Weekly Blog
When we were told during our induction week that our time here would go quickly nobody really believed it. However we are now about to begin our 15th week of the 23 week Diploma Course and it really does seem to be flying by.
Alongside the practical learning aspect of the course we also have some written work to do so that we can gain the Level 3 Certificate in Thoroughbred Stud Practice. A 20,000 word portfolio that needs to cover everything from Care of the mare prior to the breeding season, to Maintaining stud documentation, to Care of the mare and foal at, and after foaling. Everything we are doing on a day to day basis is being put into writing. For me this was a daunting task at the beginning, sitting staring at a blank computer screen wishing the words would make their way from my brain, down my arms to my fingers and the keyboard. Luckily that was just writer’s block, something quite unusual to experience when you’re used to doing practical work with horses. The words, and plenty of pictures, are now flowing freely, and with the help of the previously mentioned lectures, numerous books and the ever useful internet hopefully my practical experiences and research will aid me in doing a great piece of work.
One very controversial topic within the Thoroughbred industry that we have to write about is Artificial Insemination. Discussing advantages and disadvantages of the process, and its ban in registered Thoroughbreds certainly leads to some interesting conversations on an evening. The importance of mating decisions and pedigree analysis is another section that leads to rather lengthy talks between us. This has been at the front of our minds this week as we had a fantastic talk with Clive Webb-Carter to assist us with another of our written assignments, the mare project.
One of the units for our portfolio that I am also currently working on is designing our ideal foaling unit. A lot of thought is going in to this as we have to be able to explain and justify the reason for our design and any equipment we would use to kit out the unit. I’m on foal watch one night this weekend so I am hopefully going to be able to see another foaling and witness some of the standard equipment being put to good use.
Victoria Hagger 25.04.17
