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Meet Rebecca Martin

Growing up with ponies, it was only natural that Rebecca ended up in a career working with them. Perhaps not as she thought, though, introduced to thoroughbred yearling prep at a course at the polytechnic, Rebecca hasn’t looked back. Now a team leader in the yearling division at Rich Hill Stud and has a wealth of knowledge and experience. Although she claims she flies under the radar, Rebecca is a talented horsewoman and a very experienced one who plays a hugely important part of the team. Behind the Stable Doors met with Rebecca to learn how she got into the industry and her role at Rich Hill Stud.

Rebecca got involved in the horse industry later in life. While at Telford Polytech studying equine and agriculture, they got a yearling in to do some work with and learn about early education and prepping them. After some googling, she discovered Waikato Stud and read about what they did. She was captivated and knew that this was her path; she continued researching and found Rich Hill Stud and applied for a job. Knowing nothing about the industry before polytech, she fell in love with the progress the yearling made.

S

he was drawn into yearlings especially. Rebecca became passionate and found her job satisfaction to be the ‘educator’. While typically we receive a horse that knows how to walk, stand, have farrier attention and have a rug on, Rebecca enjoys the most teaching the young horse all of these things and instilling confidence in them. These milestones become great reassurance of how well of a job she does and the bond she creates with the stock that comes through.

At Rich Hill Stud, she sees their entire progression. From foal at the foot to weaning to yearling to racing, the milestones make it enjoyable and rewarding. The foals come down from the broodmare farm to be weaned and then later start their yearling prep, where they learn all of their handlings and get a taste of everything up until a saddle on their back. Whilst there are small achievements from having a rug on to their first parade and many others, the significant milestones can be inspiring, especially seeing horses they’ve prepped out on the track performing. Then, come sales time, everyone gets excited with the first season sires and the hype that builds around them. In 2022, the first season sire from Rich Hill Stud is Ace High, and selling his second crop is Satono Aladdin.

Rebecca’s role at Rich Hill is as a team leader. Her role involves working with the yearling manager to make plans and arrangements for the day and near future. She does it all, grooming, washing, parade practice, rugging, anything that needs to be done and assisting the yearling manager.

A typical day in complete yearling prep looks like this:


6:30 am starting:

They first get the yearlings in from their paddocks, take their rugs off, and pick their feet out—usually, they prep about forty yearlings for the NZB sales and a few to go to Australia for sales. Then, following smoko, they go through and groom and wash (depending on the day) all of the horses and then have potential buyers coming in for a parade, or they’ll do some parade practice. They also have a few weeks to take videos and photos to put online to advertise and put on the sales website. Then, after lunch, they put the rugs on, turn all the horses out and feed out.

For the build-up for the NZB sales in January/February, NZB came to look at all of the horses and categorise them for which book they will be in for the sales. Then, labour Weekend, the colts go into the yards. The day after Melbourne Cup, it fully kicks into gear; they start grooming and getting their coats nice; this is preparation for mid-December when they begin parading. In the new year, they start videos, x-rays and scoping. Then, the week before the sales, the yearlings take the trip up to the sales complex to settle before the sale begins.

Rebecca’s most significant success is the wealth of knowledge she’s gained. From where she started in polytech to where she is now, the experience and expertise are invaluable. A

Surprise Baby

s for the most joy, it comes from the unexpected. The horses that you don’t think will make it do. One that sprung to mind for Rebecca was Melbourne cup runner Surprise Baby as she described the ‘horse you couldn’t give away’, and they in a bit of a blunt way – couldn’t get rid of it. But as it turns out, horses have a funny old way of doing their thing, and Surprise Baby was no exception. He’s been a starter in two Melbourne Cups.

Rebecca would like to see a change in the industry is a better work/life balance. One that is perhaps a bit tricky to navigate, and Rebecca calls it a lifestyle and not a job. But the benefits that it provides for the staff giving them adequate time off. It would give the team time to relax and be present at home or get away with family and friends. But they love the horse, and it keeps people like Rebecca going.

A credit to hard work, Rebecca has worked hard to gain the knowledge and experience she holds. A course at a polytechnic that changed the course of Rebecca’s life and the passion she found in progression meant that she fell into the thoroughbred industry and prep yearlings. Rebecca has achieved a lot in her first ten years in the industry and still has a lifetime. She continually searches for knowledge and how to get better at her job. Nothing is ever a worry, and Rebecca is always looking to be better—a credit to hard work and a credit to the industry. The thoroughbred industry is forever in debt to Rebecca and people like her for all that she does.

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