Hello from Coolmore in Ireland!
I have now been here for just over a month and it is time for me to update you on my travels and what I have been up to.
The first thing I noticed when landing at Dublin Airport was how cold it was. I left 25-degree weather in Auckland and landed in 2-degree weather in Ireland, but at least it was dry. We had some good sunny weather for the first couple of weeks, but then the next few weeks have just been constant rain and even some snow, which was pretty crazy to see.
Someone from Coolmore came to collect me at the airport and after about 2 hours, we drove past the security to enter Coolmore. The first thing I saw were the statues of Montjeu and Galileo as well as the statue of Yeats, then we drove past the impressive Stallion yard, where 13 of the Coolmore stallions reside, before driving down towards the house I am living in while being here. On the way there, I met Tom Lynch, who made sure to make me feel comfortable from the first few minutes I was on the property, which was very reassuring.
Coolmore has multiple properties across Ireland, but I am based at their main property in Fethard. It is very interesting to see how such a place is managed. It is divided into areas and each area is divided into barns, which are all self-contained with 36 stables, a lunging ring, a crush, a hay and straw shed, as well as an all-weather paddock and a high number of fields allowing small groups of horses per field as well as extra fields for stock rotation. The barns are equipped with heat lamps in each stable as well as artificial lights to help reproduce ideal weather for mares to go into season, which are now starting to be eased as the days are getting longer. There are 4 to 5 of us working in the barn I have been assigned to, and we take care of some single mares as well as mares and foals coming straight from the foaling unit. All the mares we care for are here to be covered, so we have the vet coming every day. It is impressive to see the mares we are taking care of with some big owners such as Al Shaqab Racing, Chasemore and the Haras d’Etreham.
Day-to-day work involves caring for 22 mares and foals as well as a number of single mares. I am there to help with the vetting and reproductive work for these mares as well as any other vetting requirements that may arise. I also take part in the care and welfare of these horses, making sure to muck out everyday, haying and bedding down each box with straw. Coolmore puts a big emphasis on the hygiene which is a big part of the biosecurity here. Everything is kept extremely clean, such as the crush which is cleaned and sanitised daily.
I find the vetting very interesting as I learn a lot about different medications, and procedure to give mares the best chances of going in foal. I have also really been enjoying working with the foals, as they are handled every day from the day they are born. We walk them in hand whenever they leave the stables, whether it is to take them to the crush, to the paddocks, or any other place they may be going. I also find it very interesting to see correct and safe ways to hold foals for the vet, the farrier or any other work required with them, such as changing and adjusting their headcollars.
On top of the daily work, we also regularly take pictures of the foals to update the owners as well as videos, which are all done professionally. The picture shows a lovely Magna Grecia filly, one of the first pictures I took.
I have also been lucky enough to take a few mares to the coverings and see the precautions that are taken to protect the staff, the stallions, and the mares. I find that coverings are an excellent opportunity for me to see some of the world's best stallions and racehorses, and I have already had the chance to see No Nay Never, Saxon Warrior, St Mark’s Basilica, Magna Grecia, Camelot and the first season sire Blackbeard.
In my spare time, I have had the chance to take a trip to Castlehyde, another Coolmore property, to go see some more stallions, such as Starspangledbanner, US Navy Flag, Gleneagles, as well as legend National Hunt stallion Yeats. I have also attended the first race meeting of the flat season here in Ireland at The Curragh. It is a very impressive racecourse, with very modern infrastructure, and it was great to see the number of people that were there. I have also been very well integrated with other staff and housemates and I am definitely enjoying my social time while here.
I look forward to spending more time here in Coolmore and learning more about the different methods and details that are put into the property to make it the top-class stud farm that it is, and I look forward to keep updating you on my travels!
Dorian
