New announcement. Learn more

Sunline ScholarshipScholarshipNew Zealand BloodstockBreeders' BulletinCambridge StudRich HillCovid-19BreedingIrish National StudWaikato StudHaunui FarmPearl SeriesBelardoCheveley Park StudGavelhouse PlusBreeders BulletinBrighthill FarmCoolmoreWindsor Park StudBruce SladeLittle Avondale StudRITATaylor MadeTrelawney StudBruce's BlogBulletinMapperley StudMatt's BlogMatthew ScownNovara ParkWeanling SaleAlmanzorIffraajJamie RichardsMatt ScownNational Breeding AwardsOcean ParkRobert DennisSatono AladdinThe Oaks StudBevan SmithDavid Morris BlogFirst Crop Sire FocusHighden ParkHolly RossHolly's BlogNZTRSavabeelTavistockTime TestValachi DownsWellfield LodgeWentwood GrangeWestbury StudWhite Robe Lodge2020 New SiresBevan's BlogCurraghmoreEminentJamie's BlogKeith and Faith Taylor Equine ScholarshipKiwi BredLance Forbes BlogMelody BelleNathan TrumperNZB Pearl SeriesPer IncantoRaise The FlagRobert's BlogBenji KingBenji's BlogCameron Ring BlogContributerDanielle Southey BlogGavelhouseGordon CunninghamGrangewilliam StudHannah AireyHannah MeeHello YoumzainNZB South Island SaleSouth Island SaleSweynesseWelfareCharm SpiritDylan TreweekDylan's BlogEmbellishHannah's BlogInglewood StudKoldingLaura McNabMarie LeicesterNewmarketNZB InsuranceReliable ManRibchesterSam BergersonVadamosVespaWroteWyndspelleAce HighAide MemoireBagalolliesBeyond the BarriersBreeding AwardsCameron RingChris LuoniCoronavirusDalgharDarci BrahmaDavid ArcherDon GoodwinEtah JamesHall of FameJon SnowLance ForbesMilan ParkNZ Racing Hall of FameOcean EmperorPolly GreyPrefermentRacingRichard WrightRoad to RockSacred FallsShamexpressShockingShowcasingSir Patrick HoganStaphanosSuper SethTivaciTurn Me LooseVanbrughWaikato Stallion WeekendWeigh InYearling SalesZedAlamosaAlice JeffriesAlice WilkinsonAncient SpiritAtlanteAuckland Breeder AwardsAvantageBeauty GenerationBLOODSTOCK TAXATIONBradbury ParkBreeder of The YearCallsign MavCatalystCEO BlogChief Executive's BlogChristopher GraceClyde BuckinghamCoolmore IrelandDean McKenzieDennis BrothersDorian KosDunstan Breeder of the MonthEducationExplosive BreedingFalkirkFasttrack Breeders ProfileFoster FoalFrankelGerry HarveyGingernutsHealthy RiversHighviewIgraineJakkalberryJennifer EcclesJoan EganJohnny Get AngryJomara BloodstockKaraka 2021Karaka MillionLion's RoarLisa LattaLloyd MonehanMare ReturnsMark ChittyMark LuptonMembershipMorgan WilksNearco StudNick KingNZTBA Waikato BranchOcean BillyOceanexOff The Track ThoroughbredsPattern CommitteePear Tree FarmPinsRacing Industry BillRangitikei Gold CupReady To Run SaleRoaring LionRock 'n' PopRyan StaceyShannon TaylorSneaking To WinStallion paradeStallion parade 2019Surprise BabyTarzinoTe AkauTe Aroha Breeders DayTen SovereignsThe Chosen OneTheileria equiTofaneToffee TongueTony PikeTony RiderUnusual SuspectVerry ElleegantWaikato BranchWar DecreeWarren PeggWarwick JeffriesWeanling WalkWillie and Karen CalderWinston PetersYearn2015/16 Handicaps2017 Waikato Stallion Parade2020 Service fees2020-21 Broodmare of the Year2021 New Season Sire Preview2021 