A farrier by trade, Maxim Van Lierde has grown up with horses and is now trying his hand at training. Learn a little more about the up and coming trainer... 

What is your earliest racing memory?

Spending time with family friends who lived at John Wheelers racing stable. I still have one of the horseshoes I found in a paddock.

How did you become involved with jumps racing?

I was first introduced to jumps racing when I worked for Paul and Carol Nelson at Airhill. The addiction started there.

What is your proudest career moment to date?

Running second and third behind Defibrillate in a race at Taupo with two of our older horses before he went on to perform so well in Australia.

Is there one horse that has a particularly special place in your heart?

Our Steeplechaser ‘She Said Yes’. As you might guess, he got his name after my now wife, Sam rode him to the back of her parents’ farm when I proposed to her.

What jumps race would you love to win?

I think the pinnacle of jumps racing in New Zealand is The Great Northern Steeplechase. But right now, our focus is on training our first winner.

What horse from your stable should we be keeping an eye out for this jumps season?

Leica Warrior, a real character in the stable. I think he will make a handy chaser over the next couple of seasons.

If you weren’t in racing, what would you be doing?

Shoeing a lot more horses than I currently do.

What advice would you give someone looking to enter the racing industry?

Enjoy the ride, it’s a wonderful industry to be a part of. If you're not sure about something, ask someone.

Why do you love jumps racing?

I love the horses. You spend a lot of time preparing them for jumping careers and I get a real thrill teaching them to jump and then watching them race.