Homeless and unhappy but now Timo’s riding high
Timo sought medical help and was sent home on sick leave but the injury took its toll and he knew he was going to have to write off his dream.
Hi s w o e s w e re compounded when he found it hard to find an alternative career. And, although they are now reconciled, he wasn’t close to his family at the time so had nowhere to stay either.
“I struggled a lot,” admits Timo. “I felt completely out of place.
“I travelled all over, from Belfast to Liverpool to Essex and was sofa- surfing for days when I could. I was really independent and didn’t want to go home, so finally I was living rough.
“My mum and dad had no idea. Although I was back in Inverkeithing, I was sleeping in closes and in the woods.
“I had a sleeping bag and a travelling shelter I’d put up. It was for about nine months and it got pretty bad with me taking drugs to try to find the happiness I was missing.”
Salvation came after Timo came into contact with Scottish Veterans Residences, which supports homeless ex- service men and women.
He w a s initially at their Edinburgh facility but it was after moving to their Rosendael home in Broughty Ferry that the chance to become a jockey came up.
“One of the activities a trip was to the Saddle Up ranch that helps veterans and I thought it’d be a waste really as I didn’t even like horses,” said Timo.
“But right away I found being
Timo’s now enjoying a much more stable life. Pictures by Andrew Cawley. with them just worked for me. I got the chance to ride one in January and took to it right away. I’m just 5ft 7in, 60kg and quite athletic.”
Timo’s girlfr i end, Charlie Dobson, is training to be a jockey and with her encouragement he applied to Newmarket, known as the home of racing.
He impressed so much on a visit he was accepted on the spot for 12 weeks’ training and then an 18- month apprenticeship, the only candidate to get the offer.
Timo sets off on his new life this afternoon and he’s singleminded about his future prospects.
“Every time I get on a horse I get better,” he adds. “I just feel at home – and I want to be better than Charlie. You’ll see me racing at Cheltenham one day.”