Term 1- Directed Training (13 weeks)
Mornings (8am-12.30pm): The first term replicates the activities of a professional racing yard using our equestrian centre facilities under the guidance of our team of Instructors. Students are taught Practical Riding and Stable Management modules that include all stable duties including mucking out, grooming, tacking up, exercise riding and other yard tasks such as bandaging, putting on boots and clipping. Video recordings are made of students riding on the gallops and our instructors review these videos with students using racehorse simulators and Dartfish software to improve position and riding skills.
Afternoons (2pm-5pm): QQI lectures in Stable and Yard Routine and Racehorse Care and Exercise are taught in classrooms along with Communication skills, Work Practice, Business Calculations, Workplace Safety, Health Related Fitness and Information Technology Skills.
Evenings (7pm-9pm): Each evening throughout the course there are classes and activities for trainees including fitness coaching in our state-of-the-art gym, personal and professional development. There is a full programme of industry induction that includes behind the scenes visits.
Term 2 – Integrated Training (23 Weeks)
Mornings (6am-12.30pm): Students are placed with leading local racehorse trainers on the Curragh (flat and jumps trainers including Johnny Murtagh, Michael Halford, Kevin Prendergast, Dermot Weld, John Oxx) for on-the-job training in riding and stable management. Trainees gain practical experience tacking up, exercise riding, mucking out, grooming, and general stable & yard routine within the more pressurised environment of a busy racing yard. They assist with a variety of routine tasks with the trainer, head lad, farrier and vet when required. Each trainer will complete a Workplace Training Record on each student before one of our instructors visits students in the trainers yards to review their placement and their strengths and weaknesses. Where a student demonstrates the required level of riding skills and dedication to their job they may be allowed to ride work(training gallops) and/or school over jumps on the Curragh training and schooling grounds.
Afternoons (2pm-5pm): Classroom modules as in the first term.
Term 3 – Structured Integrated Training (6 Weeks)
Mornings (6am-12.30pm): This term is all about full time on-the-job training under the supervision of local racehorse trainers and their supervisory staff. Students are expected to carry out all stable duties under supervision, mornings and evenings as specified in our Workplace Training Record. Trainees continue to develop their skills and work as part of the team in a racing yard, riding out three or four racehorses on the gallops each morning and carrying out all regular stable duties.
Afternoons: Return to placement yards to complete evening stables as part of a full-time team of staff.
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