Racing runs in the family
Experience.
Continuity. Horsemanship.
Kerry comes from a family with a long and deeply rooted history in National Hunt racing.
Bell House has been at the centre of the Lee family's racing life for decades. Kerry grew up surrounded by horses, racing and the day-to-day demands of a successful training yard, gaining first-hand experience long before taking over the licence herself.
Kerry's father, Richard Lee, began training point-to-pointers from Bell House before going on to train under Rules from 1977. He built a highly respected career from the yard and trained numerous winners, including two Welsh Grand National winners.
Richard was widely regarded not only as a successful trainer but also for his exceptional horsemanship. A qualified farrier, he developed a particular reputation for helping horses with blood vessel problems and leg injuries, and his judgement with difficult or compromised horses was highly valued throughout the industry.
Today, Richard and Kerry's mother, Carol, remain very much part of life at Bell House. Their experience, knowledge and enthusiasm for racing continue to play an important role in the yard.
Richard's passion for going racing is as strong as ever, and anyone following Kerry's runners is highly likely to see him at the racecourse, still taking a keen interest in the horses and the sport he has devoted much of his life to.
Kerry took over the training licence in 2015 and has since established herself as a successful independent National Hunt trainer in her own right, producing winners from everyday races through to the highest levels of the sport.
The Lee family approach has always centred on understanding the individual horse.
Understanding the horse.
Some horses thrive on plenty of work, while others need patience, variety or careful management. Training programmes are adapted according to fitness, temperament, soundness and racing plans rather than applying the same routine to every horse.
Race placement is equally important. Choosing the right track, distance, ground and level of competition can make a significant difference to a horse's confidence, progression and overall career.
That combination of experience, continuity and individual attention remains at the heart of Bell House today.
Bell House
Bell House provides a private and varied training environment in the Herefordshire countryside.
- 01A private six-furlong all-weather gallop
- 02Grass gallops
- 03All-weather hurdle and chase schooling facilities
- 04Flatwork and schooling areas
- 05Turnout
- 06Extensive forestry and hacking
Keeping the yard relatively small allows Kerry and her team to know each horse extremely well and to notice even subtle changes in behaviour, movement, appetite or attitude.
Owners are warmly welcomed at Bell House and are encouraged to visit, watch their horses train and discuss plans directly with Kerry.
That individual approach continues when a horse's racing career comes to an end. Where possible, horses are helped into suitable homes and second careers when racing is no longer right for them.