Nikki Sweeney on her life-changing new photography skills

It is really something to think not only have I learnt a new skill that with hard graft and some determination could turn into potential for a career change, but that I am also an award winner in this new venture!

My what if moment

Sometimes throughout my career I’d get a little concerned… what if I can’t ride any more, or even worse what if I don’t want to ride anymore? I’ve seen it happen to some great riders, loving it one minute, terrified the next! Surely that’ll never happen to me, but what if it does?

I had seen the advert from the National Association of Racing Staff (NARS) on Facebook advertising the equine photography course and it felt like a lightbulb moment. This had me written all over it. I’m very creative and I get horses, and I understand the people around them – the connection, the life they devote, all for the love of horses. The chance to capture that in a photograph… what a privilege!

The course began and it was fast paced with three months’ worth of learning being condensed into four classroom sessions, four zoom meetings and four shoot locations. It was a complete whirlwind, that I’ll be honest I struggled with at first. It had been so long since I had to learn something new and I doubted myself massively, but I’ve always been super determined (my husband would say stubborn) and if you tell me I can’t do something I’ll go ahead and make sure I do it twice!

Travelling the world and producing winners

I’m 41 and my journey to this point had been an involvement in horseracing since I was 16 years old. My first job was working for Bill Smith and gave me a great education. He was a former jump jockey for the late Queen Mother and a proper horseman; he had Arabian horses in training for HH Sheikh Mohammed. I visited many countries during that employment: France, Spain, America, Australia and the Middle East learning so much along the way

Seven years on and I had the desire to take a career change and had always been a fan of National Hunt racing. I took a job closer to home in Dorset working for Bob Buckler. I had the best few years in such a close-knit team, and we laughed our way through every day and the family remain my close friends. I led up plenty of winners and even met my husband Nathan while he was conditional jockey for the yard. During the summer I’d learn more about the Flat racing by riding out for Jo Crowley, another awesome place to pick up knowledge.

Then followed eight years of running a business in partnership with Nathan, breaking in and pre training horses and due to the good reputation made in my early career we worked with plenty of Arabian horses. The racing industry embraced me again when I went to Alan King’s; I loved everything about that short chapter of my life – the horses, the team and the Boss, and riding out at the legendary Barbury Castle gallops everyday was priceless!

Alongside work, I’ve always competed in endurance racing. I’ve ridden over 15,000km successfully, won lots of races and represented Great Britain in many international events and even been crowned  British champion in a 160km race.

Dorset called us back home again and I now have a wonderful job riding out a mix of jump and Flat horses for Whitcombe-based trainer Kieran Burke. He has an exciting team of horses, great people and a supportive boss who has agreed to let me take time off to continue the photography when needed.

The award-winning photo

I took the winning photograph of the year at Newmarket races. It captured two amazing legendary jockeys Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori, who are two completely different characters united by our sport, even the silk colours complemented each other.

I knew what I wanted to create but needed some luck; I was praying no one would stand in front of the wall or no trainer would hurry past the camera. A little bit of pressure made me perform better and from then on, I was off and running.

The awards dinner was an amazing night, and the ten of us on the course were so well looked after with our chosen prints on wonderful canvases and on display. We were well treated at The Jockey Club Rooms and the course had brought us together, including course meals out and group chats.

I was so chuffed and proud of my ‘complete equine photography course’ certificate supplied by the Eastern education group that I was buzzing a little at how hard I’d tried and the realisation that I’d done it.  To be announced as the 2025 winner of photograph of the year definitely made me squeak and had me out of my seat.

Focussing on a new adventure

My winning photograph is displayed in Newmarket’s prestigious National Horseracing Museum, which is very cool. I’ve covered an event photographing a local pleasure ride; I’ve staged a winners’ shoot for owners of the lovely ‘Soul Icon’ on return from his Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase win. I captured some moments of love between stable staff and the horses (we need more of this to be shared with a wider audience) and I plan to do some individual portrait sessions for the local eventing yard. The learning doesn’t stop as I want to find tuition to help me improve my computer skills, then get a website up together with all social media links. The goal is to find a way of combining my knowledge of racing and how the sport works with my new skills behind a lens.

The competition’s first prize of a Canon camera has been put to good use immediately and I’ll be forever thankful to NARS for this opportunity. I would encourage everyone with a bit of creative passion to give it a go. I’ve certainly grabbed hold of the bit and am running away with it! After years of giving to racing, racing has given back to me through this course… thank you!

Visit the NARS website to find out more about courses.