THE Teagasc/Horse Sport Ireland Young Breeders Seminar played host to a number of experts in all areas of equestrian industry on Wednesday.

Editor of The Irish Field Leo Powell chaired the thoroughbred discussion panel, titled Career options and pathways in the thoroughbred sector, which focussed on the importance of hard work, passion, and opportunities in the industry.

The expert panel on hand to give the young breeders advice consisted of Clodagh Kavanagh (Godolphin Flying Start), Cathal Beale (CEO Irish National Stud), Timmy Hillman (Tattersalls and Castledillon Stud), and Guy O’Callaghan (Grangemore Stud).

Each member of the panel had a unique journey into working in the thoroughbred industry. Beale was the only member of the panel who didn’t come from an equestrian background and, amazingly, only started working with horses in his 20s. A graduate of the Flying Start programme, he initially studied English and History in UCD.

“Not having a background in horses is the greatest advantage I ever had. There was no expectation and I made every choice for myself. There is no quick fix, work hard at whatever you do. Once you are prepared to do that, the opportunities come. The harder you work the luckier you are going to get.”

Kavanagh explained how she looks for as much diversity as possible in the Flying Start Programme. Kavanagh is from an equestrian background and studied Agricultural Science in UCD before spending time working in studs in Ireland and in Kentucky, Australia and New Zealand.

CAREER CHANGE

Guy O’Callaghan grew up at Yeomanstown Stud and did two years of accountancy before deciding it wasn’t for him and pursued a career with thoroughbreds. After working in Australia and New Zealand he returned and completed the breeding course at Kildalton College.

“I was a bit older when I went down – it was a great course to do and still use the skills I learned down there every day. I went there thinking I knew everything and I learned loads!” O’Callaghan told the room.

Timmy Hillman has the audience laughing as he explained his winding road to where he is now. “I went to the bank, got a loan and bought a load of yearlings. I lost my fundamentals the first year but got back on track and now have a lot of National Hunt horses,” he said.

HARD WORK

When asked what they looking for in an employee, Kavanagh used the word energy – “their face should light up when talk about the industry,” she explained.

For Beale this energy is the ability to do that little bit more. Working in the thoroughbred industry is not a nine-to-five job and requires additional dedication and passion. Both O’Callaghan and Hillman agreed with this and said they would look for employees who pay extra attention to detail and who will do a job before they have to be told to.

All of the panel have travelled extensively, having held different positions within the industry, and it was an experience that they recommended to everyone in the audience. Both the Godolphin Flying Start Programme and the Irish National Stud breeding programme send their graduates around the world to work in some of the very best stud farms and these graduates come home with more knowledge and experience to inject back into the industry.

The panel emphasised that you never stop learning and a willingness to learn is essential to succeed. Opportunities present themselves in a variety of shapes and sizes. “You will never be ready for the next step,” Beale said, as he encouraged people to go for it anyway.

“Any mistake you make is an opportunity to learn. For me, the first six months as a young guy following a legend in John Osborne, I was afraid to make any mistakes but you have to take those chances,” he finished.