Thoroughbred Breeders Australia’s traineeship program Fast Track is open for its second intake.
The training scheme was launched last year as part of TBA’s commitment to find and educate the next generation of industry talent.
The program works by finding young people who have a passion for horses and placing them with a respected farm where they will gain hands-on experience via a traineeship, while also completing a Certificate III in Horse Breeding through TAFE NSW Scone.
The TAFE component of the program includes two intensive learning blocks (6 weeks in total) and includes 16 formal study modules.
Among the modules they learn are:
- caring for broodmares
- foaling
- handling young horses
- mating procedures
- disease prevention
- horse behaviour
Applications are now open for 2019 and will close on March 31 ahead of the 12-month program that starts in late May. We encourage people from across Australia to apply and there is scope for placements on farms nationwide.
The program has received great support from the breeding industry in the past 12 months; not only from farms willing to take on trainees, but also people willing to share their time and experiences with those on the course. As well as teaching provided by TAFE, the trainees enjoyed a series of tutorials provided by experts from within industry.
“I would absolutely recommend to anybody to get behind this,” says Royston Murphy of Sledmere Stud, who have taken on a trainee.
“I think we really need to push these initiatives and we’ll definitely be taking on some more people every year.”
Cecelia O’Gorman of TBA, who co-ordinates Fast Track, is keen to hear from anybody who might be interested in applying for the course.
“It’s very important that we have quality people coming onto the program, so we really want to get applications from people that love of horses and have a strong work ethic,” she says.
“Applicants don’t have to have any prior experience with thoroughbreds, but it is important that they have the determination to succeed and get through to the end of the course – then hopefully they will go on to have a long career in breeding.”
Kitchwin Hills’ Mick Malone says the program would go a long way to ensuring long-term employment opportunities in the industry.
“Fast Track is a great initiative that will benefit farms all over the country as it provides a great introduction to breeding,” he said. “We are very happy with our trainee and are keen to continue our involvement with the second intake.”
Applicants can find out more about the program and apply here.
Farms who wish to be involved should contact Cecelia on 0411 696 036.
