Agri Aware and equuip commit to ‘From Foal to Race’ transition year programme after successful pilot
06/12/2022
Agri Aware and equuip brought students from St Joseph’s College in Borrisoleigh racing to Thurles Racecourse last Thursday, December 1 as part of the “From Foal to Race” transition year programme.
The TY pilot developed by equuip and Agri Aware, piloted in January this year, is structured to create a learning experience for both student and teacher. The Agri Aware and equuip collaboration offers a comprehensive overview of the horse racing and breeding and saw over 4000 students from 120 schools around the country take part. 92% of teachers who took part in the pilot project rated it between four and five stars. Similarly, 83% of pupils gave the programme the same score.
Agri Aware and equuip have committed to roll out the ‘From Foal to Race’ TY programme on a permanent basis which will continue to raise awareness of Ireland’s racing and breeding industry, to increase understanding of the foal-to-race story, and to highlight the many careers within this vibrant industry. The horse racing and breeding industry is worth €1.84 billion to the Irish economy and employs approximately 29,000 people across a wide rural reach.
The programme includes six chapters such as horse basics, making a racehorse, breeding, and stud farms. Students also participate in a series of interactive webinars and have to submit a group project to complete the programme. In addition, the programme also covers transferable skills of group work, debate, public speaking, and research.
The programme also provides foundational knowledge for the leaving certificate cycle within biology, business, and agricultural science. This interdisciplinary approach to the programme reflects a real-world application of school-taught subjects in a flexible and interesting format.
A new addition to the project for 2023 will be linking TY students to their local racecourses, so they can understand the sport and the industry better and build relationships with those working in all aspects of the industry – from jockeys, trainers, stable staff, breeders, administrators, and support services.
No prior knowledge of horse racing or the equine industry is necessary to participate in the programme.
‘From Foal to Race’ runs from January to May 2023 and teachers can register for free on the From Foal To Race programme page here.
Champion National Hunt Trainer, Willie Mullins, said: “It was a pleasure to meet such an enthusiastic bunch of students from St Joseph’s College at Thurles Racecourse last week. Training horses is my job and passion, so I was delighted to share my love for the game with them. Racing is a brilliant sport to follow but there are also so many jobs in racing and breeding for young people to consider. It’s a sport that Ireland excels in the world over which I’m very proud to be part of.”
Agri Aware Chairman Alan Jagoe, said: “The ‘From Foal to Race’ pilot programme was a great success, so I am delighted to see it launched as a full transition year programme.
“Agri Aware prides itself on providing hands-on programmes for schools so it was great to have everyone from St Joseph’s at Thurles Racecourse today to get a real feel for what happens at a race day and behind the scenes in the horse racing and breeding industry.
“Thanks so much to Willie Mullins for giving us his time today, we wish him the best of luck for the rest of the season.”
Elaine Burke, equuip Manager, said: “We were thrilled with the success of the ‘From Foal to Race’ TY pilot programme and are focussed now on growing the programme and getting the from foal to race story out to as many secondary schools in the coming years. Equuip work to promote the many career opportunities available in the Irish racing and breeding industry and this programme is a great way to open up the sport and engage with students.”
The TY pilot developed by equuip and Agri Aware, piloted in January this year, is structured to create a learning experience for both student and teacher. The Agri Aware and equuip collaboration offers a comprehensive overview of the horse racing and breeding and saw over 4000 students from 120 schools around the country take part. 92% of teachers who took part in the pilot project rated it between four and five stars. Similarly, 83% of pupils gave the programme the same score.
Agri Aware and equuip have committed to roll out the ‘From Foal to Race’ TY programme on a permanent basis which will continue to raise awareness of Ireland’s racing and breeding industry, to increase understanding of the foal-to-race story, and to highlight the many careers within this vibrant industry. The horse racing and breeding industry is worth €1.84 billion to the Irish economy and employs approximately 29,000 people across a wide rural reach.
The programme includes six chapters such as horse basics, making a racehorse, breeding, and stud farms. Students also participate in a series of interactive webinars and have to submit a group project to complete the programme. In addition, the programme also covers transferable skills of group work, debate, public speaking, and research.
The programme also provides foundational knowledge for the leaving certificate cycle within biology, business, and agricultural science. This interdisciplinary approach to the programme reflects a real-world application of school-taught subjects in a flexible and interesting format.
A new addition to the project for 2023 will be linking TY students to their local racecourses, so they can understand the sport and the industry better and build relationships with those working in all aspects of the industry – from jockeys, trainers, stable staff, breeders, administrators, and support services.
No prior knowledge of horse racing or the equine industry is necessary to participate in the programme.
‘From Foal to Race’ runs from January to May 2023 and teachers can register for free on the From Foal To Race programme page here.
Champion National Hunt Trainer, Willie Mullins, said: “It was a pleasure to meet such an enthusiastic bunch of students from St Joseph’s College at Thurles Racecourse last week. Training horses is my job and passion, so I was delighted to share my love for the game with them. Racing is a brilliant sport to follow but there are also so many jobs in racing and breeding for young people to consider. It’s a sport that Ireland excels in the world over which I’m very proud to be part of.”
Agri Aware Chairman Alan Jagoe, said: “The ‘From Foal to Race’ pilot programme was a great success, so I am delighted to see it launched as a full transition year programme.
“Agri Aware prides itself on providing hands-on programmes for schools so it was great to have everyone from St Joseph’s at Thurles Racecourse today to get a real feel for what happens at a race day and behind the scenes in the horse racing and breeding industry.
“Thanks so much to Willie Mullins for giving us his time today, we wish him the best of luck for the rest of the season.”
Elaine Burke, equuip Manager, said: “We were thrilled with the success of the ‘From Foal to Race’ TY pilot programme and are focussed now on growing the programme and getting the from foal to race story out to as many secondary schools in the coming years. Equuip work to promote the many career opportunities available in the Irish racing and breeding industry and this programme is a great way to open up the sport and engage with students.”
92% of teachers who took part in the pilot project rated it between four and five stars. Similarly, 83% of pupils gave the programme the same score.