Morgan Bailey

Jessica Bon

After working a thoroughbred breeding season in Victoria it was suggest to me that I do the Diploma of Equine Stud Management as a means of furthering my career and knowledge. After looking into the course I decided that it might not be such a bad idea, and I was right!

The knowledge and skills that I learnt and was able to develop whilst studying and working at the Park Lane Stud I would not have been able to gain anywhere else. The opportunities that you get are also a huge advantage to learning the industry, including mare and foal handling, sales preparation, attending sales and handling the stud's stallion.

The support, guidence, and time you get from the staff and tutors is something you don't get out on the job. As part of the course you complete three dfferent work placements and this is where you get the opportunity to get out in the industry and make contacts.

The course gives students a huge insight into the thoroughbred industry, which is one of the largest primary industries in the country, as well as the different areas the industry can take you such as breeding, bloodstock, racing and sales consigning. It is also an industry that can take you all over the world.

At the end of the two years I won the scholarship to study at the Irish National Stud. There are 27 students from Australia, America, Poland, South Africa, Argentina, and Ireland this year. Here we all get the opportunity to work in all areas of the stud including foaling down, mares and foals, barren mares, stallion and yearlings. The INS is a fully commercial stud and has some of the Ireland's best stallions including Invincible Spirit, so we are all expected to carry out our work at a high standard of professionalism.

We also have to attend lectures and complete assignments. Lectures include subjects like nutrition, anatomy, breeding, equine health, neonatal care and conformation. A huge part of the curriculum is on pedigree analysis whch is something that you don't really get the opportunity to learn anywhere else and is a huge advantage.

Although most of our time is consumed wth work and study, we do get the occasional field trips so have I have had the opportunity to go to Kildagan Stud (Darley) for the stallion parades. Here I got to see some top class stallions like Ravens Pass, Cape Cross, and Shamardal. I have also had the opportunity to visit other studs on walkouts and see some of the local trainers' facilities. Last Saturday I had the chance to vist Somerton, the local equine hospital, and tour their facilities. Also on weekends we are able to attend the races at Curragh as it is just around the corner.

The people I have met on the course are friends and contacts that will have for life and studying here was one of the best opportunities I will have to further my career.

April 2009

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Page updated on May 29, 2009 16:13 by Webmaster SK