“Transparency, honesty, integrity and communication are important to succeed in this industry”, said Dean Kannemeyer  one of South Africa’s top racehorse trainers.

Cape Town Noir, trained by Dean was one of the top 16 contenders in last Saturday’s grade 1, R3.5mn race at the Vodacom Durban July. Although his team did not claim the coveted title, it is a great honour to be invited to race against the best horses.

The 53-year-old divorced father of one has been around horses all of his life. He grew up watching his father Peter Kannemeyer at the stables, then later joined his dad as an apprentice before finally taking over the reins in 1999.

Dean broke into the industry on his debut year as a trainer with a Grade 1 Gold Cup win. In order to find a winning horse, it needs to be watched during training. Noting the horse's action is important as well as feedback from a senior jockey because he can feel how well the horse moves.

“Being a trainer is like being a coach of a team, It’s  rewarding but also stressful and it's a different way of life, where you have to work 7 days a week but you have to take the good with the bad because a cowboy never cries,” said Kannemeyer.

Being a horse trainer is a tough industry to crack in South Africa with several factors inhibiting growth. “Taking care of horses and training them is not cheap and staff needs to be paid. A trainer’s income is disposable. Both the trainer and the jockey get a 10% set rate. If a racehorse wins, a further payment is negotiated between the owner and the trainer.”

Another issue that poses an obstacle to the industry is the African horse sickness. The treat of this sickness allows border authorities to detain a horse for up to 5 months until the proper tests and checks have been performed and the horse is cleared. This lengthy process makes it difficult for trainers to compete internationally. “I haven’t competed overseas yet but I hope to do so one day”

Deans passion for thorough bred horses and the industry keeps him grounded in his chosen career path in spite of the challenges. He does get assistance from bloodstock agent Jehan Malherbe from Form Bloodstock as well as Dr John Mcveigh.

“Before bidding for a filly at an auction, the bloodstock agent and veterinary surgeon analyse the pedigree of the horse and if everything checks out we bid at the auction”

What the industry lacks is good investment, “As a trainer I try to market myself but what the industry really needs is business men and women to invest in horses for the stable. We need people to come to us with whatever budget they have and allow us to help them find a horse”

Dean won the July in 2003 with Dynasty and Eyeofthetiger in 2006. They say third time is the charm, so keep your eyes open in next year’s Vodacom Durban July for a Kannemeyer horse.