Faith Pollock and Brooke Hamilton have been named the recipients of the 2027 Irish National Stud Scholarship, following a highly competitive selection process. A record number of applications—the most the NZTBA has ever received—and an exceptional depth of talent made choosing this year’s recipients no easy task.
The NZTBA is sincerely grateful to the family at Trelawney Stud for once again supporting two scholarship places, giving both Faith and Brooke the opportunity to travel to Ireland, learn from industry leaders and take an exciting next step in their thoroughbred careers.
School may not have been cool for Faith Pollock but five years down the track she is keen to get back in the classroom.
Especially when that classroom is at the prestigious Irish National Stud.
Faith is one of two recipients of the Keith and Faith Taylor Family Equine Scholarship which entitles the recipient to an all expenses paid trip to Ireland to attend the internationally recognised Irish National Stud Diploma Course in Thoroughbred Breeding and Management.
After five years working in the industry and now the assistant yearling manager at Te Akau Stud, Faith is keen to know exactly what is involved in producing the yearlings she loves working with.
“I’m at a place in my career where I need to move forward and to be able to get a diploma and in Ireland is something too good to turn down,” she said.
“It’s a really good opportunity, I want to understand the industry worldwide, it’s such a cool industry to be involved in.
“The great thing about the course is that people come from everywhere and I will be able to make some new connections.”
Faith didn’t come from a horsey family but grew up in a horsey environment in Coatesville, on Auckland’s North Shore.
“I just loved them, so my parents had no option but to buy me a pony. I went show jumping and retrained a few thoroughbreds and that is what piqued my interest in them.
“When I was 16, I decided that school wasn’t that cool and came and went to work for Sir David here at Te Akau, and that has given me the opportunity to learn from some of the best in New Zealand.”
Faith will travel to Ireland in mid-January, with her fellow recipient Brooke Hamilton and on their return will spend six months putting into practice all the skills they have learnt at the Taylor Family’s Trelawney Stud.
From a very young age horses have been a part of Brooke Hamilton’s life, now she is building a career in the thoroughbred industry and is off to Ireland to gain more experience.
She is one of two recipients of the Keith and Faith Taylor Family Equine Scholarship which entitles the recipient to an all expenses paid trip to Ireland to attend the internationally recognised Irish National Stud Diploma Course in Thoroughbred Breeding and Management.
A groom at Trelawney Stud since graduating from Massey University with a Bachelor of Animal Science, Brooke was prompted to apply for the scholarship after completing the NZTBA promoted course the Level Three NZ Certificate in Equine Breeding.
Brooke said she really enjoyed the course.
“I have only been in the industry a short time and I felt that I had missed the practical component and so I am looking to extend my knowledge on that side.
“When I discussed that with Brent and Cherry (Taylor) they thought it would be good for me to apply for the scholarship and encouraged me to go for it.
“I am looking forward to further understanding how the industry works, especially on a stud with stallions, and lots of mares and foals.”
Growing up in rural Clevedon on the outskirts of Auckland, Brooke had a pony but wasn’t serious enough to go to pony club. Her home however was next door to the Auckland Polo Club grounds.
“I used to spend most of my spare time, grooming polo ponies so I was always around horses,” she said.
“About three summers ago while I was at Massey completing my Animal Science degree, I needed a holiday job and my family now live in Karaka, so I went to Haunui Farm and asked for a job.
“That was my first taste of yearling prep, and I learnt a lot and that is where the thoroughbred bug began.
“While I was at Massey I worked part-time for Lisa Latta, experiencing the racing stable side of the industry, before joining the team at Trelawney.
“I think it will be really cool to be involved with like-minded people all learning the same skills for the six months, and I am really looking forward to that. Talking to some of the other graduates, you make some great friends and contacts, so I am really quite excited.”
Brooke will leave for Ireland in mid-January along with fellow recipient Faith Pollock, and she will rejoin the team at Trelawney Stud on her return home.
