Course News November 8th – 14th 2009
First Year Trainees
The trainees commenced their practical training rotations in Newmarket this week. In groups of four, the trainees spent their mornings either at the British Racing School, Hamilton Hill pre-training facility or at Dalham Hall Stud. At the British Racing School they received tuition on areas such as tacking up for racing, race riding, fitting boots, bandages and rugs, clipping etc. towards their NVQ Level 3 qualification. At Hamilton Hill they learned about the process of introducing riders to young horses and the early stages of training. A departmental rota at Dalham Hall allowed them to experience the nominations, marketing, accounts, racing and stud departments.
They had visits and lectures in the afternoons. On Thursday they attended the Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding seminar at Cheltenham. Other visits included Tattersalls Sales Complex with Martin Mitchell and the HFL Sport Science Centre for a tour of the laboratory and a talk on Doping Contol with Steve Maynard. Barney Curley spoke to the group on “A Lifetime in Racing” and Darley Flying Start graduate Andy Fuller gave them an overview of the Betting Industry. James Crowhurst MRCVS talked them through “The Role of the Vet at the Sales”, Jonny McIrvine gave them a talk on Property and Liabilty insurance and Alex Scrope spoke to them about “Developing a Quality Broodmare Band”.
Second Year Trainees
In Australia and New Zealand the second years completed the first week of their full time work placements. This week involved building relationships and familiarizing themselves with new business operations, surroundings and staff as well as getting stuck into the work experience. Many of them have already been given projects to work on, which gives them a focus for the placement and enables them to make a contribution to their workplace.
Focus on placements: Melanie Sauer, Charlie Vaughan-Fowler & Mick Buckley
During Melanie Sauer’s first week with Gai Waterhouse she rode out horses at Randwick, swam horses in the pool and assisted Gai with trials. She met and assisted owners, went racing and assisted with an “open house” day at Tulloch Lodge. With John van Veenendaal, Charlie Vaughan-Fowler is learning the skills associated with racetrack veterinary medicine. This week he spent time with John and other vets at the Flemington Equine Clinic improving his lameness diagnosis skills, taking bloods and preparing medications. He attended two surgeries at the Cranbourne Equine Hospital and is developing an undertanding of the structure of the business. In New Zealand Mick Buckley got straight to work at Waikato Stud with yearlings, mares, foals and all aspects of the farm. He attended racing and went to Karaka sales to look at horses with Paul Beamish.