended.