Applications Open For TBA’s Stud Start Program

Media Release - Monday April 29

Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) has today opened applications for its successful Stud Start program, which provides a gateway for people with little or no previous experience to enter the breeding industry.

Fully funded by TBA, Stud Start was launched last year to compliment TBA’s flagship training program, Fast Track, and is designed for people – particularly in rural areas – who are looking for a career change or to re-enter the workforce, who are keen to pursue a career in the thoroughbred breeding sector.

Members of the inaugural Stud Start intake pictured with Dave White whilst on a field trip at Vinery Stud.

Successful applicants will be inducted into a six-week taster program that combines online learning with an intensive week-long learning block in Scone (NSW).

During the week in Scone, students will receive class-based education and hands-on experience with horses, which puts into practice the online lessons they have completed over the previous five weeks. Other activities include farm visits, hearing from guest speakers and networking opportunities.

Advertisement

On conclusion of the six-week course, participants will have completed three units of competency which can be used in their Certificate III in Horse Breeding, should they choose to pursue this qualification.

The aim is to provide participants with the basic skills, knowledge and contacts necessary to take their first steps towards joining Australia’s thriving breeding industry.

“Stud Start will provide successful participants the confidence and skills to enter a career within thoroughbred industry. This year we are excited to offer not only face-to-face learning but a hybrid structure of online study and hands-on practice throughout the six weeks, which is a development from the launch of the program in 2023,” says Madison Tims, TBA’s education and projects manager.

“The course structure provides the foundational horse skills needed to begin a career on farm as well as putting trainees on a path to securing a formal qualification.”

TBA is encouraging any interested parties to apply for the program by Friday, 17th May via this link. Successful applicants will commence their online learning from Monday, 17th June, with the course ending on Monday, 22nd July.

Following the online learning component, students will participate in an intensive course at TAFE in Scone from Wednesday, 24th July to Wednesday, 31st July.

Students will be provided with accommodation during the week in Scone. Depending on the participant’s travel requirements, financial assistance may also be provided.

“Thoroughbred Breeders Australia are always looking for new initiatives to bring people into the breeding sector. This is a national program designed to provide an opportunity for those seeking a career change or looking to re-enter the workforce to get a job with horses,” says TBA chief executive, Tom Reilly.

In addition to Stud Start, TBA also runs Fast Track, a 12-month traineeship program that places students in full time employment on stud farms around the country while they study for the Certificate III in Horse Breeding – a nationally recognised formal qualification. Now in its seventh year, the 2024 Fast Track intake is set to commence in late May.

For enquiries about the Stud Start program or Fast Track, please contact Madison Tims at madison@tbaus.com or by phone on 0405 535 436.

To apply for the Stud Start program, visit the TBA website here.

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Meet the Teams and Their Horses – TSHA Nationals
The TSHA National Titles is into the final two days of what has been a super exciting and enjoyable event with the big teams tournaments this weekend featuring the Maiden Teams Challenge (90cm) on Saturday and the Racing Teams Challenge (1.2m) on Sunday and with 14 teams in total it’s a real showcase of our off the track stars.
G1 Magic in the Air at TSHA Nationals
Within a 15 minute period on Thursday morning at the TSHA National Titles at Stonewall Equestrian we saw three elite sprinters that accumulated over $13million in prizemoney take their first baby steps in the showjumping world and it was enough to bring a tear to the eye.
Frankel Colt and Filly Star at MM Weanlings Day One
A colt by Frankel from Australian Group One winner Amicus topped Day One of the 2024 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale on the Gold Coast when selling for $500,000 today.
Here To Shock Earns His Ticket to the Stradbroke
Racing in career-best form, the 6-year-old Shocking gelding Here To Shock got the decision in a dramatic finish to the Group III Ladbrokes BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Seventh Winner for Brutal - Heinous Salutes at Sandown
Newgate Farm's Brutal put his name in the mix for the number of individual winners for a first-season sire when Heinous opened her winning account with a dominant performance in the Sportsbet Nobody Does It Easier Hcp (1000m) at Sandown-Hillside on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 25
Here is the full list of 119 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch - Rosehill
The Rosehill trials on Friday weren’t big on numbers but they did give us the first look at a couple of impressive two-year-olds, one being the last foal of a Champion 3YO.
Sires With Winners - Thursday May 23
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pedigree Watch Euro – Family on Fire – No Upset This Time
The Group I Irish 2000 Guineas (1m) was run overnight at The Curragh and for the first time this year we saw a Classic go to script with the favourite taking the prize to give Darley shuttler Blue Point (IRE) his first three year-old Group I winner.
Twin Hills Mares in Foal to Too Darn Hot
Twin Hills Stud will present five mares at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale this week and they include two that are in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB), who sired Arabian Summer to win the $1million MM National 2YO Classic at Doomben on Saturday securing his standing as the likely Champion Australian First Season Sire of 2023/2024.