Melissa is the Community Education and Careers Officer at Racing Victoria. We meet at a career’s expo for high school students in May of this year. Having recently taken over the role, I asked Melissa if she’d be kind enough to answer some questions about what she does with regards to horses. She agreed!

Have you always been interested in horses and when did you start out working with them?
I grew up on a dairy farm in country Victoria and I did always want a horse for myself but my dad thought they’d eat too much of the cows’ grass! So I ended up just riding friends and families horses on weekends and in holidays throughout my childhood.

My highlight was ‘borrowing’ my cousins horse for a couple of weeks one school holidays when I was a teenager. It was as close as I got to owning my own.

When packing up to relocate back to Melbourne from interstate for this job I came across ‘The book of Horses’ that I received in Grade 5. It was a very well loved book and naturally fell open on the Palomino page.

As far as the thoroughbred racing industry I’ve always been a race goer and have had friends and family working in and around the industry. Since working in the industry myself though, I now realise my knowledge and understanding was very shallow and limited compared to what I know now!

Outline your role with Racing Victoria?

I’m the Community Education and Careers Officer at Racing Victoria. With a lifelong, keen interest in the thoroughbred racing industry, I use my careers and education background to promote a love of horses and knowledge of the industry to primary school students and careers in racing to secondary students.

Racing Victoria’s Subzero Goes to School Program sees the 1992 Melbourne Cup winner Subzero visit schools throughout Victoria with a free incursion program that provides students with the unique experience to feel, smell and meet a champion thoroughbred.

The Careers in Racing Program provides secondary schools with the opportunity to hear from industry specialists such as trainers, jockeys and racing professionals.

These insightful, informative and free forums give young people an opportunity to hear from experts in the thoroughbred breeding and racing industry; one of Australia’s top 10 employers. I provide advice on varied career pathways to assist students achieving their aspirations of working in the equine industry.

I also have a post graduate degree, Careers Counseling with Elite Athletes, and have started working as part of Racing Victoria’s Apprentice Jockey Training program team ensuring our athletes come out of our program, not only as elite riders, but also well rounded individuals.

How much of your day/week is based around horses?
The role varies a lot with time in the office and out in the field. My work with horses is probably more peripheral though than working directly with them.

During the term I’m out and about visiting schools with Subzero, our community ambassador. I’m also out at the races on a regular basis, taking work experience students to show them around and meeting with various people in the industry to develop my own knowledge of the wide variety of roles and careers available.

In this field is it possible for someone to be a full time professional, earning a liveable income?
Yes definitely. Thoroughbred racing is one of the biggest employers in Victoria and Australia and is a major player in the global sports and entertainment industry.

There are full or part-time employment for almost 250,000 people, the equivalent of 77,000 jobs nationally. The excitement, the fashion, the legends and most importantly; the horses, make this one of the most diverse and exciting industries to be involved in.

Whether your passion is being hands on with horses, working outdoors, seeking a global career or being involved in the administration of racing; employment opportunities exist for those with the right commitment and willingness to learn.

What are the general steps taken to become a recognised artist?
There is such a variety of roles it is hard to be specific but generally the starting point is through being on the ground working with horses and getting to know the industry.

Many people start by getting their Certificate II Stablehand certificate and work with trainers and horses in the stable environment, whilst others get casual race day work. Personally, my role is quite specific and having both primary and secondary teaching experience as well as having a careers background has been a perfect fit for my position.

Any advice for those interested in pursuing this profession?
Building up your on the ground skills working with horses and in stables as well as knowledge of racing is a good starting point. As with any job, developing your network of people and employability skills will always help in pursing your career aspirations.

Is there anything else with horses you’d love to learn about or try?
My learning curve since starting in the role has been enormous but there is still so much that I’m getting to know.

I’m keen to get out to the International Quarantine Centre at Werribee to see first hand the logistics involved in having the international horses here for the Spring Carnival. I’ve also had an offer to spend a bit of time at a breeding facility during foaling season and will definitely be taking up that opportunity some time soon!

Favourite horse memory?
Definitely seeing Black Caviar run on Emirate Stakes Day in 2011 at Flemington. I couldn’t believe the hush that came over the crowd and the reverence that was shown.

It was like everyone knew they were about to see something very special and really wanted to soak up the moment. I felt very privileged to have witnessed some part of her racing history. I also love getting out to country mid week races and seeing all of the people on the ground making a race day happen.

From strappers and stable staff to race day staff, there are many dedicated and passionate people making this industry tick.

Future goals?
To continue to promote the breadth and depth of roles in the industry to young people and be a positive spokesperson for racing.

I’m also excited to be a part of Racing Victoria’s Apprentice Jockey program as they continue to develop our jockeys as elite, international sportspeople. In the future I’d love to be able to go overseas and see the way the industry operates in other parts of the world.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
Being a part of an exciting, international industry. Horses are incredibly unique animals, as are the people that work with them, and I have great admiration for the work they do.

There is incredible diversity in this industry and my introduction to it has been fantastic and very positive and I’m excited about the future.

“It is easier to attach reins to a freight train and practice pulling to a halt than it is to slow down some of our horses.”

tag: Racing Victoria, training, horse racing, education

EquiCARE is an Equine After Care and Nursing Service for Horse Owners of Melbourne.  Started in July 2011, EquiCARE has helped several horse owners and their ponies with various problems and procedures.  As a horse owner herself, Morgan understands how much horse ownership can affect one’s bank balance.

