Do you have a passion for the Thoroughbred Industry! If you have a love of horses and a passion for the excitement of racing then place the Explorer Cadetship Program on your Christmas list.
You may have just left high school or university, aged from 18 to 24 years, then working in the thoroughbred industry will grow your love of horses to a higher level.
This 12-month Explorer Cadetship stud and stable horsemanship program opens in February 2019 with an initial intake of 40 student, known as ‘Explorers.’
‘The thoroughbred industry is all about passion and is built around two major sectors; the racing industry and the breeding industry,’ states the Explorer Cadetship. ‘There are many different careers with in these two main sectors.’
Under the umbrella of Thoroughbred Industry Careers, it is a first-time program where leading stables and stud farms are working together to offer an educational pathway which will guide and mentor young Australian’s into careers within the world-leading Australian Thoroughbred Industry.
Champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller says “the racing and breeding industry is enjoying exceptional growth at the moment, which means there’s job opportunities as far as the eye can see.”
“With a program like the Explorer Cadetship, young people will be able to experience these opportunities whilst getting valuable hands-on experience learning from the best horse people in the thoroughbred industry.”
The program commences with a 12-week practical and theoretical learning period at the Australian Racing and Equine Academy at Richmond NSW, with accommodation at Western Sydney University Richmond Campus.
Described as ‘Boot Camp’ the Explorers will handle thoroughbreds in stables and at trackwork, ride thoroughbreds, health and safety, career opportunities, ethics and rules of racing, stud operations and quarantine procedures, pedigrees and conformation, plus more.
Through Industry Days the Explorers will attend race meetings, yearling sales, morning track work and stud farms, along with hearing from leading trainers, jockeys, bloodstock agents, media and administrators about their careers in the industry.
The development of valuable Life Skills will include work ethic, punctuality and reliability, personal presentation and language, manners, personal and self-respect, respect for others, personal conduct, greeting owners and clients, personal motivation, health and fitness including mental health, healthy eating habits, team work and resolving conflict.
Explorers will then be allocated to a leading trainer for 18-weeks of paid work-experience in a racing stable, gaining valuable hands-on experience and an insight into the racing industry.
This is followed by 18-weeks on a leading stud farm learning the care and management of mares, foals and stallions, plus learning the mating process and preparing yearlings for sale.
Upon Graduation the Explorers will be further guided and mentored into areas of personal preference including further study, traineeship or apprenticeship or full-time employment within an desired industry sector.
Leading thoroughbred employers Adrian Bott/Gai Waterhouse Racing, Arrowfield Stud, Australian Turf Club, Chris Waller Racing, Godolphin Australia, Lindsay Park Racing and McEvoy Mitchell Racing are amongst those offering knowledge and expertise to Thoroughbred Industry Careers.
A new not-for-profit organization the Thoroughbred Industry Careers ‘aims to promote career pathways into the industry along with introducing new educational opportunities for young people.’
Lindy Maurice, Chief Executive of Thoroughbred Industry Careers stated in launching the Explorer Cadetship Programme – “when you are first starting out, it’s very difficult to know what to do and the choices are endless, so we have designed the Explorer Cadetship to give young people an opportunity to experience both the breeding and racing industries.”
“This is the first time a program like this has been offered in Australia and for those who want to pursue a life around horses, this is a great opportunity. It gives them time before they decide which area they would like to pursue further.”