NZB Weanling Sale30 Day Foal NotificationAblazeACC ForumACC LEVIESAdvantageAegonAerovelocityAl Basti EquiworldAlan GrovesAlan WindleAllan SharrockAllureAlphastarAmazing StarAndrew FowlerAndrew SeabrookAndrew StewartAnnabel WigleyAnne-Marie KingAnother DollarArdsley StudArrivederciArthur AvisAternatinAuckland Stallion ParadeAuckland Stallion Parade 2017Auret FamilyAvonalloAzamourBaggy GreenBansha House StablesBarbara PerryBattle of the BreedsBeaufort DownsBelle familyBen KwokBerkley StudBernard SaundryBessBig MikeBill GleesonBlandford LodgeBohemian BluesBonnevalBonniegirlBonny LassBostonianBoticaBRANCH CAPITATIONBred To WinBreeder Of The Year 2016Breeder ProfileBreeders Bulletin Winter 2016Breeders' Bulletin Summer 2016/17Breeders' StakesBrent and Cherry TaylorBrian CollinsBright AbyssBroodmare Of The Year 2016Broodmare of the year 2020Bruce HarveyBruce PerryBryerley ParkBuckinghamBurgundyCancer SocietyCareers DayCarol MarshallCathay PacificCatWalkCelia CrawshawCharles RobertsCharmontCherry TaylorCheveley ParkChiantiChocanteChris GraceCircus MaximusClearview ParkClimate changeColdplayComplacentCoolmore AmericaCouleeCount ZeroCountofmontecristoCovCoventinaCrosshavenCylinder BeachDan MyersDaniel NakhleDanny RolstonDavid EllisDavid GreeneDavid MillerDavid MorrisDavid PaykelDavid WalshDawn PatrolDe GruchyDeloitte ReportDerrynDezDijon BleuDivine ProphetDolcettoDormello StudDr Frances PeatDunstan FeedsDunstan Feeds Stayers ChampionshipDunstan Feeds Under The RadarDunstan Horse FeedsDylan JohnsonElephantElusive BoxersEmblemEmma EvansEnglandEnvironmentEpisode OneEquibreed Seminar 28th AugustEquifibreEquine Property OwnersEvent StarsExplosive JackExportsFabulousFanaticFarriersFasig-TiptonFastrack Breeder ProfileFasttrackFerlaxFerrandoFiona BassettFirst Season Sire ReviewFive to MidnightFlemmington FarmFlying MontyFlyingflynnFoal NZFoalsFormidableFoxbridgeFrank ConwayFree Handicaps 2016-17Full of BeautyG1 DinnerGalloping GerteGary WallaceGeorgeGeorge ChittickGermanicusGift Of PowerGilltown StudGina ShickGoffsGore GuineasGraham BaxGraham de GruchyGreg TomlinsonGus WigleyGuy LowryGypsy FairHallmark StudHamdan Al MaktoumHappy StarHard MerchandizeHe Waka Eke NoaHe's Our RokkiiHe's RemarkableHEALTH & SAFETY ACTHedwood ThoroughbredsHeniHigh ChaparralHighview StudHiyaamHoney RiderHorse ambulanceHouse of CartierHoward Be Thy NameHumidorI Am A StarIain RentonImmigrationImperatrizImposing LassImposinglyInfantryInside AgentIRDIrelandIts Time For MagicJanine DunlopJeanette BroomeJen CampinJericho CupJezabeelJimmy ChouxJohn BergerJohn FokerdJohn Messara Report Release Date 30 August 2018John ThompsonJohn WoodJonny OrrJulian CorbanJust Got HomeJustamaizKawiKay HoodKaye SandersKeanoKeenelandKevin GrayKevin HickmanKevin PrattKhalesKick BackKinaneKing of ComedyKoru ThoroughbredsKyla RobbKyla Robb BlogKylie FawcettKylin 500 ClubLa DiosaLa RomaneeLasarlaLegless VeuveLet Her RipLetham StudLib PetagnaLibby BleakleyLifesaverLightning StakesLincoln BlueLincoln FarmsLiz AllenLloch-Haven ThoroughbredsLondon ExpressLong Acres StudLorna