ATTRACTING and retaining quality staff was a major talking point during the thoroughbred breakout session at Thursday’s Equine Summit in Newbridge.

Jim Bolger pointed out: “The most important ingredient is my staff, particularly good riders, and without good staff you’re going nowhere.”

Brendan Holland of Grove Stud in Fermoy agreed: “Its people make Ireland a world leader. There’s similar land elsewhere but we have always had the people. There are currently 17 different equine courses available in Ireland for young people, which were never there before, but there are not enough new people coming in and not enough riders. We need to actively go into schools and show people there’s a career.”

This is an even bigger problem in Britain, as Richard Aston of Goldford Stud revealed: “We are close to full employment and so trying to encourage people to choose our industry above any other is very difficult.”

He pointed at the success of the Godolphin Stud and Stable Awards, from which amazing stories have come and positive headlines as a result. It makes a career in the industry seem more interesting, incentivises staff and is one way of increasing appeal.

EDUCATION

Picking up on Holland’s point of increased third level opportunities, Ballyhane Stud’s Joe Foley reminded us that many of our industry’s most respected people have come from a lower level of education, which is where we need to target our search. “The population is becoming more urban and we’re not going to solve that one,” he pointed out.

Bolger “hit the nail on the head” when identifying that usually the smaller trainers are not as successful and can’t afford to charge higher training fees, which is the only way to retain good staff. Given the level of skill required to look after and exercise a thoroughbred, trainers and farm managers can’t charge enough to pay what staff deserve and Holland called for better recognition of stable staff and respect for what they do.

Moving on to marketplace concerns, most of those revolved around Brexit and the uncertainty it has brought. Holland had “no doubt it will be negative” but pointed to the emerging markets in the Middle East, Russia and the growing Australian market.

“When we’re talking market, we’re talking the top end of the market, and that’s where everyone should be striving to be,” he insisted, “that should be your goal.”

BUOYANT

Foley felt the buoyant top level at the sales and the new buyers coming in is having a positive trickle effect and the money is coming back down into the middle market.

Aston took a realistic view of Britain’s National Hunt market, which is more select at the top end. “We don’t enjoy a global market, our market is England, Ireland and possibly France, but it’s a market packed full of enthusiasts. It just seems to flow over troubled waters. We sold at a record price during a recession, which shows it’s a remarkably resilient industry.”

Holland was of the view that “Cheltenham drives the National Hunt market and Royal Ascot drives the flat market”, which in turn is a major positive for the second-hand horse market, particularly as Royal Ascot gains in international appeal.