Good demand for Teagasc graduates

If you always wanted to work with horses, the good news is that there are plenty of jobs for graduates of Teagasc's horse breeding and training certificate. "It's aimed at people who have an interest in sport horses rather than working horses," explains Dr David O'Connor, Teagasc's head of education.

Many of the students do not come from farm or "horsey" backgrounds. The course trains students for stud management and young horse training or to establish their own equestrian enterprise.

The course previously dealt only with breeding, but was extended last year to training. The first graduates of the combined course will emerge this summer. Provided jointly by Kildalton Agricultural College, and Grennan College, both in Co Kilkenny, the course is residential - men live in the college and women are accommodated in bed and breakfasts locally.

Theresa O'Hara, a trainer at Kildalton College, says the course attracts students from different backgrounds and age groups. But, all will have some experience working with horses. This year there are students from age 18 to 40 years but most are school-leavers, she says. One student is travelling from Dublin each day as she has family commitments. This is the first year there are more women than men.

The course begins with nine months comprising classes and practical skills training. In the second phase students do six months experience on a stud farm or in a training yard.

Students work with three horses over the three first terms, explains O'Hara, so, they will have broken three horses by the end of the last term, bringing the horses to the riding stage. Students may bring in their own horses or the college will provide them.

Students progress from leading horses in hand, to lunging them, to loose schooling them, she says. They may even bring them to the stage when they can jump a small fence.

Students usually find their own work experience and many of them go abroad. "We hope that they find work in stud farms or training yards, training young horses, carrying on the work they had done in college," says O'Hara.

In all, the course provides the skills needed to evaluate the potential of young horses, to break and train horses, breed foals of high genetic merit and manage mares, young horses and horses in training. Graduates are very employable, says O'Connor - they find jobs in riding schools, stud farms and horse training.

Training includes "the latest technology, information and management skills in areas such as horse training, breeding and stud management, equine nutrition, business and marketing, grassland management, riding and horse health. Graduates will usually begin work in an assistant capacity, possibly to horse trainers or riding instructors."

O'Hara cautions that the money may not be great, but most people are involved because of their love of horses. Some students return to their own farms or yards where they will breed and raise horses. Previously, they might have sent out young horses to be schooled.

If you're bitten by the equestrian bug, the minimum entry requirements are a certificate in agriculture (see opposite page), or Pony Club C test or BHS level2/ ICES or equivalent equestrian experience. Applicants must undergo a written entrance assessment, an interview and a riding test.

Students who do well in the certificate may be offered the opportunity to do a further advanced certificate. This threemonth course in Kildalton College will provide students with the opportunity to train a young horse to competition standard.