THE annual CAFRE Careers Day at the Enniskillen campus is always fuelled by the buzz of the students, as they navigate the varied selection of industry stands, it’s a day that always feels packed full of promise. From thoroughbred pre-training specialist Richard Brabazon of Rangers Lodge to successful Armagh-based racehorse trainer Andy Oliver, to saddle fitting with Tamlaght Equestrian Care, there was so much for our budding equestrians to discover.

Expertly hosted by Leo Powell, the afternoon discussion panel was made up of Olympic event rider and top-level producer Claire Abbott of Clare Abbott Eventing, Paddy Looney of Aloga Equestrian, Conor Chapman of Watership Down Stud, racing secretary and owner of The Bloodstock PA, Holly Roeder, plus award-winning bloodstock star Amy Marnane of Bansha House.

All of the panellists explained the importance of good people skills, good communication and of a positive work ethic.“I think the most important part of this business is who you meet, the connections that you make,” said Amy Marnane. Amy talked about the good foundation she gained at CAFRE. She discussed the highlight of her career, buying Givemethebeatboys for €11,000 and selling him for £1.1 million.

“Anybody can make it, but they have to work very hard. You always see the good days, horses winning, the horses making plenty of money. You always see the fancy foal has arrived, the Frankel’s after arriving in the yard or whatever. But there’s a lot of very difficult days, and there’s a lot of downs, and there’s a lot of days where you think I’m wasting my time, but however bad it gets, something always happens to bring it back up.”

Personal determination

“You start at the bottom and you build your way up, my time spent on other people’s yards was invaluable,” was Claire Abbott’s view.

“I met a gentleman one day when I was 21 and he said, I have a nice young horse that might suit you. I’ll send him to you. That horse turned out to be called Euro Prince. With that one horse, I managed to tick all the boxes that I dreamed of as a child. I went to Badminton five times. I was very lucky that his owners kept him and enjoyed the sport, and they supported me competing events all around Europe for the championships and the Olympics in Brazil.”

Today, Claire also produces horses, closely matching her achievements in the saddle, “One of my most proud moments is having four horses that have been with me from four years old, that have been sold to four different world-class riders to be their potential Olympic horses.

“I think personal determination plays a massive part in success, and also the determination to prove people wrong. I bet lots of people in this room have been told ‘you’ll never make it’. That you have no chance. You’ll never do this. You’ll never do that. And I thought quietly to myself, I’ll show you.

“Hard work rules the day. It’s actually the day-to-day process that is ultimately where the goal is achieved. So, you might think it feels a bit like Groundhog Day, day in, day out, but every so often, there is a massive boost for your career or where you’re going, and that makes it all worthwhile. So be determined and set the bar high. And don’t let anybody tell you you can’t do it.”

Now based in Britain, Conor Chapman is assistant stud manager at Watership Down Stud, famously founded by Madeleine and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Chapman has worked in America, Chile, Australia and finds travel to have been a huge plus in his career.

“It’s busy wherever you go! It’s the same breed everywhere, but they’re all different types of horses; the American dirt horse, the Australian sprinter, the Irish or English stayer – it’s just so very different how they’re produced and is very interesting.

“I’ve had the privilege to travel so much and learn from all these people, all these different cultures throughout the world, bring all that together and to allow that to model me into who I am.”

Represent yourself

“Being Irish, you automatically get a leg up,” said Paddy Looney of Aloga Equestrian.

“In a way, because we feel we mightn’t have that much experience in certain areas, until you go to Chile or you go to New Zealand, then you realise how much you know in terms of horsemanship.

“You have to put yourself out there, but that’s backed up by the hard work in the background. Communication is key, because you need to be able to represent yourself in the best way possible, and a brand, if you representing a brand, and you yourself are a brand.”

“You will fail multiple times. I couldn’t tell you about the things I messed up massively, but I don’t even think about it.

“Not only are things going to go wrong, but things you didn’t anticipate are going to go wrong. It’s how you deal with that.”

Racing secretary Holly Roeder worked in barristers’ chambers, then became a florist, before she found her niche in the bloodstock industry organising things for top trainers. “Through my father (famous footballer and manager Glenn Roeder), who loved racing, I was very lucky to get some work experience in Newmarket in a couple of really high profile yards, including that of Henry Cecil.

“I wrote letters to every single trainer in Newmarket to ask for a job. And it’s taught me something to this day, that I reply to every letter or even email these days, to say thank you so much and good luck. I came across a trainer, who I ended up working for the next 14 years.

“Nothing that you do is wasted. It doesn’t matter that you do a course in one thing and take a job in another and change again. There will always be something that you’ve taken from that and come back to.”

To conclude the day and on learning how to get ahead, Leo Powell wisely pointed out to the students gathered, “Listen very carefully to what you’ve heard today from these five panellists.”