The idyllic scene above showing the freshness and vitality of a country polo match is by Anna Pugh, one of England's leading artists, colourists and visual storytellers, Anna’s original painting, ‘Whose Ball Anyway?’ until recently was stabled in a racing yard in Suffolk, England, alongside thoroughbred equine athletes. So how come its new home is in the city of Orange in the central Tablelands of NSW?
Meet Ilka Gansera-Leveque, racehorse trainer, equine vet and most recently, curator of the premier Art and Horseracing Gallery’s collection of ‘art that makes you feel good’.
Ilka is the only UK-based female racehorse trainer who is also a qualified vet. Throughout her life her passion has been horses and for the last seven years she has worked in partnership with her husband, Stéphane, ably assisted by their teenaged daughter Eléa, building their training business, in Newmarket, where modern, organised horseracing was instigated by King Charles II in 1666.
Over to Ilka: “What we do is a vocation and we live and breathe horseracing. Our home is above our yard, Saint Wendred’s and we work a 16-hour day, seven days a week.
“There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach here. I’m dedicated to the wellbeing of the horses, ensuring each is cared for and trained as an individual. Understanding our horses’ personalities and supporting their development in every way possible are key to getting the best performance. It’s always the horse that dictates the next step and every step thereafter.”
Born in Germany, Ilka and her family moved home every three years as her dad, a German Airforce fighter pilot, was stationed at various bases in Germany and America. Ilka inherited her mum’s love of horses and started riding as soon as possible. Her dream of owning a horse came true at 13, when she was given an Arabian called Badur.
As ilka recalls fondly, “I devoted every free second to looking after Badur and riding.
I grew up knowing I wanted to be a jockey and I left school early, when at 16 I was offered a three-year jockey apprenticeship at champion racehorse trainer, Bruno Schütz’s stables, in Cologne. Then, it was unusual for girls to work in racing and while my school disapproved, my parents let me follow my dreams.
In the early nineties, I spotted the ‘Horse Whisperer’ Monty Roberts, then touring Germany, at a racecourse. I introduced myself and said I’d like to work for him. Realising I’m bilingual, Monty’s interest was piqued and we made a deal: if I could teach him to speak German, he’d teach me everything he knew about horses. We shook on it!
It was such a great opportunity and Monty took me on as an apprentice in California. During five years in America, my ambition evolved from being a jockey to training and veterinary medicine and an unbelievable tragedy steered my path. I was on Long Island in 9/11/01 when the Twin Towers were destroyed and it shook me into the firm decision to become an equine vet.
In 2003, I started a degree in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Hanover and while on a placement at Dubai’s Equine Hospital, I met French rider, Stéphane Lévêque. Stéphane was working with Sheikh Mohammed’s global racing team, Godolphin, spending six months in Dubai and six months in Newmarket. We became close in Dubai and continued a long-distance relationship while I studied in Germany.
I qualified as a vet in 2009, moved to Newmarket and Stéphane and I married. In July 2010, our daughter Eléa was born. Before Eléa was one, I started a 12-month veterinary internship at the world-renowned Rossdales Equine Hospital in Newmarket. Stéphane continued to ride out for Godolphin and looked after Elea while I was at work.
In 2011, Stéphane had a riding accident and nearly died. The experience made us reflect and realise we had to do what we really wanted and that was to train our own horses. Stéphane had completed the British Trainer’s course in 2009 and when I qualified in 2012, we started to build a business from scratch.
Beginning with one horse in a rented stable, we progressed to buying Saint Wendred’s racing yard in 2015, with 32 boxes and the bonus of living quarters above the stables.
Fast forward to now and IGL Racing is a thriving family business, with 15 horses in training, ridden out daily by Stephan, Ilka and daughter Eléa who has the enviable treat of galloping the finest thoroughbreds before her school day starts. As well as the horses, Ilka manages two racing syndicates, a monthly podcast and now, a collection of beautiful fine art.
Based in the tranquil setting of St. Wendred’s, Ilka’s Art and Horseracing Gallery showcases art inspired by nature and hard work, housed in converted stables alongside her thoroughbred athletes. Launched in spring 2023, initially to offer a unique experience for racehorse owners visiting the yard, the collection has already grown to over 500 pieces of original art and sculpture by national and international artists. The gallery’s progress has been impressive and as Ilka explains, “Integrating art within our working yard brings to life all that's beautiful about the horses we’re lucky enough to nurture and live with and the nature that surrounds us. Our artists love the concept of their work being shown in a stable and visitors to the yard are surprised and delighted by what’s revealed when we open St. Wendred’s special stable doors. Our eclectic range includes horses, dogs, wild fauna, land and seascapes, racing, cycling, rowing, & rugby.”
Stable stars include New York painter Diana Cook, renowned for her quintessentially English scenes, English folk artist Anna Pugh, who is in her mid-80s with failing eyesight, making her pieces exceedingly rare, textile designer Elizabeth Castell who features in the V&A and Ukrainian street photographer Jean Kosse, whose black and white images capture the extraordinary in ordinary moments.
So that’s how Anna Pugh’s ‘Whose Ball Anyway’ and ‘Love You Too’, along with Marco Ramassa's painting (pictured below) came to be in the Tablelands of NSW.
The gallery is open to visitors seven days a week from 10 until 6 and of course, all the art is available to view and buy online. Visit www.artandhorseracing.com to see the full range of art available.
For full information about Ilka’s unique approach to training, becoming the owner of an equine athlete, syndicates and much more visit: www.gansera-leveque.com.
Finally, check out Ilka’s podcast: Vantage Point Racing Club Podcast
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