Plenty more happening in the month of April. It's scary to think it's already been 4 months into the course. Before we know it we'll be graduating and on our way to all achieve greatness across the globe. We've been chipping away into the thick end of the breeding season, although it's like 2 seasons merged into one, with the National Hunt mares cycling later on in the year and going through their transitional phase in March/April. Lectures have been running to schedule with many more guest lecturers and a class trip down to Tipperary to visit one of the largest breeze up yards in Ireland, The Bansha House Stables.
Weekly placements for the month include working at Kildare Yard and Maddenstown. I was appointed teasing student in Maddenstown (dry mares) for the week. This meant I had to organise the teasing/vet lists day by day and attend each scan to view the follicle and figure out which stage the mare is at in her cycle. The way they run their teasing is very different to back home. Each mare is documented down on a list with her details such as how many days empty, when she has been teased, when she was covered etc. I would describe this protocol as more old fashioned than back home but it is very effective and thorough.
The mares are teased individually by bringing them up to the teasing box (as the picture shows). Yard teasing is the method we use back at home. This is where a teaser is placed in his own yard with the mares being placed in their mobs in an adjacent yard. They can freely walk up and tease without human intervention. If there are shy mares or mares we need to know how they'll react. I thoroughly enjoyed this week and identifying the differences between both practices in both hemispheres.
Weekly placements for the month include working at Kildare Yard and Maddenstown. I was appointed teasing student in Maddenstown (dry mares) for the week. This meant I had to organise the teasing/vet lists day by day and attend each scan to view the follicle and figure out which stage the mare is at in her cycle. The way they run their teasing is very different to back home. Each mare is documented down on a list with her details such as how many days empty, when she has been teased, when she was covered etc. I would describe this protocol as more old fashioned than back home but it is very effective and thorough.
The mares are teased individually by bringing them up to the teasing box (as the picture shows). Yard teasing is the method we use back at home. This is where a teaser is placed in his own yard with the mares being placed in their mobs in an adjacent yard. They can freely walk up and tease without human intervention. If there are shy mares or mares we need to know how they'll react. I thoroughly enjoyed this week and identifying the differences between both practices in both hemispheres.
Will McNeile teasing. Recipient of the Godolphin Flying Start. Congratulations mate, wish you all the best!
Guest lecturers this month were Gerry Duffy from Godolphin back again to talk about the stallion business. Ann Cullinane (Irish Equine Centre), Harry Sweeny (Paca Paca farm, Japan), John Tutill (Owenstown Stud) just to name a few. Harry Sweeny from Japan expressed how important the Japanese breeding and racing is on a global scale. Instead of me explaining it all to you I highly recommend watching the documentary Arrowfield Stud has put together. It covers all you need to know about racing and breeding in Japan. The link is: https://youtu.be/IywC3QwJJuk
We were fortunate enough to venture down to one of the largest breeze up yards in Ireland, Bansha House Stables, owned and operated by Con Marnane. Breeze up sales are extremely popular in Europe and are a great way for vendors to have multiple options to sell their stock. They seem to be going from strength to strength with sales such as the Craven Breeze up sale seeing an increase in average and median by 30% and 42% respectively.
A total of 7 different sales in England, Ireland and France have been targeted for Bansha to sell their horses which are placed in the sale best suited to the horses in terms of ability and pedigree. The property itself is located in the beautiful country of County Tipperary which is well capitalised with the required facilities to turn out well trained 2yo's. They have their own 7 furlong uphill gallop which is placed beautifully in front of a picturesque mountain range which reminds me hugely of the mighty Kaimai Range back at home in Matamata. They also have an equine swimming pool, treadmill and walkers including the newly fitted water walker which will be hugely beneficial to the business in the long run.
We were fortunate enough to venture down to one of the largest breeze up yards in Ireland, Bansha House Stables, owned and operated by Con Marnane. Breeze up sales are extremely popular in Europe and are a great way for vendors to have multiple options to sell their stock. They seem to be going from strength to strength with sales such as the Craven Breeze up sale seeing an increase in average and median by 30% and 42% respectively.
A total of 7 different sales in England, Ireland and France have been targeted for Bansha to sell their horses which are placed in the sale best suited to the horses in terms of ability and pedigree. The property itself is located in the beautiful country of County Tipperary which is well capitalised with the required facilities to turn out well trained 2yo's. They have their own 7 furlong uphill gallop which is placed beautifully in front of a picturesque mountain range which reminds me hugely of the mighty Kaimai Range back at home in Matamata. They also have an equine swimming pool, treadmill and walkers including the newly fitted water walker which will be hugely beneficial to the business in the long run.
View of Banshahouse's 7 furlong gallop. 2yo breezers in perfect rhythm with one another.
We toured around the property with Con whilst the operation was in full swing. It became pretty evident that the man is a very laid back, but also an assertive boss who was able to juggle a tour group as well as manage all the horses being exercised around him.
After all the work was done, we were kindly invited back to the main homestead for morning tea where we met the rest of the family. Con's daughter, Amy was a graduate of the course last year and couldn't speak highly enough of her time at the Irish National Stud. She is now heavily involved within the family business which I'm sure Con is very pleased about
I would personally like to thank the Marnane family for having us out for the day to their beautiful property and wish them all the best with their upcoming sales. I'm sure they'll be a huge success as the horses looked in tip top condition!
Until next month!
Cameron.
After all the work was done, we were kindly invited back to the main homestead for morning tea where we met the rest of the family. Con's daughter, Amy was a graduate of the course last year and couldn't speak highly enough of her time at the Irish National Stud. She is now heavily involved within the family business which I'm sure Con is very pleased about
I would personally like to thank the Marnane family for having us out for the day to their beautiful property and wish them all the best with their upcoming sales. I'm sure they'll be a huge success as the horses looked in tip top condition!
Until next month!
Cameron.
