AS I close in on my sixth decade working with thoroughbreds, it was a great honour to be shortlisted for the recent Godolphin Irish Stud and Stable Staff Awards in my category (Horse Care) as it’s nice to have your achievements recognised after a lifetime in the industry. Godolphin deserve praise for the initiative, as it gives those of us employed behind the scenes a chance to shine.

Our family home backed onto Airlie Stud, so as kids we were always out with the mares and foals. My father worked at the stud but didn’t have anything to do with the horses.

He drove a tractor and did general duties around the yard. I used to help out when I was older, doing simple jobs like picking ragwort or stones. At 14, I left school and went to work full-time for Captain Rogers at the stud farm. In my first year, I was only allowed work with the mares and foals, as I was too young to handle the yearlings. In those days, there were loads of lads and girls working in racing yards and stud farms, so I was brought along slowly, taught how to handle and lead horses. Nowadays, with such shortage of staff, lads and girls are expected to run before they have even learned to walk.

In my second year, I was moved from Airlie Stud to Ballyowen Stud for the yearling season. I was started off slowly until I gradually gained experience. Once the season was over, I returned to Airlie Stud; a move I was to repeat for each of the next nine or 10 years.

When I was 25, Captain Rogers called me aside one day and told me that he would look out for a stallion job for me. True to his word, he came back shortly after and offered me the role of Stallion Man at Simmonstown Stud. I was only there a short time before the same position opened up at Airlie Stud, so Captain Rogers brought me back to fill that vacancy.

Leading stallion

We had some fantastic stallions there over the years such as High Hat, Vienna, Ballad Rock and Derby winner Henbit. I spent nearly seven years at Airlie Stud before I was transferred back to Simmonstown Stud to look after leading stallion Ela-Mana-Mou. I worked with stallions for 17 years, spending a total of 33 years between Airlie and Simmonstown.

Following the death of Captain Rogers, the family cut back on its stallion roster, so I decided to leave. At one time, the captain stood 15 stallions but the numbers had dropped by the time of his passing. Julian Lloyd (stud manager) heard that I was moving and asked me if I wanted to come work at Staffordstown Stud. It is exclusively yearlings that we look after here, as the stallions stand at Lanwades Stud in Newmarket.

I had plenty of experience working with yearlings from my early time at Airlie Stud, so settled in from the beginning. A lot of expensive, well-bred horses are foaled here, so I take an interest in their careers from the outset. I have a keen interest and enjoy following their progress once they make it to the racecourse. Some of the better horses that have gone on to do well include Albanova, Albarova, Time Warp, Glorious Forever, Lady Jane Digby and Almiranta. At the present time, both Zaaki and Alpinista are flying the flag for the operation.

Vocation

Earlier this month, I cut down my working hours by going on a five-day week as opposed to seven. I am 71 now, still doing the job I have always done and enjoying it every bit as much. Growing up I played a bit of golf, as we used to caddy at our local Lucan club. My brother and I still get out the very odd time but I am just too busy with work. Horses are a seven-day a week vocation, so hobbies were put on the back-burner. Perhaps now that I have a bit more time on my hands, I can discover a new hobby.

Julian Lloyd asked if he could put me forward for the Godolphin Stud And Stable Staff Awards. I was just delighted he thought me worthy of the nomination so whatever came after was a bonus. To reach the final three in my category was an honour, as there are so many great men and women working in the industry. Although the actual ceremony couldn’t be held in its usual format this year, it was still a special occasion – one I was very pleased to be a part of. Looking ahead, I’d love to keeping going for as long as I am able, as I really enjoy what I do. In another three years, I will have been 60 years in the racing industry, so that’s something to aim for.

George Dobbs was in conversation with John O’Riordan