From Post Injury Rehabilitation to attending a Farrier Visit when owners can’t get there, EquiCARE was developed to offer a wide variety of services for horse owners at affordable prices.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
Horses are a part of my daily routine! I have 3 horses of my own, Arani the 17 year old Thoroughbred Mare, Pokey the 5 year old Thoroughbred Gelding and G I Joe, the 3 year old Miniature Gelding.

I am down at the paddock twice a day, morning feed up and evening turn out. I couldn’t imagine my world without them!
Working full time as a Veterinary Nurse at a small animal Vet Clinic I devote my early mornings, late evenings, weekends off and Rostered Days Off to my small business, EquiCARE!

In the veterinary nursing field, is it possible for someone to be a full time professional, earning a livable income?
Definitely. When I decided to move toward the Veterinary Nursing industry after years in the Thoroughbred industry I was quite nervous. It was a little difficult to get into a Vet Clinic without a Certificate IV in Vet Nursing, which is the standard qualification, but after searching on www.kookaburravets.com I was lucky enough to find a clinic which provided on the job training and didn’t require the Cert IV.

The pay was significantly less than what I had been paid in the horse industry but as you work yourself up and develop your skills, you will reap the benefits.  As an owner of 3 very HUNGRY horses living on a Vet Nurse wage, I still manage to pay the bills and feed myself, which is a BONUS!

How did the idea for EquiCARE come about?
In November 2007, a month before I was due to fly over to the United States to complete a secondment at Coolmore America for 6 months, my mare Arani had a nasty paddock accident. For some unknown reason she had taken fright and ended up entangled in a wire fence. This accident left Arani with horrible injuries including a severed jugular vein and nasty lacerations to her cannon and knee, leaving bone exposed.

Arani was transferred to ICU at Muswellbrook Vet Hospital where she was treated and then was transported back to Coolmore for rehabilitation.  Arani required daily bandage changes, antibiotics and anti inflammatories for months. Had I not worked under an amazing generous man in Peter O’Brien at Coolmore Australia, I would have been lost. How on earth would I have managed to nurse Arani’s injuries from all the way over in America?

So Arani was my inspiration behind EquiCARE! I wanted to create a business that offered horse owners help when they can’t be there or if they are just not comfortable with the procedure their horse requires.  I learnt as much as I could from professionals in Kentucky (they are amazing) and since then have completed my Certificate 3 in Equine Nursing and am currently completing my Diploma of Vet Nursing.

These qualifications together with my previous Equine Studies and experience gives my clients the peace of mind that their horse is in safe hands!

Any advice for those interested in pursuing a similar career?
I would highly recommend the National Centre for Equine Education (NCEE). I have completed my Diploma in Equine Stud Management (formally Diploma in Horse Breeding) and Certificate III in Equine Nursing at the NCEE and couldn’t rate them highly enough.

I was also lucky enough to be awarded a scholarship to the Irish National Stud to continue my studies, that’s how devoted the NCEE are to their students’ careers.  It may seem daunting for horsey girls to pack up and leave home to head to the country, but I did it, and have no regrets! Best thing I have ever done!

Is there anything else with horses you’d love to learn about or try?
I am obsessed with learning and developing new skills. My work colleagues actually think I am a little weird. I often attend seminars and conferences to expand my knowledge in the Equine Industry as well as the Small Animal Industry.

I am very intrigued about how light therapy helps horse injuries. There was a young lady, about my age who I met whilst living in Kentucky who had a qualification in Equine Therapy. Her daily job was to visit horses and use either light therapy or magnetic therapy to assist in injury rehabilitation. Apparently these types of therapy can speed up the healing process! I would love to complete a short course and maybe one day offer these therapies through EquiCARE!

Favourite horse memory?
Wow…there are so many to choose from. What would probably take the cake would be becoming reunited with a very special horse! Whilst employed at Coolmore Australia I had the privilege of working with hundreds of adorable well bred foals, one of which was a ‘stand out’.

He was sired by Fastnet Rock out of a mare called Pokey Hill. This little colt was one of those ‘friendly foals’, you know, the ones we love to scratch under the chin on the feed run. Normally this may last a while until they start to realise that they have it over you and then they turn into absolute buggers.

‘Pokey’, as I decided to call him, did not. He remained the cool, calm and collected little foal who would sit there and pose in photos with you while his mum was over the other side of the paddock. He also loved ‘shaking hands’, as seen in the picture! ‘Pokey’ was weaned, prepped for Yearling Sales, taken to Sydney Easter Sales and sold for a whopping $200,000.

He was bought by Dynamic Syndications and spent his racing years under Graeme Rogerson and Ken Parsons Stables. Over the years I would google his name, just to see what he was up to and was thrilled to see he had won a race! What a Champion!

In October last year, the time came again that I thought of my special 4 legged friend and thought I’d google him once more. I found the number of his trainer, Ken and gave him a call. Pokey had been retired due to developing EIPH (Exercise Induced Pulmonary Haemhorrage), and he was up for sale. I didn’t even think twice. He was coming home.

I purchased Pokey for $1,500 (a lot better than $200,000) and he arrived just before my 27th Birthday. I could not have asked for a better present. My mate and I were reunited and since then we have had the best time rekindling our friendship in and out of the saddle! (although things aren’t exactly the same now that he is 17hh!!)

Future goals?
I would love to be able to continue developing EquiCARE and helping Horse Owners and their ponies.  My ultimate dream is to eventually purchase some land and set up a n Equine Rehabilitation Centre so horses can come to me as well as EquiCARE going to them.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
The qualities I love the most about Equine Nursing is being outdoors and helping the most beautiful creature on earth. Even if it’s just a bandage change or a quick needle, I walk away thinking…’Yep, I am helping that little pony feel better.’ That makes me feel on top of the world!