During the “Boot Camp” phase of the Cadetship, our mornings begin with our daily run followed by breakfast and discussing the day ahead. Depending on the string we are in, we either have stable duties in the morning or the afternoon. If we have stable duties in the morning, the day’s jobs and priorities are written out for us to follow on the blackboard. After stable duties we catch, handle, groom and saddle the assigned horses for the day, which is followed by a three-hour riding session where we learn our craft and perfect our skills under the watchful eyes of our top trainers.
From noon to 1.00 p.m. we have lunch and prepare for our afternoon classes. Our classes are all focused around the racing industry and are taught by the best in the industry in order to make us competent at our stable and stud placement. Classes are over at 4:00 p.m. when we either do our afternoon stable duties or go home and plan for tomorrow.
A week in the life of the Cadetship program begins with our early morning running, followed by breakfast and planning for the day ahead.
Stable Duties are a key part of what we do, and morning and afternoon stable duties are assigned to different strings within the program. After our morning stable duties, we proceed with handling, grooming, tacking up and riding of our horses for the day in one of the arenas or around the track.
After all that hard work, it’s lunchtime! From 1.00 p.m. onwards, our afternoon classes begin with topics ranging from breeding to first aid. On Monday after the classes, we have our weekly gym session to keep us mentally and physically at our best. At 4.00 p.m., we either have afternoon stable duties or home time where recovering and socialising are on the agenda.
On Wednesday’s, its excursion day, where anything to do with the racing industry is explored. From race days to barrier trials, tours of Ranvet, or hearing from top experts in their respective fields, no part of the racing industry is off-limits here.
The weekends are filled with hanging out with the members of the Cadetship program and reflecting on the week past and planning for the week to come.
Students will be provided with an Explorer Cadetship Uniform which they will wear each day.
Riding boots and safety equipment will be kept in the tack room at Western Sydney TAFE (WST).
MORNING STABLE DUTIES which may include: hand walking horses, un-rugging, cleaning out boxes or yards and refilling with shavings as required, clean water buckets and refill, grooming of horses, health checks of horses, trot ups, sweep walkways and morning feeds. checking fences, grading arenas or tracks, inspecting tracks or watching track work at a local racecourse.
PROVIDED BY THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY CAREERS
Students will ride a horse which will be suited to their level. Students will learn to ride to instruction both in the indoor arena, outdoor arena and on the 600-metre track at WST.
Over the program students will be required to ride different horses allowing them to gain more experience. Students will need to develop important riding skills which includes following written and verbal instructions of their instructor.
Once students have finished riding, they will learn how to wash down and check over their horses as is done in a racing stable. Horses will then put in their day paddocks.
Students will have an hour and a half for lunch and have the option to go back to their apartment to make their own lunch, alternatively there are two Cafés (where lunch can be purchased) – one at the WST campus and another at WSU’s campus.
After lunch students will focus on the theory components of their learning. An example of the topics that will be covered are: History of Australian Racing and Breeding, the Rules of Racing, OH & S Procedures, Self-management, Transport of Horses, Personal Health and Fitness, Feeding Programs, Thoroughbred Industry Career Options, Racehorse Performance, Emergency Situations and Veterinary Topics.
Following the theory sessions, students will attend to the horses again, including: hand-walking, skipping out yards and boxes, feed and watering the horses.
End of day – free time.
Dinner – Students will be required to arrange their own dinner at their apartments.
Throughout the 3-month program, each week students will gain valuable insight into the thoroughbred industry through ‘Industry Days’. Industry Days will include going on excursions to the races, yearling sales, morning track work and stud farms, along with hearing from leading trainers, jockeys, bloodstock agents, media and administrators about their careers in the industry.
The Explorer Cadetship Program won’t all be about learning thoroughbred related skills, it will include teaching student’s valuable life skills and at Boot Camp there will be a different topic covered. Some of the topics will include: work ethic, being on time and being reliable, personal presentation and language, manners, self-respect and respect for others, how to conduct yourself and how to be interviewed, how to greet people and how to speak to owners/clients, personal motivation, health and fitness (mental health), healthy eating habits, how to work in a team and how to resolve conflict.
