Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE

Marketing

Scholarship win for secondary school student

A former Queensland secondary school student Haley Andrews, 17, is the winner of the 2008 North East Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria Scholarship to study horse breeding full time at the NCEE in Wangaratta.

The NETBV Scholarship, valued at $3,000 covers the costs of the two year full time Diploma of Equine Stud Management course including all tuition fees, uniform costs, excursion expenses and book fees.

Hayley was enrolling in the Diploma and had saved up enough money to pay for the course when she applied for the scholarship and won it. "Receiving the scholarship will make a huge difference to me. It means the money I have saved can be put towards my future career plans," said Hayley.

Hayley left school halfway through year 11 to follow her dream of working in the equine industry. She had started a stablehand course in Queensland but decided she preferred the breeding industry and made a move to Rochester in northern Victoria to work with her auntie on a horse stud for six months and gain valuable experience.

She completed an EFA course through the NCEE while living and working in Rochester and decided the Diploma was ideal to meet her career aspirations. Hayley says while she hadn't grown up with horses it certainly wasn't a disadvantage for her.

"I have always had a passion for horses but mum and dad wouldn't buy me one! Instead of putting money into caring for a horse I was able to use it for gaining experience in the industry," she said.

Hayley aims to complete the Diploma and apply for the prestigious Irish National Stud Scholarship at the end of the course. "That's my goal, to gain as much experience as I can in the equine industry," said Hayley. "I'd like to work on a stud and one day become a stud manager."

Whilst she is only three weeks into the course Hayley is pleased with the facilities on campus and the calibre of the horses on the stud.

For more information on equine courses call the Customer Service Centre on 1300 00 NCEE (6233).