Arriving at Dublin airport a month ago on a brisk cold day with a high of -2°C was a shock to the system coming from summer. Then after two days of being here, we had our first small dumping of snow, which was pretty to wake up to. But since then, we have had considerably mild weather with no significant rain as of yet, however, it is meant to come this week.
After three days in Ireland, we went on our first day trip to Ballydoyle and Coolmore, which will be a highlight of the trip.
We started the day at Ballydoyle, where we saw a group of two-year-olds complete their work with Aidan O’Brien, who checked in with each rider and used a radio to give the riders instructions while completing their work. Then we got to have a tour around their facilities which included anything and everything they may need for training, care and treatments of their horses, including a new hyperbaric chamber.
Following on from Ballydoyle, we headed to Coolmore, where we saw all the stallions at their main farm, including Australia, Circus Maximus, Magna Grecia, No Nay Never, St Marks Basilica, Wotton Bassett, Ten Sovereigns and their exciting new first season sire in Blackbeard. The facilities at Coolmore were top-class, and one of the highlights for me was getting to go into one of John Magnier's private yards where all his mares live. This particular barn we saw housed only group 1 winning mares or mares that had produced a group 1 winner, which is what every breeder dreams of. We finished our tour in the Coolmore museum which was interesting to see the history of the farm and all the great horses that had come through the nursery.
The following two nights after the trip, I was on night watch, which was two long nights as we didn’t have any foals while I was there, but the foaling is now starting to get into full swing with foals coming every night. Two students are on foal watch each night, Monday to Thursday or Friday to Sunday.
Then I joined the crew at Maddenstown Yard, where all the maiden and dry mares live. Also, we were prepping seven yearlings for the February sale at Goffs, which was very simple as they went on the walker in the morning, then into the paddock for the day and in at night with a quick groom when they came into the boxes.
For my second week, I was on stallions which was an enjoyable week handling the likes of Invincible Spirit and Lucky Vega, which are very easy-going horses. Most stallions go out into a paddock during the day, however, some only go onto the walker for an hour and then go back into the box. By the end of the week, we had a few covers with test mares to help the stallions that don’t shuttle get ready for the season.
Last week I was in Strawhall and Kildare yards. Strawhall houses the internal mares, which are nearly ready to foal, and within the next few weeks, this will be turned into a second foaling unit for internal mares. Kildare yard is where the internal mares and foals move to once they have finished up in the foaling unit. This was a new experience as all the foals are lead from the time they come into this yard.
Next week I am moving into Murphys and Minoru yards which are home to pregnant mares who are about to head up to the foaling unit.
Currently, we are completing an assignment where we spent a day at Goff's February sale where we had to select a mare, and we will have to do a breeding plan for her to optimise return.
I have met a great bunch of people in the month I have been here, and I'm looking forward to the next six months in Ireland. I want to thank NZTBA, the Taylor Family and everyone who has supported me this far in the journey for making this experience possible.