Leading Bull has a love for horses

Josh Krispyn is known as one of the hardest men in the South West Football League.

Yet the Harvey Bulls midfielder admits he has to have a softer touch when it comes to his other sport – thoroughbred racing.

The 32-year-old has been involved in the industry since he was 21 and has worked his way up the ranks to now having a license and three horses in work out of a stable in Capel.

“A mate gave me an opportunity as a stablehand and I have worked my way up from there,” he said.

“As a young fella I went to the track a few times with a mate and I fell in love with the horses.

“I like the horses and like doing form. So it just sort of worked its way from there.”

Krispyn said all his hard work was starting to pay off after years of paying his dues under other trainers.

“I went over to Melbourne for about two-and-a-half years where I worked with Lloyd Williams,” he said.

“I came back here and got my license. It is great, but it was hard work.”

Krispyn is now working towards matching it with some of the bigger trainers in WA and has his sights set on some big wins.

“I need to find a horse that can win a listed race,” he said.

“I would love to win a Perth Cup one day and in the future have a horse I can take to Melbourne and be competitive with.

“I know it is going to be hard, but I will just keep plugging away.”

Krispyn will continue to play for the Bulls despite his big workload with the horses.

“It is pretty hard and exhausting because I am always on the go,” he said.

“I am with the horses seven days a week and then have footy training as well. On a Sunday I come work with the horses, head off to play footy and then come back to the horses to do it all again.

“It all keeps me pretty busy.”

Krispyn said he used football to “let go” of frustrations.

“I am a pretty quiet person, so it is my outlet,” he said.