Equine graduate excels in USA horse research

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Reaseheath equine science graduate Charlotte Woolley excelled during her internship at the world’s leading equine breeding and research centre.

BSc (Hons) Equine Science, Charlotte Woolley on her graduation day in 2014

Reaseheath equine science graduate Charlotte Woolley on her graduation day in 2014

Charlotte, 21, who graduated with First Class Honours in September 2014, spent a summer working and studying at the Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension (MARE) Center, part of the Virginia Tech State University, USA. The university specialises in breeding and producing top quality sports horses. She trained in veterinary techniques and assisted with research into nutrition, reproduction and parasitology. She also helped to prepare youngstock for the showring and ran educational outreach workshops with children. Keeping a track of her adventures whilst working out in Virginia, Charlotte wrote a blog, My Virginian Ventures, to document her research and experiences.

Aiming for a career as a veterinary research scientist, Charlotte went on to complete her Masters in Animal Biosciences at the University of Edinburgh and has recently been awarded a funded PhD with The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh to research canine epidemiology and genetics.

She says: “The internship was a fantastic experience – truly life changing.  I’ve built on both my academic and practical skills and broadened my horizons in terms of my current knowledge of the equine industry.”

Originally from Buxton, Charlotte completed  A levels at Leek College before embarking on her degree. She has ridden from a young age and has successfully competed at showjumping and showing competitions across the UK. She currently lives in Nantwich.

Charlotte adds: “I really enjoyed studying for my degree at Reaseheath. There’s a great atmosphere and you get lots of individual support from your lecturers.”

Header picture caption: First class BSc (Hons) Equine Science graduates Charlotte Woolley and Amelia Kenyon

Reaseheath students mark Remembrance Day

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Reaseheath students and staff turned out in force at a college service today (Wed) to commemorate Remembrance Day. Over a thousand people gathered around the flagpole on the Nantwich college’s campus to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in conflict.

A wreath of poppies supplied by students  was laid by Bill Holroyd, CBE, High Sheriff for Cheshire. Two minutes of silence was broken by Reaseheath Chaplain Drew Walker, who read the names on a college remembrance wall.

Bill Holroyd, High Sheriff of Cheshire, lays a wreath at Reaseheath College watched by Cheshire Police, Army and Fire cadets Lauren Taylor, Betty Wood, Alex Hardy, Reef Spry, Matt Walker and Oli Taylor

Bill Holroyd, High Sheriff of Cheshire, lays a wreath at Reaseheath College watched by Cheshire Police, Army and Fire cadets Lauren Taylor, Betty Wood, Alex Hardy, Reef Spry, Matt Walker and Oli Taylor

Mr Holroyd said: “This was a very impressive service attended by students who appreciate that many servicemen and women who are involved in current conflicts are the same age as themselves. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and have been hugely impressed as to how the college has developed. Reaseheath College is a real asset to the county.”

Over a thousand of Reaseheath students and staff gather round the college flagpole to pay their respects at a Remembrance Day service

Over a thousand of Reaseheath students and staff gather round the college flagpole to pay their respects at a Remembrance Day service

Cheshire Racing Hub turns spotlight on horseracing careers

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Young people are being encouraged to ‘kick on’ into a racing career thanks to a new project which turns the spotlight onto Cheshire’s thriving horseracing industry.

‘Racing Through Education’ has been launched by Cheshire Racing Hub to promote the wide choice of attractive careers available in the industry to secondary school pupils, college students and veterinary undergraduates.

The initiative is being led by Cheshire West and Chester Council as part of its rural regeneration strategy, with support from partners Reaseheath College in Nantwich, the University of Liverpool and Chester Race Company.

Reaseheath College, a leader in equine education, is for the first time offering a bespoke racing module within its equine courses which has been taken up by over 40 students. The University of Liverpool, which has an international reputation for its equine veterinary and research specialisms, is encouraging future vets at the Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital, Wirral, to look at opportunities within the industry while Chester Race Company operates Chester and Bangor-on-Dee racecourses, key venues for racegoers.

