Catherston Stud is steeped in history, beginning in 1949 with the late Lt Colonel and Mrs Jack Bullen and then passing to their daughter Jennie Loriston-Clarke and her husband Anthony.

Fast forward to today, and under Jennie and Anthony’s dedication and guidance, and alongside their daughter Anne Dicker, Catherston Stud continues to be highly regarded and respected for its breeding and training of Olympic horses and riders, as well as its 5* livery.  As part of the exceptional work at Catherston Stud, they also choose to guide and support apprentices and have done so for many years.

We recently asked Anne about their decision to offer apprenticeships, and the unique benefits this can give to both the learner and employers.

“Catherston Stud has been training students and apprentices for over 60 years; we want to help educate the generations that are joining this unique industry, by training them in all aspects of horse management to ensure they become all-round equestrian employees of the future.  Our students have gone on to work all over the world in all disciplines, some even to the Olympics.

We have an extremely longstanding relationship with Haddon Training; their founder and Managing Director, Chris Hewlett, was a student of ours in the 1970s when he completed his British Horse Society and National Pony Society Exams. We have maintained this excellent relationship with Chris and the team at Haddon Training because of their expert knowledge of the industry; their Trainer-Coaches are experienced and very well informed. They work closely with us to support all our apprentices.

For us, the experience someone gains in the workplace whilst training as an apprentice is streets ahead of any academic university route; if the individual wants to work with horses, they need to be hands-on, not sitting at a desk all the time. In order to manage an equine business, one must become an expert, and truly proficient in the subject that they are managing, which involves more than just textbooks, you need to build experience. You never stop learning from horses, you need many tools in your belt, and this is built by developing your knowledge whilst becoming skilled in the job.

As an employer, you have to be willing to take the time to educate apprentices in the workplace, so that they learn as much as possible in the time that you have them. It is important to remember that your intermediate apprentices are often junior employees who need guidance and regular checks on both their work and knowledge, whereas your advanced apprentices and AASE learners should be competent employees who are going into much more detail with their learning. Always remember though that everyone is able to pick up a dropping into a skip, however old, experienced or famous!

For our team at Catherston Stud, developing apprentices and being able to pass on our depth of knowledge and experiences is really rewarding. Apprentices need a willingness to learn and it is a pleasure to be a part of their journey.”

We would like to thank Anne and the team at Catherston Stud for their continuing support of apprenticeships and enabling so many young people to begin a career in the equine industry.

If you would like to find out more about apprenticeships or how to start your career simply contact our friendly team today.