Horse Foundation Course

Understanding horse terminology is your foundation to becoming a good horse person and being able to communicate with other horse people. In this course you will learn how to identify the horse’s body parts, the basics of conformation, the horse’s birthdate, how to identify horses and learn how to read a horse’s pedigree page in a sale catalogue. 

This course includes the Learning Modules:

1. Parts Of The Horse
2. Parts Of The Hoof
3. Basic Terminology
4. The Horse’s Age
5. Horse Identification, Colours & Markings
6. Conformation Basics
7. Introduction To Reading Pedigrees

Accreditation: TBA Horse Foundation Course Certificate Of Completion

Meet The Experts

Dr Michelle Maidment
Coolmore Veterinarian

Upon graduating the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2008, Dr Michelle Maidment moved to Australia to intern at Randwick Equine Centre. 

This was followed by a move back to the UK where she worked with sport and leisure horses at Lambourn Equine. Michelle then spent a year doing stud work in Newcastle.

Michelle has worked at Coolmore in the Hunter Valley since 2013. She enjoys seeing foals on the farm progress to racehorses and then return as breeding stallions and mares. 

James Balfe
Master Farrier

James Balfe is a farrier with over 40 years’ experience in the thoroughbred industry.

Originally from County Mayo in the western part of Ireland, Balfe first came to Australia in 1996 to work for Coolmore. He now calls Australia home. 

Together with Sarah Wills, Balfe breeds thoroughbreds for racing and Connemara ponies for jumping and performance sports at their stud Killeenfarna Connemara In Scone, New South Wales.

Kristy Reynolds
Stallion and Stud Manager at Scenic Lodge

Kristy Reynolds is the stallion and stud manager at Scenic Lodge near Muchea, Western Australia.   

Kristy got her foot in the door of the thoroughbred industry by doing work experience every Fridays throughout years 11 and 12 at Scenic Lodge.

Following graduation, Kristy continued working on the farm and after five years was promoted to stallion manager. In 2020 Kristy added second in charge to her resume and in 2022 became the general manger at Scenic Lodge.
Brenna Murphy
Assistant Manager at Noorilim Park

Brenna Murphy is the assistant manager at Noorilim Park in Victoria.

Originally from the UK, Brenna developed a love for horses during summer’s spent riding at a stable near her grandparent’s house in Wales. When she was 20, a family friend offered the opportunity to work with thoroughbreds and she’s never looked back.

In the UK, Brenna worked at the equine veterinary practice, Baker McVeigh, and on the breeding farm, Hazelwood Bloodstock. In New Zealand, she worked at Valachi Downs. Brenna credits a stint in 2015 at New South Wale’s Attunga Stud with Brian Nutt while on a six-month, working holiday visa with getting her firmly cemented in thoroughbred breeding.
In January 2020, Brenna moved to Victoria to take the position at Noorilim Park.
Jason Robinson
Stud Manager at Widden Victoria

Jason Robinson has spent a lifetime with horses. Now the stud manager of Widden Victoria, Jason began his career riding trackwork in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula before transitioning into the breeding industry.

Jason has worked in New South Wales’s Hunter Valley, Queensland, Kentucky and Ireland in positions across all aspects of a stud farm including design and construction of a farm, managing foaling and hospital units, farmland, yearling prep, sales and as a buyer.

Jason has worked on studs including Eldon Park, Wakefield, Yarraman Park, Coolmore, Arrowfield, Attunga Farm, Makybe, Swettenham and in racing for Tony McEvoy. Jason believes that opportunities are limitless in the breeding industry.
Peter O’Brien
General Manager of Segenhoe

Peter O’Brien is the general manager of Segenhoe in Aberdeen, NSW.
  
Peter was born in Ireland and spent the majority of his youth attending the races with his mentor and leading racing journalist, Tom McCormack.
 
On leaving school Peter went to Kentucky where he worked for Taylor Made. He also spent time working for Windfield's Farm in both Canada and Maryland (home of the famed Northern Dancer).  

Following this Peter worked the Southern Hemisphere seasons in Australia handling the Coolmore stallions at Arrowfield Stud, Woodlands Stud, Stockwell Stud and Ra Ora stud in New Zealand. He also spent invaluable time with leading trainers Colin Hayes at Lindsay Park and Neville Begg in Sydney.

In 1996 Peter moved permanently to Australia to take over the management of Coolmore Australia before starting work at Segenhoe Stud in 2014.

Modules Included:

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