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April/May 2016
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April/May 2016 • VOLUME XVI NUMBER 3
from across the South East
In the Spotlight: Badminton Bound Jo Thomas
04
Localrider Magazine
ENDURANCE • POLO • SHOWJUMPING • EVENTING
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Snow Polo in St Moritz COVERING KENT, SUSSEX, SURREY, HAMPSHIRE, BERKSHIRE & THE ISLE of WIGHT 01-covernew_lrapril16.indd 1
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FEATURE
Rise to the top with an Apprenticeship in Horseracing F
ollowing Apprenticeship Week in march, Careers in racing - the marketing campaign run by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to promote training and career opportunities in the horseracing industry - is highlighting how apprentices in horseracing can progress to the top of the career ladder. Zoe Elliott, Careers marketing and recruitment manager said: “An apprenticeship is the perfect way to start off in the exciting world of horseracing. it can lead to a rewarding career and is the perfect way to ‘rise to the top’. As the second largest spectator sport in the UK, horseracing is a major, growing industry and we have a lot to offer, including a commitment to welfare, supporting staff and, competitive pay and conditions. many people are unaware of the sheer number of opportunities available, either working directly with horses or in the events and hospitality sector.”
Skills gap
Zoe Elliott continued: “There are some skills gaps in the sector. in particular,
case studies
we have identified a shortage of people working directly with horses - we are addressing this by recruiting apprentices on racehorse care courses, by raising the profile of the sector and by demonstrating the career paths available. The job market is strong at the moment and demand for qualified, experienced and committed staff is high. Taking an apprenticeship can be the perfect first rung on the ladder.” The promotion of apprenticeships is being supported by Seamus mullins, racehorse Trainer and president of the National Trainers Federation. Seamus said: “As a racehorse trainer in Wiltshire with 50 horses in training, i have 20 staff working for me and many of them that have studied racehorse care via the apprenticeship route. i fully support apprenticeship training as a great way to enter the world of racing. There are numerous examples of people who have progressed rapidly in racing following their apprenticeship and i would encourage anyone keen to work outdoors and with horses to look at the training and career opportunities available in horseracing.”
Training is free
For young people aged under 19 working in a racing yard, an apprenticeship is an essential part of their career in horseracing, as employers must offer this route. Specialist training providers across the UK offer horseracing apprenticeship opportunities at a variety of levels – training is free for young people aged 22 or below and open to beginners. The Northern racing College and British racing School offer a work based programme with a period of initial training in their specialist facilities, where young people can learn to care and ride racehorses first hand. Haddon Training offer a work based programme and for those who wish to follow a nonriding route there are non-riding options available - including working on the breeding side of the industry via training at The National Stud. Zoe Elliott at the BHA continued: “Our message is simple. An apprenticeship in the horseracing world is a highly respected, valued route into the industry and can take you anywhere – you can truly rise to the top.”
Apprenticeships in Horseracing offer fantastic opportunities to work in different areas of the sport. Here we discover more about three current apprentices and what the experience gained and training means to them.
Kate Phizacklea Kate Phizacklea is a 22-year-old apprentice from Cumbria, based at Dan Skelton Racing in Alcester, Warwickshire. Kate is taking an apprenticeship in Racehorse Care at the British Racing School. Kate talks about the Cheltenham Festival, how she became interested in racing and her career path so far. “I got into racing from a young age watching the races at my local track Cartmel, and then after discovering the British Racing School I found the opportunity for me to start my career. Between leaving school and starting at The British Racing School, I had three parttime jobs at the same time: I was breaking in horses and ponies at an equestrian centre, working in a tack shop and cleaning at a café, so I was used to a busy lifestyle. I attended the British Racing School in April last year for nine weeks and I’m now on an apprenticeship in Racehorse Care with Dan Skelton Racing. Prior to that I had two week’s work experience at Rebecca Menzies in Yorkshire. My ultimate career goal would to become a Trainer and be good at it! But also, since joining a yard and working in racing, I would love to get my amateurs licence and ride a few winners in point to points. Having a runner in Cheltenham is beyond anything I could have hoped for and I’m lucky enough to have had two entries at the Festival in March. Having watched the festival since I was a young child, it’s an absolute dream to be able to take my horses there and have an experience that not many people can have. I have to thank Dan Skelton for the opportunities I’ve had having only worked for him for such a short time. He’s the best and I honestly don’t think there’s a better person to have as a boss. I’d encourage anyone with an interest in horses and working outdoors to try an apprenticeship. Learning whilst you earn is really helping to improve my future career prospects and I love it.” 42 Localrider April/mAy 2016
