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| profiles |
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| Lisa
Dunbar -
Assistant
Broodmare Manager |
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| July
2004 |
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| Currently
completing: |
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2
year New Zealand Equine
Stable Management Course |
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| Qualification: |
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National
Certificate in Equine
- Stable Management. |
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| Completed
Qualification: |
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| National
Certificate in Thoroughbred Breeding |
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| "Listen
to a good mentor who has large amounts of hands on experience.
Always be prepared to keep learning, ask questions, there
is always something to learn and new up to date techniques
to keep up with. People often say a little knowledge is
dangerous but no knowledge at all is a lot worse."
is what Lisa Dunbar told us when asked what advice she
would give to someone starting out in the racing industry. |
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| Lisa
has been around horses since she was a child and is currently
employed as the Assistant Broodmare Manager at Java Lodge.
She holds the National Certificate in Thoroughbred Breeding,
is currently completing the 2 year Equine Stable Management
Course and is very keen to do a nutrition and feeding
module that Massey university provides via correspondence. |
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| As
a youngster Lisa did the usual pony club, showjumping,
eventing type activities that many "horsey kids"
participate in. She was interested in Breeding and Sales
Preparation and to a smaller degree racing and training.
She said "There was not a lot of opportunity in the
South Island where I grew up,and it wasn't until I met
my future husband Steve that I became more involved in
the racing industry. |
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| Lisa
completed her 7th form and attainted a B Bursary, completed
a year at university then worked full time in a saddlery
store for 18 months,followed by 5 years at Trust bank
in customer service. She then started her own feed store
from scratch and later took over nearby saddlery which
she ran for four years. While running the feed store Lisa
completed a Telford Equine certificate, a lot of which
cross credited to the Thoroughbred Breeding Certificate
and the remainder she has completed through the Waikato
Cadet scheme. |
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While
at university Lisa met Steve and in addition to
the above jobs together they pinhooked* their first
thoroughbred, a mare in 1990 and later bred their
first thoroughbred in 1992, a colt which they pretrained
and stood as a stallion. He has since been gelded
(so he could move with them) and is her current
riding horse! In her quest to do things right and
learn from the best Lisa started going to the Karaka
Premier Yearling Sales in 1997. This lead to a successful
pinhooking venture with 80% of the horses Lisa &
Steve have bought at Karaka and sold via the South
Island sale having won races. |
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| The
move 2 1/2 years ago to the North Island has been a dream
come true with the opportunity to work on a large stud
in the Waikato according to Lisa. Starting at Rich Hill
Stud she assisted in the preparation of the K2 Fillies
and then moved onto Java Lodge, where she has been for
2.5 years. |
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| Lisa
is very keen to learn and uses every opportunity she can,
for example "reading galore to improve her knowledge"
and selecting people who are some the best in her field
to learn and model herself upon; people such as Maureen
Harvey Ascot Farm, and Deb Walters, Karaka Downs for their
flawless preparation and horse handling. Working for people
like Ross and Jo Mackie, Java Lodge who have given her
first hand opportunities and experiences dealing with
the many aspects of running a stud, breeding thoroughbreds
and preparing yearlings for sales. Employers often like
people who are willing to learn and gain further qualifications,
accordingly Lisa is given time to attend study sessions
and block courses, for which she is very grateful. |
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| "Having
a recognised qualification does provide the opportunity
for a better job, one with more responsibilities and rewards,
as people know what you can do. It also has enabled me
to gain new skills and apply them everyday in my work
environment to do a more effective and efficient job.
Some of the key areas that she learnt about and uses on
a regular basis are Foaling skills and early care, Weaning
techniques, basic foot trimming, anatomy, emergency amenities
treatment, Formulating rations specific to age/type, pasture
management, safe tractor /bike riding and basic maintenance. |
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| As
mentioned Lisa is currently completing the Equine Stable
Management course. She decided on this particular course
because it builds on what she has learnt to date through
her National Cert. in Thoroughbred Breeding and work experience,
and it provides a nationally recognised qualification,
with the option to cross credit papers from prior certificates.
It also has a cadet scheme associated with it, which means
that the course has been made more affordable for her
as it is industry subsidised. Through the courses Lisa
has had the opportunity to meet other like minded people,
building new friendships and valuable contacts with people
who have experience and recognition in the racing industry. |
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| Lisa
looks forward to using the management and communication
techniques she is learning to become more efficient and
effective in daily business activities, to provide a professional
up-to-date service to the racing industry and being able
to inspire others to make changes and improve themselves. |
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| *
Pinhooking is the practice of buying horses at one sale
and then either bringing them on breaking them in or giving
them some training and on and selling them at a later
sale. |
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