Hi!
My name is Neil Ryan and I am 16 years old and from Leixlip Co. Kildare. My
earliest memory of horses was when I was 5\6 years old and I was sent off to a
pony camp in Clane Co. Kildare. I enjoyed that week so much that I kept riding
and going for lessons. It all really started when I found out there was a
riding school just down the road from my Grandparent’s house in Cahir, Co.
Tipperary. There I spent Summers riding ponies and competing in shows and
events.
I
enjoyed my first few weeks on the course at RACE and have done so much schooling
and riding up Maddnestown. I enjoyed this a lot because it was nice to do
something other than just riding on the gallops at home.
As of week 13 the first group of us were sent out to
yards on work placement. I got sent out
to Kevin Prendergast’s yard. I have learned so much out there and I am looking
forward to the start of the flat season and seeing the 2-year olds that I’ve
been riding getting their chance running on the track.
A typical day for me starts by leaving RACE on the 6.10am
bus every morning and go out to work. We muck out on a Monday, Wednesday and
Friday and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday are our work mornings. We usually
have 3 or 4 lots every day with a mixture of 2-year olds and older horses. I
have found everyone in the yard very helpful and the jockeys out there (Gary
Halpin, Dylan Hogan, Mikey Melia and Chris Hayes) are always giving me advice
on ways to improve my riding.
During
the course we also had to complete the QQI Level 4 in subjects such as
Communications, IT, Work Practice, Business Calculations and Level 5 Racehorse
Care and Exercise. I have enjoyed these classes and I am hoping for high marks
all round. I am hoping to further my education by attending night classes next
year at RACE to complete the QQI Level 5.
Fitness
is also a big part of the course and I was very surprised how much my fitness
progressed as I was always active playing hurling, football and soccer with
Confey and Leixlip United.
I
have really enjoyed the course and am excited to finish up and see what the
future holds.
Neil was placed with Kevin Prendergast on the
20th of November 2017
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| Schooling on RACE Gallops |
