Course News 7th - 11th September 2009
First Year Trainees
The first year trainees started their practical training at Kildangan on Monday. They are working with yearlings and assisting with breaking each morning. Each trainee will work with two yearlings daily and document what they learn about the breaking process, how their skills are developing and the how the horses are progressing. On Monday and Tuesday evening they continued their practical horse skills course at RACE receiving tuition on lunging and driving. On Wednesday they had a talk with General Manager and Darley Director Jimmy Hyland on the Management of Darley, Ireland, followed by a breaking demonstration in the indoor school.
In groups of three the trainees met with Kildangan’s Charles Spiller again this week to continue discussions on pedigrees, bloodlines and matings selections. These discussion groups were very productive and the trainees were grateful to Charles for sharing his indepth knowledge with them. They feel that it will be beneficial to them at the upcoming Goffs Million Yearling Sales and for their Horse Production Assignment.
On Friday the group continued their Anatomy, Physiology and Reproduction module at Kildangan with lecturer, Emmeline Hill, from UCD. The lecture focussed on Equine Genetics which tied in with their pedigree discussions with Charles earlier in the week.
A good weekend of racing at the Curragh then followed, with sunshine and cloudless skies making the experience even more enjoyable! On Saturday they witnessed the in-form team of trainer John Oxx and jockey Mick Kinane take the Group 1 Irish Field St. Leger with Alandi. A slightly quieter day’s racing on Sunday allowed for a little socialising and establishment of some industry contacts.
Second Year Trainees
Week 4 in Australia commenced with a visit to Coolmore Stud in Jerry’s Plains, the Hunter Valley. Darley Flying Start graduate Henry Field hosted the trainees for a tour of the farm and discussed the Coolmore stallions and business strategy with them. The group saw stallions such as Dylan Thomas, Henrythenavigator, Rock of Gibraltar and Encosta de Lago, to name a few!
From Tuesday the trainees commenced their rotation work placements at Darley, Kelvinside, and Scone Veterinary Hosptial Intensive Care Unit (Clovelly) in the mornings. Also this week the group started their Equine Veterinary Nursing module at TAFE, Scone, at which lectures included topics such as radiology and nutrition in foals. A visit to a nursing nannies farm gave them an opportunity to practice some simple veterinary procedures on orphan foals such as taking blood samples and the best way to restrain a foal on the ground.