Morgan Bailey

Angie Reiners

The Irish National Stud Scholarship is not just a learning curve for a career but a learning curve for life. I've already learnt a lot about myself just by being here. So far it's a great experience and I’ve made great friends and contacts.

The Diploma of Equine Stud Management is a course I would recommend to anyone wishing to work with horses as a career. It gives you insight and diversity into the thoroughbred breeding and racing industries. I never realised how big and well accomplished the industry was until I did this course. It's a world wide industry that is booming and getting bigger and bigger, with plenty of job opportunities in various areas (marketing, breeding, racing, bloodstock, etc).

The NCEE has good facilities, which are only going to get better with the new development at Tone Road. One thing which makes this course unique is the amount of practical experience you gain operating the Park Lane Stud. It's a real stud but you have people advising you on how to do things better and you learn how to manage and improve the operations of a stud. It allows you to learn, gain work experience and a diploma at the same time.

Winning the Irish National Stud Scholarship was a fantastic opportunity for me. I am very grateful to the panel who chose me, and the North East breeders who fund the scholarship - this is an opportunity of a life time which every horse breeding student should apply for.

This year there are 27 students from Ireland, England, Germany, Poland, South Africa, Singapore, Wales, America, New Zealand, Canada, Australia and Scotland. I've just recently handed in my first assignment which was a pedigree and conformation analysis on an assigned alot at the Goffs sales so the INS is about practical and theoretical knowledge and experiences.

The climate can take a bit of getting used too, particularly the snow! The work here is shared between many students - we start work around 8.00am and finish around 4:30pm with lectures every evening at 5pm.

The previous INS winner Jessica Birnie has just foaled down one of the only two George Washington foals, a chestnut filly. We also have the Dam of Galileo (Urbansea) and the dam of Desert King/Desert Prince (Sabaah), which are legendary dams, and an indication of the standard we are fortunate to work with.

I have also had the opportunity to go to my first National Hunt race day which leads up to the Cheltenham Festival,a big time of the year here. I'm still learning about the National Hunt as it is so different and very popular in England and Ireland.

The NCCE course has really given me some direction and career ambition. I recommend the NCEE Diploma of Equine Stud Management to anyone interested in horse breeding and to take up the opportunity to gain an Irish National Stud Scholarship.

March 2008

Authorised by: Daniella White
Page updated on August 5, 2008 13:58 by Webmaster SK