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HOT
PROFILE THIS MONTH - NOVEMBER 2004
Introducing...
THE WAIKATO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (WINTEC) EQUINE COURSE
This
month we profile the
Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) and talk to Virginia
Tocher, an Equine Tutor,
about their equine
course that is available to students and what it involves.
SHNZ: Making
a career out of horses seems to have slowly become more accepted and
acheivable in New Zealand over the past few years. How long has the
Wintec Equine course been running?
Virginia:
The course has been running for approximately 15 years. It has only
been running from its current site for 8 years and in the current format
for the last 3 years.
Wintec Equine Students
2004
What
is your involvement with the course?
My position here is that of "Course Co-ordinator" and I am
one of 3 Tutors who teach the students.
Are
there any qualifications or horse experience requirements to attend?
To attend the course students must show a genuine interest
in horses and working in the Equine Industry. They must also have had
some previous experience working with horses. They must have completed
their NCEA level 1 ideally having obtained English and one other traditional
subject (Science and Biology are ideal). This is the minimum requirement,
ideally I would like them to have finished year 13 at school.
To be accepted into the Sport Horse or Community Coach streams, they
need to have Pony Club 'C' certificate or ride to an equivalent level.
Wintec Equine Indoor
Arena
What
are the facilities like, can you bring your own horse?
The facilities that the students have to work in are amazing. There
are 10 Stables, 14 Tie ups, 15 Covered yards, a tack room and a feed
room all of an internationally acceptable standard. There is an Indoor
arena 65m x 45m, an Outdoor arena 40m x 50m, training X country jumps
and 8 ha of grazing. Students can bring their own horses providing they
are an acceptable age and stage of training.
What
are some of the main topics covered?
The main topics we cover are Horse Health, Stable Management,
Equine Anatomy & Physiology, Nutrition, Fittening programmes, Saddlery.
Students select one of 4 streams to specialize in, Stable Practice/Breeding/Coaching/Sporthorse.
Do
most people go on to work in the racing industry or is there more of
an opening for work with sporthorses nowadays?
After completing the course we have students working in most
aspects of Equine. Thoroughbred Studs, Racing Stables, Sport Horse Yards,
Riding Schools, Saddlery shops and Veterinary Practices.
The Sport Horse employment opportunities in New Zealand are growing,
however it tends to be seasonal and usually if they want to pursue a
career they end up going overseas where there is unlimited work available.
I was thrilled to see one of our past students from 2001, Jenny Franklin,
grooming for Bruce Goodin at the Olymics in Athens.
And
finally, who do we contact if we want to know more?
For more
information about the course contact:
Freephone: 0800 2 Wintec (0800 2 946 832)
or Email: info@wintec.ac.nz
Thanks
Virginia!
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