Course News September 21st - 27th 2009
First Year Trainees
The first year trainees are continuing their training in the mornings at Kildangan, working alongside Kildangan staff assisting with breaking yearlings. In preparation for Goffs yearling sales Joe Osborne spoke to the group about Conformation Evaluation, followed by a Darley Management Review on Monday afternoon. The trainees handed in their Horse Production assignment on Monday evening, which was based on yearlings from the Orby Sale catalogue.
The trainees spent Tuesday afternoon at Horse Racing Ireland for a talk with chief executive Brian Kavanagh on the functions and objectives of HRI, followed by a review of Irish race programming with Shane Doyle. On Wednesday afternoon as part of their UCD module they had an assessment on Equine Anatomy, Physiology and Reproduction at Kildangan.
A visit to John Oxx’s training stable on Thursday afternoon was one of the highlights of the course so far for many of the trainees. Mr. Oxx was very generous with his time and knowledge, answering questions from the group and discussing the yard routine and his training methods at length. Leaving the best for last, the tour concluded at the stable of Derby winner Sea The Stars. This rare chance to see such a great horse at the height of his racing career was truly appreciated by the group.
On Thursday evening Harry Sweeney spoke to the group about the Japanese Racing and Breeding Industry. The group enjoyed this discussion and found it interesting as many had known very little about the Japanese industry and its potential prior to this talk. Friday was spent at UCD continuing the Equine Anatomy, Physiology and Reproduction module.
On Saturday and Sunday the group attended the inspection days for the Orby Sale at Goffs with bloodstock agents and Darley management. Some of the trainees attended the Goffs Million race day at the Curragh on Sunday afternoon.
Second Year Trainees
This week the second years continued their rotation work placements at Darley, Kelvinside, and Scone Veterinary Hosptial Intensive Care Unit (Clovelly) in the mornings. During the afternoons they had a number of visits to studs and lectures in the training room. Clodagh Kavanagh was with the trainees this week and joined them for some of their lectures and visits.
On Monday afternoon the group visited Arrowfield Stud and met with Sam Fairgray. This was followed by a lecture on Pastures and Supplementary Feeding with Ross Watson and Graham Jenkinson. The next day they visited the Arrowfield Training Centre and in the afternoon had a talk on the history of the horse in Australia with Bill Howey and a discussion on reproduction management of horses in Australia with Cameron Collins MRCVS.
Wednesday and Thursday saw visits to Vinery Stud and Widden Stud, a talk with Angus Adkins MRCVS on orthopedic disease in juvenile horses and a discussion with Vin Cox, bloodstock agent on the business of trading horses in Australia. The group attended Scone Races on Friday where manager Helen Sinclair arranged for them to spend time at the barriers and in the broadcast box.