I arrived in Ireland on the 22nd of February and got straight into the swing of things, starting work the very next day at Walsh’s yard, a busy mare and foal operation. I have already had the chance to get hands-on with mares and young foals, which has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding.
One of the biggest highlights of my first few weeks has been getting involved in Coolmore Connect, an initiative run by Coolmore Stud. The programme is designed to give staff a deeper understanding of the wider operation, and it has been an amazing opportunity to see just how much goes on behind the scenes in such a world-renowned organisation.
Early on, I was lucky enough to tour Fethard Equine Hospital, something that particularly stood out to me given my background in veterinary nursing. It was a valuable opportunity to see how a world-class facility operates, from the level of clinical care to the efficiency of their systems and workflow. Being able to observe that standard of practice in action reinforced the importance of precision and attention to detail in equine care.
Another standout experience was visiting the yard of Joseph O’Brien. We watched some of his two year old fillies working and got to hear directly from him about what he looks for in young horses and how he approaches their training. It was fascinating to get that insight, especially seeing how early decisions can shape a horse’s future.
Coolmore Connect has also given me a much broader appreciation for the scale and thought behind the entire operation. A visit to Castleblake, one of the cattle farms, was particularly interesting. Learning how cattle are used to keep pastures the best condition for horses gave great insight into the level of planning involved. On top of that, seeing how much Coolmore Stud produces in-house from hay and straw to oats really highlighted their commitment to quality and consistency. Every detail is carefully considered to give the horses the best possible start.
We also had the chance to attend a farrier demonstration, which was another eye-opening experience. Watching the teamwork and hearing them explain how they adapt shoeing to suit individual horses really showed the level of precision and skill involved in something that’s so crucial to performance and soundness.
One of my favourite days so far was visiting Castlehyde, where we were introduced to several stallions. It was especially exciting to see Blackbeard, who stood out to me after seeing how impressive his yearlings looked last year. I also really enjoyed seeing some National Hunt stallions, which were completely new to me and getting to see Maxios, the sire of Gaelic Warrior, winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, was a pretty special moment. The contrast between the different types of stallions was fascinating and gave me a whole new perspective.
We also visited Rathbarry Stud, where I got to see State of Rest. That was a particularly nice moment for me, as he shuttles to Newgate Farm where I previously worked, so I have already seen and worked with some of his progeny. It was a great moment to see that link between my past experience and what I am doing now.
Looking back on my first few weeks, it is hard to believe how much I have already seen and learned in such a short time. Between the day-to-day work at the yard and the opportunities through Coolmore Connect, I feel incredibly lucky to be here. Every day brings something new, and I am excited to keep learning, keep improving, and make the most of every opportunity over the coming months.
