'It's the best industry in the world' - a student's spotlight on National Stud education

I arrived at Newmarket eight months ago to begin my Level 1 Entry To Stud Employment course at the National Stud. Having never handled horses before, I didn’t really know what to expect. Growing up I had always been a racing enthusiast and when I came across the course, I decided to try it on a whim and see if I could make a career out of the sport I love so much. 

The Level 1 course was fantastic for someone like me who had no prior experience. Over a six-week period we learnt all the basics and got hands on with yearling prep for the Somerville Yearling Sale at Tattersalls. I went on to work the sale for Sophie Buckley and her amazing team at Culworth Grounds and I’m very grateful to her for the opportunity. It was a great experience for me, having never previously attended the sales to working them within a few weeks; I definitely learned a lot from it.

Upon completion of the level 1 course I was offered a place on the Level 3 Stud Management and Sales Consignment course and decided it would be good for me to further develop my knowledge and experience. 

The first real landmark on the course was our work placements at the October yearling sales. I owe a big thanks to Chris Richardson and Dale Clements for allowing me to work Book 1 and Book 2 with Cheveley Park Stud. It was an honour to work for them after witnessing all their success on the track while I was growing up. I enjoyed working the October sales for them so much that I returned for my December sales placement. As our working relationship grew, so did the opportunities on offer to me and I was able to show horses to potential clients and even take my first horse through the sales ring which was very surreal!

Between the sales and breeding season the course constituted of several external visits including to Willie Mullins’ Closutton operation, Roger Varian's stables and all the leading stud farms surrounding Newmarket. To getup close and personal with these superstars I’ve followed on the telly and at the track was extremely special. 

One of my favourite parts of the course would’ve been the mare project. We had a hypothetical budget of £250,000 to purchase two mares from the Tattersalls December sales. We then worked within our groups to decide on stallion matings in which we took temperament, conformation attributes and the commercial market all into consideration. 

Our budget was £70,000 and it was an incredible learning experience of how to go about mating analysis and the commercial side of owning broodmares and getting them in foal etc. Although it was slightly intimidating presenting the project to a panel with some of the best breeding minds in the business, including Teddy Grimthorpe and Joe Grimwade, I thoroughly enjoyed the project.

During the last few months of the course it has been all hands-on deck with the breeding season. There have been adjustments like the ‘sitting up’ which have been more challenging than others. You are literally changing your body clock to work during the night but the delivery of even one foal during these hours makes it all worth it. This year I have delivered foals by leading stallions Justify and Wootton Bassett and I can’t wait to follow them on the racecourse. 

There are so many people I need to thank for the help I've been given over the last seven months since arriving in Newmarket but most importantly to everyone at the National Stud.

This industry is the best industry in the world, and I’ll forever be grateful for the opportunity they have given me to go and make a career out of it. I’m now looking forward to the new challenges at Cheveley Park where I will become a full-time member of their team after graduating and I’m very excited for what the future holds.

Goffs London Sale 2025

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