PAST STUDENTS

Kelley Hutchinson, Manager, Hutchinson Sport Horses

After completing my Leaving Certificate I knew I wanted to move into the sport horse sector so I asked my cousin Michael Hutchinson for some advice as he was among the second group of students to graduate from the BBs in Equine Business programme. It seemed to be the correct fit for me and the following autumn I begin my studies at MU.

I really enjoyed the course and found it hugely beneficial. Firstly, as a student of Maynooth University I had the fantastic opportunity to represent my country all over the world with the Irish Universities Riding Club Association (IURCA) and also won two medals at the world student games in 2016.

Currently I am managing a sport horse competition and sales yard, Hutchinson Sport Horses. I find the content, in particular the accounting and marketing I was taught in my various modules, essential in the daily management of the business.

The highlight for me during my time at Maynooth University were the friendships and contacts I made in every aspect of the horse sector.

Amy Dunne, Marketing, Leopardstown Racecourse

I graduated with a BBS in Equine Business degree from Maynooth University in 2014. The BBS in Equine Business was ideal for me as it gave me a solid foundation in business management and allowed me to sample the many different career opportunities in both the sport horse and thoroughbred industries.

I really enjoyed the marketing modules within the BBS in Equine Business and completed a Masters in Management with Digital Marketing at Dublin City University in 2015. In addition to the specialized equine business modules, the degree structure provides a lot of flexibility. This allowed me to study many different subjects, including Marketing, Strategic Management, Project Management and Innovation, and I was able to see what I liked and did not like within the business management discipline.

This helped me to identify a career path that brought my interests and qualifications together.

I also found the work experience within the course extremely valuable.

Since graduating I worked for Horseware Ireland and I now look after all of the digital marketing at Leopardstown Racecourse. The equine industry is exciting and if you think you would enjoy working in the sport horse or thoroughbred industry I would highly recommend the BBS in Equine Business at Maynooth University.

Tim Donworth, Assistant Trainer at Clement Nicolas

My time in Maynooth University studying the BBS in Equine Business helped me achieve many of my goals after graduation. I feel it greatly helped me in gaining a place on the Godolphin Flying Start program, while also improving my overall knowledge of the thoroughbred industry.

The course gave me a much greater understanding of what is needed to run a business which I’m sure will benefit me greatly in the future.

CURRENT STUDENTS

Barry Nolan, First Year, BBS in Equine Business 2019

From an early age I have been very involved in the racing sector as my father Paul is a trainer. All I have ever wanted to do is work with horses. However, although I have gained good practical skills, I felt I lacked knowledge of how the whole equine industry worked. As a result, the equine business course in Maynooth University seemed perfect for me. In addition to the equine business modules, the course contains various general business and management modules. I always enjoyed business as a subject in secondary school and I have continued to enjoy it at third level.

The course is exactly as I expected it to be. It has everything. Modules such as accounting, marketing, innovation and economics are all included in the degree. The module I have most enjoyed this semester is of course the specialised equine business module. Learning is a lot easier when it’s something you are interested in. I have particularly enjoyed learning about Horse Racing Ireland and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Body.

Looking ahead, I believe this degree can do a lot for me. Not only am I learning about all aspects of the equine industry, I am also becoming much more aware of how the industry works from the grass roots up to the governing body. I’m meeting people who are deeply involved at all levels of the industry and people who wish to pursue careers in racing.

The course also offers a year working abroad. I think this would be a great opportunity for me to see and experience the international racing and breeding industry, see new methods and learn different approaches to training horses. Hopefully it will complement the experience I have gained in Ireland and what I am learning on the Equine Business degree.

Emma Colman, Third Year Student BBS in Equine Business, 2019

I remember attending the Maynooth open day as a sixth-year student, I was apprehensive and unsure what to expect. Programme Director Niamh O’Sullivan delivered a very informative presentation about the course and I was instantly attracted to it. It has allowed me to combine the practicalities of a business-focused degree with my passion for horses.

The Stud Farm Management module in second year was a personal highlight. Within this module we worked on numerous projects which included assessing the conformation of a mare and taking a deeper look into the rapidly growing thoroughbred industry around the world, including countries like China. I am currently studying a module called Race day and Equine Event Management. It is fascinating to see the research and commitment involved in securing sponsors and the complex process of developing a successful marketing campaign to ensure the successful running of an event. Other business modules I am taking in final year include International Marketing and Strategic Human Resource Management.

Growing up in Dublin city, a career in this exciting industry was not an obvious choice. Equine Business has given me a comprehensive insight into the thoroughbred industry. I have grasped every opportunity it has provided over the last three years. This has included a summer internship at Godolphin’s Jonabell Farm in Kentucky after my first year to carrying out my 12-month international placement at Curraghmore Stud in New Zealand and Chris Waller Racing in Australia after my second year. This has given me an in-depth knowledge of the international thoroughbred industry. I can safely say choosing Equine Business at Maynooth University is a decision I will never regret.