My name is
Nicola Nolan. I am 17. I never had any knowledge of the horse racing
industry or in anything else to do with horses until about 8 months before I
came to race. I had never sat up on a
horse until I was 16.
I got into
the horses because of work experience when I was in 5th year. I went
to a sports shop and I knew it just wasn’t for me, being indoors all the time,
so for the second week of the work experience I decided that I would not be
continuing in the shop. I had to pick somewhere else to go on work experience
and I didn’t know what I wanted to do so after thinking for a long time my
sister came up with an idea for somewhere for me to go on work experience. With
her love for horses she said ‘why don’t I go to a racing yard?’.
After
thinking of the racing yard idea, I thought I would have no hope with horses
because I would never even look at a horse because I was afraid of them, but
after a long time thinking of a place I said I would give the horses a go.
I first
started in Ciaran cotters small racing yard and Trescon stud, even then when I
was in there I was just mucking out, I wasn’t put up on a horse but I was very
happy working with the horses and knew after working in the yard and after
getting the experience. I knew I wanted a career in the racing industry.
I knew about RACE and thought about applying for it but I had another
year to do in school. I talked to my mum about applying for the course and
after a lot of convincing I got her to let me apply for it. After applying I
got the trial, I gave it a go and hoped for the best, that I would get in. After
a long wait after the trials I got my letter to say I got in. I had to do a lot
of convincing with my mum to let me leave school but she finally let me
go do the course with all of her support behind me.
Just a few months ago I never
thought that I would be where I am now.
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| Training on the Curragh Plains |