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Ana Rodriguez Marray Ana Rodriguez Marray is a 23-year-old apprentice Stud Hand, based at Newsells Park Stud in Hertfordshire. Ana is taking an Apprenticeship in Work Based Racehorse Care (Breeding Option) at the National Stud in Newmarket. Ana talks about how rewarding her career in the industry has been so far. “My family own national hunt racehorses and my interest in the industry began there. I heard about the course at the National Stud when I was at the Doncaster Bloodstock Sales with Nigel TwistonDavies, who runs one of the UK’s most successful jumping yards, and through the Careers in Racing website. I started my training at the National Stud, gaining a Level 1 in my course, and started to gain experience. I was then placed at Newsells Park Stud, after I finished the theory-side of my nine-week preapprenticeship course earlier this year. I decided to take an apprenticeship as it is the best way to learn how the industry works. You get experience and gain knowledge from the very bottom. As an apprentice Stud Hand, a typical day involves turning out horses, mucking out, accompanying vets as they do their rounds, farrier work and grooming. I work with mares who are in foal, and mares who have foals. I had the best time at the National Stud: everyone was there to learn and have fun at the same time. It was an amazing experience. My course involved a mixture of practical and theoretical elements. In the mornings we did the practical work including mucking out and leading horses, and in the afternoons we worked on the theory including learning about foaling and grooming. I enjoyed the sale work we did at Tattersalls, the main auctioneer of race horses in the United Kingdom and Ireland. To me, the most rewarding part of the job is getting to know each horse and being able to grow with it, becoming more confident in myself which makes my job much easier. The most challenging part to me was the work with thoroughbreds. I had never handled thoroughbreds before, and having to do so right
from the beginning was a scary prospect, but with people around me that had believed in me meant my confidence grew. I truly believe that the experience I am gaining with Newsells Park Stud will help with my future career. I think the most important skills to have are dedication, to be willing, and to be a team player. You need to have a questioning attitude: always ask questions! Most importantly, people need to remember that this is a lifestyle choice – it isn’t just a career. For now, I’m focusing on finishing my apprenticeship and Level 2 with National Stud. Beyond that, I’d like to do some more yearling work (work with young horses of between one and two-years-old) either at Newsells Park Stud or overseas. I’d also like to get more involved in the bloodstock side. I would encourage anyone with an interest in this world to consider a career in horseracing, even if they have no experience. It’s the best choice I’ve ever made. The one piece of advice I’d give to anyone considering a career in the industry is to be prepared to work as you’ve never worked before: but also be prepared to be very happy with everything that you do. This job is a pleasure, not a chore.”
Sam Burton Sam Burton is a 16-year-old racing groom/work rider at Sally Randell Racing, based in Swindon. Sam is taking an apprenticeship in Racehorse Care and is training with Haddon Training. Sam talks about his apprenticeship and how influential his family has been in his career. “My family has always been involved in racing, so it has always been my ambition to work in the horse racing industry. I started out by working with a trainer when I was 14. My work involved riding work with jockeys and I gained lots of experience – for example, I learnt how to jump out of stalls. It was my mum that encouraged me to take an apprenticeship - I chose this route as I could keep working whilst studying. I’ve been in my current role for just over a year. On a typical day I get up at 7am, and have to make sure the horses are mucked out properly and exercised. I get to ride throughout the day and there’s lots of mucking out involved! I go home at between 12 and 12:30, then come back in the early evening at around 4pm for the evening shift at the stables. I’m taking an apprenticeship in Racehorse Care – my course involves horse care and health and safety and takes between 12 and 18 months to complete. Someone from the Training Provider visits me each month and I have homework to do. For me, the most enjoyable part of the course is researching new and alternative ways of doing things. The most challenging part of the course for me has been the maths section, however I was helped to find a method of learning which suited me. I love my job and find it really rewarding when a horse from the yard wins a race or runs particularly well. To do my job you need a variety of skills – most important is the ability to ride, along with a knowledge of horses. But you also need common sense and to be a good team player I think my job prospects will improve as a result of completing my apprenticeship – the experience of learning whilst working has really helped me. The one piece of advice I’d give to someone thinking of working in the racing industry is work really hard and make the sacrifices: they are worth it. In the future I would like to be a jockey. I want to go conditional, then professional and be the best jockey in the world!”
Contacts www.careersinracing.com www.britishhorseracing.com www.haddontraining.co.uk www.brs.org.uk www.northernracingcollege.co.uk www.nationalstud.co.uk www.newsells-park.com www.sallyrandellracing.com April/may 2016 Localrider 43
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