MooreLuigi MuolloMadame De SoirMajor TomMakfiMakfi StakesMangaroa Flo JoMansfield FarmMarch 2016Mark CorcoranMark TreweekMary Lynne Ryan Young Achiever AwardMaster PaintonMay SaleMcQuadeMeeska MooskaMegan LieftingMeleka BelleMembersMiami boundMichael MoranMichael O'KeefeMichael SheridanMicheal StedmanMichelle SabaMick PrestonMiss Three StarsMiss VistaMiss WilsonMondoraniMongolian khanMonovaleMonovale FarmMontoyas SecretMonty RobertsMonza CircuitoMPIMustang ValleyNahkleNeedle and ThreadNew zealand racing hall of fameNew Zealand Small Breeder of the YearNigel AuretNight's WatchNitrogenNot An OptionNurse KitchenNZ Bred G1 WinnersNZ Breeder of the YearNZ First season sires 2018NZ HOTYNZ Racing AwardsNZ Racing StructureNZB AirfreightNZB Yearling SalesNZEHANZERFNZRBNZTBA Breeders Bulletin Autumn 2018NZTBA OfficeNZTBA RestructureNZTBA Te Aroha Breeders DayNZTROF March 2017OctapussyOctasongOlly TuthillOn The RocksOne One TwoOnly WordsOpulenceOur AbbadeanOWNERS FEDERATIONPaisley ParkPark Hill StablesPaul GollanPaul MoroneyPaul YesbergPencarrowPencarrow StudPentirePerfect FitPerfectly ReadyPeter and Heather CrofskeyPeter and Sue WestendPeter NewsomPeter SmithPeter WalkerPhilamorPhilip SmythPhill CataldoPiaggioPins 'N' NeedlesPiroplasmosisPlatinum InvadorPlusvitalPour MoiPRIMARY ITOPrince Of BrooklynPrincess JenniProisirProisir FoalsProm QueenPucciniPure ChampionPurple SectorQuiz NightRace Fields LegislationRaceFormRacing hall of fameRacing MinisterRacing Reform BillRageeseRaise You TenRavelston StudRaven DarkholmeRebecca DonovanRed GiantRedwoodReliable TeamRemindRichard CollettRick WilliamsRide To TimeRip Van WinkleRiva CapriRoad ShowsRobin ArcherRobt DaweRock OnRodger VarianRodmor Trust Lecture SeriesRomancerRon LaddRose of TraleeSacred DaySacred ElixirSalesSandy MooreSaracinoSaratogaSavigneSavile RowSavy yong blonkScorpzScott BaseSeabrookSeagramSean HawkinsSeason 5SeawayShadwellShane KennedyShoshoneShout the BarShoworosesSir James FletcherSky DarciSleeping BeautySophie's ChoiceSouth Island Foster FoalSpanish WhisperSpecial MemoriesSpiethSpyglass Hill SyndicateStakesStallion Coverings 2020Stallion Parades 2016Stallion Register 2018Start WonderingSteel StilettosStephen AutridgeStranglesSue and Peter WestendSummer PassageSunlineSunset PassSuper EasySupergiantSupreme HeightsSusan ArcherSusan WalkerSweet LeaderSweet TreatTaranaki Breeders' StakesTattersallsTattyboglerTaxTe ArohaTelperionThe Bold OneThe BostonianThe InformantThe KingThe Sunlight TrustThere You GoTicklishTivaci ShuttleTom LaneTommy HeptinstallTomsTrain The Trainer WorkshipTravelling LightTravimyfriendTrevor LukeTrue EnoughTurrettTutta La ClasseUberlebenUnderthemoonlightUpper CutUS Navy FlagVamos BebeVerdiVern TrilloVernanmeVicki PascoeVicki PikeVisasVolatile MixWaikato Regional Council ReportWait A SecWally O'HearnWayne DarlingWayne PikeWeanling educationWell DoneWellington BranchWertherWhat's The StoryWhite Robe Lodge HandicapWho Shot ThebarmanWilliam FellWinstarWinxWTBAXpressionXpressmymindXtravagantYogiZabeelZacintoZebrowskiZennistaZigwig
TAGS

