Rachael Blackmore was on hand at Punchestown to crown students from Castleisland Community College in County Kerry who won the group project element of the ‘From Foal to Race’ programme - a new pilot programme for transition year students, developed by equuip and Agri Aware, which offers a comprehensive overview of the horse racing and breeding industry.
 
The end-of-programme project tasked the participating students with designing a poster or flyer for an event inspired by the horse racing industry. Shauna O’Keefe, Miriam and Abbie O’Connell, and Katelyn O’Keefe from Castleisland Community College created a flyer for a Family Fun Fest which included clever ideas such as a kiddies’ corner, a jockey meet and greet and even pledged to raise money for the ISPCA Equine Rescue Centre.
 
Castleisland Community College were rewarded with a trip to Punchestown Racecourse which included a meet and greet with Rachael Blackmore, a track walk with jockey Sean Flanagan and they also shadowed Wexford trainer Paul Nolan as he saddled a horse for a race. All schools who submitted a group project received a free trip to the Irish National Stud in County Kildare.
 
Over 4000 students from 120 schools around the country participated in ‘From Foal to Race’ TY programme in year 1 which was rolled out in January and included six chapters such as horse basics, making a racehorse, breeding and stud farms. Students also participated in a series of interactive webinars and had to submit a group project to complete the programme. In addition, the programme also covered transferable skills of group work, debate, public speaking, and research.
 
The equuip and Agri Aware-funded TY programme was structured to create a learning experience for both student and teacher to enhance understanding and interest in all things horse racing. The three primary objectives of the programme are 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 29k people across a wide rural reach.
 
The programme also provides foundation knowledge for the leaving certificate cycle within biology, business, and agricultural science. This interdisciplinary approach to a subject reflects real world application of school taught subjects in a flexible and interesting format.
 
The equuip and Agri Aware joint initiative is a free programme to introduce transition year students to all aspects of horse racing. No prior knowledge of horse racing or the equine industry is necessary to participate in ‘From Foal to Race.’
 
Registration is already open for next year and all secondary schools are welcome to participate. The programme will run in spring 2023 and transition year co-ordinators can sign up at www.agriaware.ie

Kellie Sheehy, Teacher at Castleisland Community College, noted: “The ‘From Foal to Race’ transition year programme was fantastic. The students were thrilled to win the group project element as it gave them such an insight into the horse racing and breeding industry. It was very interesting for them to explore all sides of horse racing and it allowed the students to drive their own learning and take charge of the project.
 
“It was also great to see the wealth of talent we have in Irish racing. The students got to see that it’s not just about the jockeys and horses - there are so many more different aspects and careers in horse racing.
 
“The icing on the cake was our trip to Punchestown, the students really enjoyed having such a hands-on learning experience.”
 
Carol Nolan, Horse Racing Ireland’s Director of People, and Industry Education, commented: "Equuip are delighted to have partnered with Agri Aware to produce this transition year programme, a programme we have been very keen to develop over the last number of years. It was brilliant to see such a fantastic take-up in its first year.
 
“Through the programme students are getting the opportunity to get a comprehensive overview of the horse racing and breeding industry in Ireland and the life of a thoroughbred horse. With no prior industry or equine knowledge needed, this programme is a wonderful opportunity for us to tell the story of the thoroughbred industry to transition year students and hopefully spark some interest and an affinity with horse racing."
 
Agri Aware Chairman Alan Jagoe, said: “It is brilliant to have Rachael Blackmore’s support for the ‘From Foal to Race’ programme with equuip. You can see how much it meant to the students to meet her.
 
“To see someone who is not from a traditional horse racing background rise to the top of the sport through such hard work is great for the future growth of the sector.
 
“Rachael is an inspiration to all young people and maybe though this collaboration with equuip we can find the next generation of Rachael Blackmores.”