Fresh from a long road back after his fall in France, Callum Shepherd talks candidly to former jockey turned journalist, Georgia Cox, about starting again in a sport that never stops.
How have you been since starting riding again?
“It’s been good. You get back into it pretty quickly. Everything I’ve done at the Peter O’Sullevan House helps keep up a baseline, all‑round fitness. The support they provide is invaluable. I’ve missed six months over the past year and a half with two separate injuries; without them, in every respect, I would have really struggled.”
How important has Peter O’Sullevan House been to your recovery?
“Massive. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them. Before these injuries, when I was racing every day, it wouldn’t have been part of my routine to come in that often. I’m someone who really needs the direction and guidance this place offers — I just wouldn’t know where to start on my own.
It’s so well catered for from every angle, and the support is invaluable. The expertise, targeted knowledge, and understanding they have are so important. With all these injuries, they’ve seen it all before, so they know how to get you back better than anyone else — probably in the world. And at a time when you’re feeling particularly low, it gives you real confidence to have people like that around you”.
The facilities look top‑class as well — have the hydro pool and ice bath been key to your recovery?
“I didn’t brave the full ice bath, but I’ve put my foot in it — and the hydro pool is fantastic; I was in there this morning. Even after coming back from injury, I’ve continued to use it as much as possible. Everyone has been so supportive, which is great. There’s a real sense of community.
I definitely come in more regularly now, especially if I’m racing in the evening or on the occasional day off. I always make sure I come in, even if it’s just for physio. What I’ve learned is that you always feel better for coming in.
My focus now is on doing everything possible to stay in the best shape and avoid injury; prevention is better than cure, and being here gives you the best chance”.
Can you put into words the athlete’s mentality — that ‘I don’t have time to be injured’ mindset, and the resilience it takes to deal with setbacks?
“It’s difficult to put into words. Being in racing, it’s a lifestyle. So of course it means a lot to me. Not being able to fulfil your primary role as a person is deeply frustrating. You work your whole career to try to win Group Ones. I’ve been lucky to win a lot of good races, but to miss that opportunity was hard to take, especially being for George and Victorious.
Knowing those horses were there for me when I came back was something I really had to cling to. And when you come back, you really do appreciate what you do, how much you love it, and what it means to you. When you’re young and keen, you want everything now; you never plan for injury or think about what happens then. We aren’t programmed to stay still — it’s just not in our nature. Being so narrow‑mindedly focused on racing is normal; watching it carry on from the side-lines is anything but. Mentally and physically, this one was hard. It was one of those where I just couldn’t believe it was going to take the full three months I was told. I couldn’t walk for two months.
Ultimately, it’s where the bone sits — it bears the whole weight of your body — so it wasn’t something I could fast‑track. Getting from that to riding again was demanding, and trying to work back to full fitness while being in pain and discomfort was pretty taxing. But now it feels great. I feel like I’m riding very well. Even that in itself is a great place to be”. |