Caitriona Bolger has experienced first-hand the benefits of having an HGV license in the racing industry
23/08/2024
Caitriona Bolger, Barn Manager at Gordon Elliott Racing
Caitriona Bolger has experienced first-hand the benefits of having an HGV license in the racing industry.
Bolger currently works in Gordon Elliott’s yard and with nine years of service under her belt, she took advantage of Equuip’s Driver’s License Reimbursement Grant to help obtain her HGV driver’s licence.
“It was on Instagram I’d seen the grant advertised through the Equuip page,” Bolger said.
“I wanted to get my HGV license to be able to drive between racing and then have it for transporting horses, so we were very thankful for the grant.
“It helped out hugely with the cost of the license. It’s expensive between all the training and all the different tests you have to do – it’s quite a bit of money out of your pocket so it was a big help.
“It covered nearly half of it, so I was delighted.”
Bolger began her journey in racing after her dad sorted her summer work experience at Ger Lyons’ yard as a teenager and she later went on to obtain a degree in Equine Management at CAFRE in Enniskillen.
Equuip is committed to offering assistance to racing industry employees to further develop their skills and qualifications.
And having travelled all over Ireland and England and led up two Cheltenham winners, including this year’s Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle champion Better Days Ahead, Bolger insisted the grant has played a crucial part in her career pathway.
“It has definitely helped,” she said.
“It hopefully will in the future too. It’s something you have for life and can help you in many factors even if you need to change out of racing.
“You can always go stud driving, mares and foals.
“I’d say definitely go for it, why not, especially when there’s a grant there to help you.
“It’s always going to be an advantage. Especially with injuries, if you’re injured and not able to ride out then it’s another option to have for another career and another income.
“Once you have it, you have it for life.”
Bolger, who will return to her duties as rider and barn manager after welcoming her first child, had no issues with the process of obtaining her license.
“I had a great experience,” Bolger said. “It can be quite a while waiting for a test date, but I had a very good trainer up in Dublin.
“He was really great; we had a few lessons, he got me going and I passed the test first time, thankfully.
“I did a lot of two-box driving beforehand so I’m used to a bigger vehicle and travelling horses.”
Find out more about the Equuip HGV/Box Licence Grant by visiting: https://www.equuip.ie/subsidised-hgv-course
Bolger currently works in Gordon Elliott’s yard and with nine years of service under her belt, she took advantage of Equuip’s Driver’s License Reimbursement Grant to help obtain her HGV driver’s licence.
“It was on Instagram I’d seen the grant advertised through the Equuip page,” Bolger said.
“I wanted to get my HGV license to be able to drive between racing and then have it for transporting horses, so we were very thankful for the grant.
“It helped out hugely with the cost of the license. It’s expensive between all the training and all the different tests you have to do – it’s quite a bit of money out of your pocket so it was a big help.
“It covered nearly half of it, so I was delighted.”
Bolger began her journey in racing after her dad sorted her summer work experience at Ger Lyons’ yard as a teenager and she later went on to obtain a degree in Equine Management at CAFRE in Enniskillen.
Equuip is committed to offering assistance to racing industry employees to further develop their skills and qualifications.
And having travelled all over Ireland and England and led up two Cheltenham winners, including this year’s Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle champion Better Days Ahead, Bolger insisted the grant has played a crucial part in her career pathway.
“It has definitely helped,” she said.
“It hopefully will in the future too. It’s something you have for life and can help you in many factors even if you need to change out of racing.
“You can always go stud driving, mares and foals.
“I’d say definitely go for it, why not, especially when there’s a grant there to help you.
“It’s always going to be an advantage. Especially with injuries, if you’re injured and not able to ride out then it’s another option to have for another career and another income.
“Once you have it, you have it for life.”
Bolger, who will return to her duties as rider and barn manager after welcoming her first child, had no issues with the process of obtaining her license.
“I had a great experience,” Bolger said. “It can be quite a while waiting for a test date, but I had a very good trainer up in Dublin.
“He was really great; we had a few lessons, he got me going and I passed the test first time, thankfully.
“I did a lot of two-box driving beforehand so I’m used to a bigger vehicle and travelling horses.”
Find out more about the Equuip HGV/Box Licence Grant by visiting: https://www.equuip.ie/subsidised-hgv-course