The next generation of leaders in the racing, breeding, and equestrian industries are currently undertaking a four-week industry placement as part of the Equine Business Management program at Marcus Oldham College.
This hands-on experience, a core component of the one-year course, allows students to learn directly from seasoned professionals while applying the theoretical and practical knowledge gained in their studies so far.
One such student, Olivia Nugent-O’Leary, who aspires to become a racehorse trainer, relocated from Marton, New Zealand, to Australia to pursue this opportunity. Olivia has eagerly embraced the chance to learn from some of the industry’s best.
Earlier this year, she completed a placement with Chris Waller Racing at Macedon Lodge and is now gaining further experience at Tulloch Lodge, working under the guidance of the team at Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing.
“In New Zealand, racing is a smaller industry, so working with industry giants like Chris Waller and Gai Waterhouse felt like a distant dream. This placement has brought me one step closer to realising my ambition of training racehorses,” Olivia shared.
“I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity.”
Olivia’s classmates are also gaining valuable experience, with placements across Australia, New Zealand, and England. These include stints at Cambridge Stud in New Zealand, Inglis, Shane Rose Eventing, Melbourne Racing Club, and with Olympian eventer Kevin McNabb in England, among others.
These placements follow a two-week study tour of New Zealand, where students visited leading racing stables, stud farms, equestrian facilities, and related businesses.
The College’s applied learning approach – integrating theory with practical experience, industry guest speakers, and study tours – has proven highly effective. In fact, Marcus Oldham topped the Government’s 2024 national Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) survey, with 98.1% of the 2023 cohort securing full-time employment upon graduation.
Principal Andrew Baker credits this success to the College’s teaching model.
“Our approach is all about applied learning, combining both theory and practice in a way that prepares our graduates for the industry. We cover a broad spectrum of critical topics, from equine science and breeding to business planning and management, all designed in consultation with industry leaders,” Andrew explained.
For more information about the Equine Business Management program, visit marcusoldham.vic.edu.au/equine or call 03 5247 2911.
2024 Student Annie Holland with the first foal she helped deliver during her placement in the foaling unit at Cambridge Stud, New Zealand.