'It felt like a massive sense of achievement' - a student's spotlight on National Stud education

My journey at the National Stud started a few weeks earlier than most of the other students, having initially began on the six-week Entry To Employment Level 1 Course back in August. I was a previous racing enthusiast, but I had no prior experience in horse handling.

Within my six weeks, I learned all the basics, such as putting a head collar and bridle on (which is a lot more difficult than it sounds) and mucking out, as well as gaining an understanding of how stud farms operate overall. Upon completing the course, I was offered a place on the Level 3 Stud Management and Sales Consignment course to help further my knowledge and aid progression in the industry, which I quickly established is the one I want to be in.

The October Yearling Sales at Tattersalls was the first milestone on the course and I was assigned to work the Book 3 sales on placement with Daymark Stud. After two days of showing to various recognisable and extremely knowledgeable judges, I was trusted to lead the Havana Grey yearling through the ring. Walking around the sales ring as the bids were flying in felt like a massive sense of achievement; in the space of three months, I went from never handling horses to leading a yearling round the ring who fetched 90,000gns.

After the yearling sales, eyes soon went to preparing the mares and foals who were due to go under the hammer at Tattersalls in December. Following the foals from week one of prep to witnessing the finished article at Tattersalls was fascinating. It gave me great satisfaction knowing I played a small part in their journey to becoming a racehorse.

At the foal sales, I was lucky enough to do a stint with Whitsbury Manor Stud. Their draft was exceptional and was headlined by the full-sister to Classic winner Chaldean, who fetched 2.5 million guineas!

Mixed within our busy schedule in term one, there was still time for external visits to stud farms such as Juddmonte and Dalham Hall, where Frankel and Dubawi stand respectively. However, the highlight of the trips has to be our action-packed day in Ireland. We started with a tour of Punchestown racecourse and getting a glimpse into the weighing room. Visiting the 17-time champion trainer Willie Mullins followed, and being in the presence of more than 20 individual Grade 1 winners including Galopin Des Champs and Lossiemouth before 11am is a memory that will live with me for a long time. 

We then ventured down the M9 to Darley’s Irish HQ at Kildangan Stud to meet their stallion roster, including Night Of Thunder and Space Blues to name a couple. On the way back to the airport, we rounded the trip off at the Goffs National Hunt mare and foal sales.

The first foals at the National Stud are not long on the ground and the much-anticipated breeding season is finally here. This term, I’m looking forward to working with the stallions and seeing Bradsell get his new career off the ground.

I would like to thank everyone at the National Stud for helping me on my journey into the bloodstock industry, as well as Daymark and Whitsbury Manor Stud for the opportunities they provided at the sales.

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