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Endorsements
Hannah Scott - Endurance
“I attended the National Equestrian Academy in 2003. Having spent
my earlier working life with animals I knew that this was something I
wanted to do as a career and when I saw the advertisement for the
National Equestrian Academy at Rangiora it seemed to be the perfect
answer. This course was much more than I thought it ever would
be. Being a real hands-on person, the course was ideal for my
style of learning as I am definitely a seeing and doing learner.
There was great balance between riding, which was everyday, and
spending time in the classroom. I got to learn about the many
strands of the equine industry before deciding which suited me.
As there are so many opportunities out there it was good to be able to
experience them before making a decision. I have met so many
great people through the course and have made close friends. My
confidence grew and grew with all the encouragement and support
provided by the tutor, who is wonderful, and the rest of the class as a
whole.
I am now employed by Kevin James who trains endurance horses all over
the South Island which are then sent to Dubai for Sheik Muhammad
Rashid. Kevin telephoned the Academy looking for employees and
after a trial I was accepted. This meant that I had a job before
the course finished. Nearly everyone else on the course was also
employed before the course ended. This is another great benefit
of attending the well-known and established Academy.
My riding takes me through forests, through high country stations and
along beaches, what could be better! All my accommodation costs
and entry fees to races etc are fully covered so my wage is wholly
mine. This is the best job in the world, which I would
never have had, had I not made the decision to come to the National
Equestrian Academy”.
Kendall Green - Thoroughbred Racing
“I attended the National Equestrian Academy in 2002 and graduated in
May 2003. I heard about this course through a friend of mine and
had previously been working with children but never lost the love of
horses. This seemed the ideal way to be back around horses and
possibly turn it into a career.
Visiting the campus only confirmed that this was the right direction
for me to be heading. I had not been on a horse for a while but
once I got back in the saddle I soon realised that I had not forgotten
anything I had learnt previously. The course was pretty much what
I had thought it would be and the classroom stuff was a breeze even
though I am a more hands on person. If I was ever stuck, Kate
(the Tutor) soon gave me a hand. The thing that really blew me
away was being shown the range within the equine industry and the
employment opportunities within it.
During the course it is not uncommon for potential employers to phone
looking for qualified staff and I was fortunate enough to be able to
spend weekends riding endurance horses. This involves riding
between 40 - 120 kilometres through the most amazing scenery and
seemingly impossible terrain. As part of the course we were
required to go on work experience and as a result of one of those days
I was offered a job at the end of the course, in an establishment
working with hunters and show jumpers through the winter. In the
summer I was contracted to Waieyre Farm which is a stud farm. It
was a whole new world for me with heaps of hands on stuff from births
and foal handling right through to working with the yearlings.
Once that contract had finished I came to Ngapuke Stables in Loburn
where they specialise in thoroughbred race horses and have now been
here six months, have a great boss and am still learning.
If I had not made the decision to come to the National Equestrian
Academy I have no idea what I would be doing now. Not only have I
gained a great job, a gorgeous horse, but also met a good man.
Life is pretty cool thanks to the National Equestrian Academy”.
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