An interest and passion for horses gives students space for opening up and sharing

On Tuesday, as part of National Racehorse Week, a small group of pupils from a Wiltshire secondary school had the chance to visit local trainer Neil Mulholland, in partnership with Wiltshire Mind and supported by Racing Together. 

The all-female mixed Year group from The Clarendon Academy in Trowbridge was selected for their interest in working with horses as a future career but knew little about the racing industry. 

Contact between Wiltshire Mind and the school began in 2020 during lockdown and since then they have built up their relationship to the point where they are in regular contact to support the in-house school programme. They have trialled some work for School Staff Wellbeing and regularly connect to discuss the needs of the young people in secondary education. In response, the school has been active in raising funds for the charity. 

The day started with refreshments and the group was treated to a tour of the yard, including a look at the racing silks and a quick talk from the staff about the feeding regime. Next stop was a chance to watch the farrier in action and to hear the differences between shoeing racehorses and ‘normal’ horses, getting a chance to feel the weight of the shoe and see how it fits. 

Following the farrier was the opportunity the students had all been asking about – a walk down to the hill gallop to watch the horses exercise against a beautiful rolling green backdrop. One girl commented about how she enjoyed hearing the relaxing sound of horses’ hooves on the ground. Host Neil Mulholland talked through each horse and their racing form, showing the close bond between the team and their equines. 

Everyone was pleased to meet and chat with Joe Anderson, a conditional jockey (a rider gaining experience before becoming a full professional) who talked through his daily routine and the training he had to go through. While some of the group have horses of their own, they weren’t aware of the in-and-outs of racing life, so it was a real learning experience and eye-opener for them all. 

Philippa Collins, Head of Service Delivery for Wiltshire Mind said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for a group of secondary age students to learn about the work carried out at a racehorse yard and enjoying a morning outdoors in beautiful surroundings.  

“It was wonderful to see the group engaged and interested, asking questions, and fully invested in the experience.  The shared interest and passion for horses gave a space for opening up and sharing, at the same time as gaining a greater understanding of working within the equine environment.  Thank you to the team at Neil Mulholland for having us and taking the time to make this such a great experience.”

Steph Haydon, Assistant Headteacher who accompanied the group commented: “What a fantastic day we had. Our students had the opportunity learn about careers that are available in the horse racing industry and see for themselves the work that goes into caring and looking after them. It really demonstrated how important a good work ethic is, and how putting in the hard work and effort can lead to great opportunities.” 

As the group descended on the staff canteen (kindly offered up by Neil) to have their sandwiches, their teacher noted that the students loved Neil’s quote: ‘You don’t always have to be the best or most talented to succeed in this industry, you have to have the grit and determination to work hard. It’s not always the most talented horse that wins!’ A statement true for lots of professions as well as their time at school.

For more information on National Racehorse Week and the work of Wiltshire Mind, please visit their websites.