The fifth season of the NZTBA International Management Scholarship is nearing completion as the 2007 recipient, Mark Lindsay, heads to Taylor Made Sales Agency in the USA for the third and final placement of his six-month scholarship.
"It has just been amazing so far," says Mark. "I've worked at Coolmore in Ireland with some of the best mares and stallions in the world and the experience was awesome."
I'm just finishing my last few days at Cheveley Park in Newmarket England and while it's been a bit quieter on the farm, I've been to Royal Ascot, the July Cup and I've also been to the sales here as well which has been really different," says Mark.
Now I can't believe I'm going to be at Taylor Made in a few days and will get the chance to be involved with a farm that is at the top of the American industry."
I'm really looking forward to being involved in the yearling preparation for the Keeneland Sales and to seeing, doing and learning as much as I can while I'm there," Mark says.
The International Management Scholarship was established and is administered by the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association. The Branch launched the Scholarship six years ago.
Initially funded through the generosity of New Zealand stud masters who donated service fees for auction to provide the base funds to establish the scholarship, the IMS is now administered by the Sunline Education Trust. "The initial fundraiser was held to honour one of our greatest racehorses in Sunline and it was only fitting that the trust should be named after her," said Michael Martin, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association. "The aim is to not only help fund the International Management Scholarship, but also to help fund other educational efforts in the future," he said.
The IMS is also funded through the contributions made by the three participating international stud farms. "We wouldn't be able to continue to offer such a wonderful opportunity if it wasn't for the support of these international studs," said Michael. "Not only do they financially support the Sunline Education Trust but, they allow their doors to be opened so that our recipients get the chance to see and do what many of us wouldn't be able to on our own," he said.
Coolmore Stud in Ireland has been a longstanding supporter of the IMS and in 2007, both Cheveley Park Stud and Taylor Made Farmhave come on board to ensure the continuation of the IMS. "When I was initially contacted about the possibility of Taylor Made Sales Agency participating in this programme, I just thought what a great idea the scholarship is," said Duncan Taylor, President of Taylor Made Sales Agency. "It is important for the future of our industry to give young people the opportunity to develop and enhance their skills," he said. "We have an internship programme that we run ourselves here at Taylor Made as we see it as very important to develop and mould young people into future management, so we didn't hesitate in supporting the IMS," said Duncan.
So far, the Sunline Education Trust has been responsible for sending five young New Zealanders on the IMS and all five recipients have returned to and remained in New Zealand to further their careers achieving one of the primary goals of the scholarship – to provide participants with international experience and knowledge that they can bring back to New Zealand. Grant Bennett holds a management position at Westbury Stud; Shannon Taylor has her own business and handles the sales and marketing for both Haunui Farm and Trelawney Stud; Michael Wallace is an up-and-coming bloodstock agent; Libby Fergusson returned last year to take up the position as yearling manager at Wellfield Lodge; and Mark Lindsay will return to take up a management role at Newmarket Lodge.
"I think that list of young people and what they have gone on to achieve outlines the success that the International Management Scholarship has had in attracting high quality members of our industry to apply," said Michael Martin, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association. "The IMS is very different from the English National Stud and Irish National Stud Diploma Course Scholarships that are also available," he said. "The recipient spends time at three major stud farms, in three different countries over a period of six months and they're given the opportunity to focus on areas of interest not to mention, all of the other aspects involved in the successful operation of three of the world's most successful thoroughbred stud farms," said Michael.
Anyone interested in applying for the 2008 International Management Scholarship should contact Sally Cassels-Brown at the NZTBA Head Office – 09 525 2428.
- Shannon Taylor
"It has just been amazing so far," says Mark. "I've worked at Coolmore in Ireland with some of the best mares and stallions in the world and the experience was awesome."
I'm just finishing my last few days at Cheveley Park in Newmarket England and while it's been a bit quieter on the farm, I've been to Royal Ascot, the July Cup and I've also been to the sales here as well which has been really different," says Mark.
Now I can't believe I'm going to be at Taylor Made in a few days and will get the chance to be involved with a farm that is at the top of the American industry."
I'm really looking forward to being involved in the yearling preparation for the Keeneland Sales and to seeing, doing and learning as much as I can while I'm there," Mark says.
The International Management Scholarship was established and is administered by the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association. The Branch launched the Scholarship six years ago.
Initially funded through the generosity of New Zealand stud masters who donated service fees for auction to provide the base funds to establish the scholarship, the IMS is now administered by the Sunline Education Trust. "The initial fundraiser was held to honour one of our greatest racehorses in Sunline and it was only fitting that the trust should be named after her," said Michael Martin, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association. "The aim is to not only help fund the International Management Scholarship, but also to help fund other educational efforts in the future," he said.
The IMS is also funded through the contributions made by the three participating international stud farms. "We wouldn't be able to continue to offer such a wonderful opportunity if it wasn't for the support of these international studs," said Michael. "Not only do they financially support the Sunline Education Trust but, they allow their doors to be opened so that our recipients get the chance to see and do what many of us wouldn't be able to on our own," he said.
Coolmore Stud in Ireland has been a longstanding supporter of the IMS and in 2007, both Cheveley Park Stud and Taylor Made Farmhave come on board to ensure the continuation of the IMS. "When I was initially contacted about the possibility of Taylor Made Sales Agency participating in this programme, I just thought what a great idea the scholarship is," said Duncan Taylor, President of Taylor Made Sales Agency. "It is important for the future of our industry to give young people the opportunity to develop and enhance their skills," he said. "We have an internship programme that we run ourselves here at Taylor Made as we see it as very important to develop and mould young people into future management, so we didn't hesitate in supporting the IMS," said Duncan.
So far, the Sunline Education Trust has been responsible for sending five young New Zealanders on the IMS and all five recipients have returned to and remained in New Zealand to further their careers achieving one of the primary goals of the scholarship – to provide participants with international experience and knowledge that they can bring back to New Zealand. Grant Bennett holds a management position at Westbury Stud; Shannon Taylor has her own business and handles the sales and marketing for both Haunui Farm and Trelawney Stud; Michael Wallace is an up-and-coming bloodstock agent; Libby Fergusson returned last year to take up the position as yearling manager at Wellfield Lodge; and Mark Lindsay will return to take up a management role at Newmarket Lodge.
"I think that list of young people and what they have gone on to achieve outlines the success that the International Management Scholarship has had in attracting high quality members of our industry to apply," said Michael Martin, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association. "The IMS is very different from the English National Stud and Irish National Stud Diploma Course Scholarships that are also available," he said. "The recipient spends time at three major stud farms, in three different countries over a period of six months and they're given the opportunity to focus on areas of interest not to mention, all of the other aspects involved in the successful operation of three of the world's most successful thoroughbred stud farms," said Michael.
Anyone interested in applying for the 2008 International Management Scholarship should contact Sally Cassels-Brown at the NZTBA Head Office – 09 525 2428.
- Shannon Taylor
