BHA Work Experience BHA Work Experience Toolkit | Page 6

STRUCTURING A WORK
EXPERIENCE PLACEMENT
To get the best out of a work experience placement it makes sense to have
some planned and some ad hoc activities, both so that there is consistency in
learner experience and in order to reduce wasted staff time. This toolkit and the
suggestions that follow are intended to assist with that.
Work experience activities can generally be split into three types:
1. Helping staff with tasks that can be easily delegated
Of course you can include routine tasks in the placement. Many of the objectives of
a work experience placement are met by:
• Spending time in the yard or around the stud;
• Observing the routine and horse management up close;
• Participating in routine activities.
It is perfectly reasonable to expect the student to spend time mucking out,
sweeping, cleaning tack, filling water buckets, checking through supplies etc.
There are small jobs that can be completed independently in any yard. For
example tack checking and cleaning, taking apart and putting together a bridle,
sweeping, collecting up empty sacks or string or filling haynets.
Students also benefit from learning how to handle horses so, if they are safe to do
so, you could ask them to help with putting horses on the walker, turning horses
out and other tasks provided they have been trained to do it and are capable.
Not every student will be able to ride and a work experience placement probably
isn’t the time to teach them, but if they are capable and there is a suitable horse
and time to supervise them this can be a big plus.
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2. Structured (pre-prepared) work experience activities
This can be useful for the times when your staff are busy with their own work.
The student’s toolkit comprises a diary and work book with sections on different
aspects of horseracing and stud and stable management. The work experience
administrator (trainer, head man, yard or stud secretary or assistant) should go
through this with them at the beginning and end of the placement.
These challenges are a fun and interesting way to give young people a flavour
of horseracing and spark their interest even where you aren’t able to offer an
experience of all aspects during the placement.
The workbook includes some basic activities in a racing yard or stud and includes
a quiz at the end of each section. You can add your own in the final section as the
intention is that you make the placement yours as much as possible.
The object is to enable students to learn about aspects of horseracing and stud
management in a similar way to entry-level staff.
3. Work shadowing
Shadowing or observing different members of staff (trainer, the head groom, the
yardman and/or the stud secretary) gives a good overview of the work involved,
while causing minimal disruption. This can be particularly effective if something
interesting is going on.
It could include watching horses warm up in the paddock or trot up; going round
with the vet; going to the gallops with the trainer or going racing.
HORSERACING WORK EXPERIENCE TOOLKIT FOR EMPLOYERS
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