OUR VISION

Our commitment is simple: Laying the groundwork for success, with correct care and proven systems for long term results.

About KB PRE-TRAINING AND SPELLING

From being placed on a horse before I could even crawl to joining the local pony club, horses have always been a significant part of my life. I competed in pony club events, rodeos, eventing, and shows at various levels. As a young girl on the farm, my mother often found me down in the yards, breaking in calves for riding and jumping. I also trained Shetland ponies for cart pulling, so it’s safe to say that horses have been in my blood from a very young age.

I landed a job with a stock horse show home where I had the privilege of competing on first-class stock horses for the Jones family. This experience allowed me to participate in many successful top-level shows. Brett Jones, who was also a racehorse trainer, introduced me to riding some horses for track work, where my passion for racing began to flourish.

At 15, I decided to pursue a full-time career in the racing industry. I left the South Coast and worked under several successful trainers. After a few years, I became a freelance rider on the Sunshine Coast, working for various trainers. Life took me out west in NSW, and at 22 pursued my trainer's license, hobby-training a few country bush horses.

My lifelong passion has led me to where I am now: running my own pre-training and spelling facility in the Hunter Valley. Built from the ground up, it’s a place where I’ve been fortunate to earn the trust of both metro and provincial trainers. I’ve worked with horses of the highest calibre, including Group One winners Sejardan and Fireburn, and I continue to grow strong partnerships with trainers and syndicators who share my passion.

“Laying the groundwork for success, with correct care and proven systems for long term results”.

At the heart of it all, I believe every horse deserves patience, respect, and the best possible foundation. Your results and success are a true reflection of the commitment and quality of work I dedicate to each horse.

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SERVICES AND FACILITIES

Nestled in the quiet surrounds of the Hunter Valley, our state-of-the-art facility has been purpose-built to provide the best start and ongoing care for your horses. 

We offer spacious spelling paddocks, professional pre-training services, and tailored programs for early education and breaking in. 

With 14-day yards featuring safe bounce-back fencing, we can pre-train from both boxes or yards to suit individual needs. 

Kelly, a licensed trainer, also has full access to Muswellbrook Racecourse — a fantastic educational tool for young horses before their first preparations. 

We work closely with trainers throughout the pre-training process to ensure a seamless handover and also provide reliable...

"We’ve been working with Kelly Barber for a while now, and the difference she makes to our horses is genuinely impressive. The time and effort she’s put into building up her farm and facilities really shows - it’s a top-class setup.

Between the use of Muswellbrook Racecourse and her brand-new facilities on the farm, she offers everything a horse needs to remain in great shape. You can tell how much experience she has, the horses are always well educated, in good condition and ready to go when they leave her, which gives our trainers every chance to get the best out of them on race day.

Kelly’s become a really important part of our team, and we couldn’t recommend her highly enough."

- Group One Thoroughbreds -

“Adrian and I are always very impressed by the horses that arrive in our care from Kelly Barber. They’re carrying optimal condition with a nice shine to their coats, and it’s clear to see they’ve been very well cared for. It makes our job much easier when the horses arrive in such good shape.”

- Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott -

"The King's Legacy Filly has arrived in great order from Kelly Barber. First day on the track and she's out here like a pro."

- Kristen Buchanan -

"Marine's Girls in great condition, Kelly's done a great job during pre-training"

- Robert Agnew -

I can strongly recommend Kelly Barber for spelling, breaking and pre-training.

We have had many horses and many winners go through the process at Kelly’s including Golden Slipper winner Fireburn and Queensland Guineas winner Kintyre.

The horses come back into training in great order and ready to launch into their preparations.

Kelly is also very good with her time if owners wanted to visit the farm to see their horses.

We can enthusiastically recommend her for spelling, pre-training and breaking-in.

Louis Mihalyka

January 2026

- Laurel Oak Bloodstock -

Kelly Barber has pre-trained racehorses for a number of years and consistently presents horses in top-notch condition. She is a great communicator, reliable, and highly knowledgeable, ensuring horses are well-prepared and progressing correctly at every stage. Kelly’s attention to detail and commitment to horse welfare make her a pleasure to work with.

- Brad Widdup Racing -