A NEW horse training centre has opened in Auchinleck, offering animal-lovers the opportunity to pursue their passion and progress in the industry.
Fossilfield Training Centre, located at Berryhill Bing, provides training to anyone aged 12 and above who wishes to work professionally with horses or simply gain experience working in an outdoor environment.
The centre, which will be fully operational by Spring 2022, has already produced some extraordinary talent, with its first three students, Archie Patterson, 14, Carly Smith, 15, and Emma, 16, now enrolled with Scottish Racing Academy for NVQ in Horse Care.
Mercy McEwen at the centre explained: “We’re hoping to work with the National Horseracing College in Doncaster next year when we’ve got more recruits. We’re teaching groups how to work with horses on a point to point yard to help the horses get on to the track.
“Even if they don’t want to follow a career with horses, they can use the skills they are learning in any industry. It’s about encouraging personal development so it’s been fun watching them grow.
“The Scottish Racing Academy has mainly been working over in the East coast so for me to have got the first three East Ayrshire ones enrolled is quite a big thing for this area.”
She continued: “They’re loving it. They come twice a week to do evening and morning stables. If they weren’t at school, we’d have them all the time. It’s mostly grooming we’ve been working on this year.
“In the Spring, I’ll be taking out a riding school license. We’ll be looking for a group of work riders which will be totally unique, I reckon it’ll be the first in Scotland.”
The reviews from Mercy’s students are also testament to the success of the centre so far.
Amy McLaughlan, 22, is hoping to be the first in-house trained junior coach, and former pupil Lori Walsh is enjoying her title as champion groom which she earned at Musselburgh Races last season.
Lori said: “For anyone thinking about working with horses as a career they will learn very quickly that it is not glamorous but seeing the horses you have improved makes it all worthwhile.
“Fossilfield Training Centre got me from riding my pony racer to getting my point to point licence whilst encouraging me to move to a bigger yard.
“If you are wanting a career with horses, Fossilfield is your place to go.”
One parent Shelley Smith said of her daughter, Carlie: “Carlie’s confidence has grown so much since being at Mercy’s. She looks at her future and doesn’t worry anymore.”
For more information, email fossilfieldracing@aol.com
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