Local schools and colleges are being encouraged to promote horseracing as an exciting, but often unrecognised, career route which is available locally. The message coincides with national publicity about a critical staff shortage in the racing industry. Project co-ordinator is Sophie Keepax, a Reaseheath Higher Education equine course manager and lecturer.

Cheshire Racing Hub was formed in 2013 to promote horseracing as a career among school and college students and to encourage the growth of equine businesses and investment in Cheshire. This followed research which identified horse racing as a key economic driver within the region.

After a break in funding, the partnership has received a second grant of £13,920 from the British Horseracing Grant Scheme to continue its work with young people through ‘Racing Through Education’. The project is part of the British Horseracing Authority’s ‘Racing Together’ scheme to promote careers in racing and to raise the profile of racing nationally within communities.

Speaking at the Malpas yard of point to point trainer Oliver Greenall, where the ‘Racing Though Education’ launch was held, Chair of Cheshire Racing Hub Kay Kent said: “Horse racing is growing in economic importance to Cheshire and we are delighted to receive this second grant to highlight the careers opportunities available to young people across the county, from both rural and urban backgrounds.

“It’s important that young people fully realise just how many rewarding jobs are available, not just riding and  caring for racehorses but within the support industries such as farriery, veterinary services,  equine dentistry and physiotherapy, nutrition  and racing administration. We will be working with both local and national training providers involved with racing to ensure young people have all the information they need to take their first steps into a racing career.”

For further details on ‘Racing Through Education’ contact Sophie Keepax  sophie@cheshireracinghub.co.uk

Picture caption: Racing Through Education’ launches with (l-r) Sue Griffith (Work Related Co-ordinator, Bishop Heber High School); Sophie Keepax (Project Co-Ordinator); Dr Jan Birch (Higher Education Programme Leader, Reaseheath College); Dr Ellen Singer (Senior Lecturer in Equine Orthopaedics, (University of Liverpool); Jeannie Chantler (General Manager, Bangor on Dee Racecourse); Oliver Greenall (Oliver Greenall Racing); Kay Kent (Chair of Cheshire Racing Hub); Sean O’Connor (Community Engagement Manager, Racing Together); Carrie Ford (Regional Education Officer, British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust); Ellie Morris ( Rural Regeneration Programme Manager, Cheshire West and Chester Council)

A flavour of fruit growing at annual apple festival

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Hundreds of local families got a real flavour of fruit growing at Reaseheath College’s popular apple festival over the weekend.

Our horticulture students demonstrating apple pressing

Our horticulture students demonstrating apple pressing

The fruity festival, held at the Nantwich college as part of a national celebration of the English apple, featured 115 rare varieties of apples, some dating back to Roman times and some of more recent origin.

Horticultural experts Derek Jones and Harry Delaney were on hand to identify apple varieties, answer queries on the production of apples and other fruits and offered advice on the selection, growth, pruning and propagation of fruit trees.

Many visitors arrived with fruit and foliage for identification or brought in their own apples for juicing. Tours of the College’s fruit garden were delivered by former horticulture student Philip Swift, whilst Reaseheath’s current cohort of Royal Horticulture Society (RHS) students set up and helped to man the festival. Many of the apples on show were donated by Elizabeth Gentil, widow of Tony Gentil, Reaseheath’s former Deputy Head of Horticulture or came from Reaseheath’s own fruit orchard.

The festival, being held at Reaseheath for the 24th consecutive year, was aimed at encouraging gardeners to preserve old varieties of apples and soft fruit by growing them in their own gardens.

Explained Harry Delaney: “The English apple is part of our national heritage and though some species have been lost forever, the festival gives us the chance to think about the huge number of varieties we have left and how we ought to preserve them.

“This event is becoming busier each year. Lots of local families are interested in identifying and learning how to care for the old fruit trees they have inherited, or want to plant new trees in their gardens.”

Reaseheath College is offering day courses in pruning and grafting over the winter months and also has fruit trees for sale now. For further details contact 01270 613211 or suepa@reaseheath.ac.uk.