'My days are never the same and I learn increasingly more by the week' - a student's spotlight on National Stud education

Approaching the end of my second month on the Level 3 course at the National Stud seems surreal – time has flown by.

I'm from the United States and have a deep background in eventing, with a keen interest in sport horse breeding. While I've ridden out for a few trainers, scoured thoroughbred pedigrees, and follow jump racing, I'd never considered a career in racing. I was discussing a job change and a possible move abroad with a friend, and she suggested racing and the National Stud.

I researched the course and was very drawn to learning about the bloodstock industry, as well as gaining practical experience in caring for mares and newborn foals. 

I applied, had a few calls with my now mentors in the programme, and decided to take the plunge. I'd spent time in Britain previously, and was elated to return, so I packed up my belongings and hopped across the pond. I spent a week in London to acclimate to the time change and moved into the lodgings at the stud in mid-September.

Within a week or so I decided that – as expected – my favoured area of work within the industry was with the mares and foals. The course started with intensive, hands-on yearling preparation for the upcoming sales, as well as working with mares and foals from the southern hemisphere, and the care and handling of spelling racehorses either in rehabilitation or recovering from injury.

I spent a few days at the Tattersalls yearling sales working for the National Stud, and it was a really cool experience. Getting to see so many beautiful horses from all over Europe was surreal, and a high point was getting to see a horse sell for over a million guineas in the ring. 

My days are never the same and I learn increasingly more by the week. Be it holding mares for the vet or preparing horses for the sales, every day is different. The yard supervisors are all a wealth of knowledge and I'm soaking up every single minute learning from them. I thoroughly enjoy the biweekly lectures we have, especially those on the bloodstock business. Other highlights have been our visits to Cheveley Park Stud and Dalham Hall Stud.

I'm so excited for everything coming up in the future, including our trip to Ireland, and I cannot wait for foaling season to begin. The course has been a dream thus far, and I know it's setting me up for success. 

I joke that the course and my move to England are a midlife crisis. If that is the case, then it's worth the journey.

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