Scholarship Blog- Laura McNab

Keith & Faith Taylor Equine Scholarship recipient Laura McNab provides an update on her first few weeks in Ireland

I’m not very good at sitting still, so 25 hours on a plane was fairly tough!! Stepping off the plane into a chilly 2 degrees was a bit of a shock to the system, especially since it was 25 degrees when I left home. I was warned about the Irish winter and it has definitely lived up to its reputation. The winter woolies have well and truly been dusted off and put to the test so far. We’ve had a few snow flurries but nothing has stuck yet. Storm Ciara whipped through with some serious wind and rain though!

As I sit and write this, I’m taking over from Hannah for night watch duties for the next 4 nights- luckily the time difference means I can chat to everyone back home and keep me occupied in between checks!

Our first week on the course was busy busy busy with inductions covering everything from foaling to teasing to pedigree analysis. We were also treated to a stallion parade, and I just loved seeing the legendary Invincible Spirit in the flesh. He’s such an impressive stallion, with the most incredible presence about him, and it’s easy to see why he is considered to be one of the greats.

Getting to know everyone else on the course has been fantastic. There is nothing like sharing stories and experiences with everyone over a few pints at the local pub, Cunningham’s. Living in the hostel has taken me back to my first year at uni in the halls… except everyone is a bit older and everyone likes horses!

On my first weekend off, we headed to Leopardstown racecourse for the Dublin Racing Festival. The atmosphere was incredible, and it was really great to see the public get behind the horses in every race. I loved the fact that the every day Joe Bloggs was out there enjoying the racing like myself, and the support from the crowd was electric! I’m keen to get to as many race days as I can, although with racing on the TV in the common room almost 24/7, we don’t miss much.

I was lucky enough to be one of the first students rostered on for night watch in the foaling unit… just as I started getting over my jetlag I had to start staying awake all night! Luckily we were kept busy on our first night with two foals born almost at the same time. I’ve done a fair amount of foaling before, but I still get excited for every single foal to take their first wobbly steps.

I think starting on night watch has given me some kind of foaling luck- over the three weeks we’ve been here, I’ve helped foal more mares than anyone else! We’ve joked that if anyone wants their mare to foal, I just need to go hang out with it for a bit. The human version of oxytocin maybe?

We had a visit to the Goffs February Sale last week to pick our weanling or mare for our first assignment. Like Hannah said, it seemed strange to be wrapped up in scarves, gloves and beanies when Karaka Sales have just been and we’d usually be sweltering in shorts and T-shirts! The Goffs sale’s complex was excellent, and it was great to be able to talk to all the different consigners about their horses, as well as cast our eye over some real quality animals.

I’ve spent the last week working in the Sun Chariot yard with the mares who are just about ready to foal, and started Monday off on day watch. The stud has an incentive that any student who spots a mare who is foaling in the field and brings it into the foaling box before the mare foals, then they get a bonus in their wages that week. So you can only imagine how stoked I was to walk out into the field and spot a mare breaking waters! Nothing like a bit of bragging rights in the hostel to have been the first student to get the bonus (although the boys reckon it might be my shout at Cunninghams next weekend…) The yard foreman, Joe, and the two night foaling attendants, Lauren and Tina, have been an absolute wealth of knowledge, and they’re more than happy to answer any of our questions.

I have to say a huge huge thank you to everyone who has made this experience possible for Hannah and I- the NZTBA, the Taylor Family and of course the Irish National Stud. It’s going to be an exciting 6 months, and we can’t wait to get stuck in.

Until next time, Laura




 

This product has been added to your cart

CHECKOUT