At Nottingham Farm, training isn't about breaking spirits - it's about building partnerships and connection that bring out the very best in both horse and rider.
A Different Approach
Nottingham Farm isn't just a training facility - it's a philosophy brought to life. Set on 40 beautiful acres in Ballarat and co-owned with her brother Stevie, this is where Michelle applies everything she learned over two decades of racing at the highest level.
The approach is deliberately intimate. Michelle works with only 15 horses at any one time, ensuring each receives the individual care, attention, and understanding they need to reach their full potential.
This is New Zealand-style training at its finest—horses living in day yards and boxes, breathing clean country air, and experiencing the tranquility that allows them to absorb their training program fully.
Most importantly, Michelle rides every horse in work herself. This isn't delegation—it's connection. She needs to feel where each horse is at, what they're capable of, and what they need to improve. That hands-on knowledge is what separates good training from transformative training.
A Different Approach
Nottingham Farm isn't just a training facility - it's a philosophy brought to life. Set on 40 beautiful acres in Ballarat and co-owned with her brother Stevie, this is where Michelle applies everything she learned over two decades of racing at the highest level.
The approach is deliberately intimate. Michelle works with only 15 horses at any one time, ensuring each receives the individual care, attention, and understanding they need to reach their full potential.
This is New Zealand-style training at its finest—horses living in day yards and boxes, breathing clean country air, and experiencing the tranquility that allows them to absorb their training program fully.
Most importantly, Michelle rides every horse in work herself. This isn't delegation—it's connection. She needs to feel where each horse is at, what they're capable of, and what they need to improve. That hands-on knowledge is what separates good training from transformative training.
Decades of Wisdom
Michelle's transition from champion jockey to trainer was always part of her long-term vision. It wasn't a backup plan - it was the natural evolution of a career spent learning from the best in the business.
Throughout her riding career, Michelle worked with legendary stables including Weir Racing, Moody Racing, and Bart Cummings, absorbing knowledge across Australia and New Zealand. She studied not just their techniques, but their philosophies - understanding that great training is as much art as science.
At Nottingham Farm, that wisdom is put into practice every single day. Michelle knows that placement is pivotal - finding the right races at the right time for each horse's development. She understands that some horses need encouragement while others need boundaries. She recognises when to push and when to be patient.
This is training at the Group-level, focused exclusively on bringing out championship potential in horses who are ready for it.
