Why not attend a taster day at the Enniskillen campus?

Alex fondly remembers his experience attending the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (CAFRE) Taster Day.

“When I walked into the reception at the Enniskillen campus for Taster Day, I was greeted by staff. The first thing I noticed was how friendly everyone was; I was so welcomed.

“The reception area began to fill up with other students interested in studying equine courses at the college. The staff divided the visiting students into groups. One group went on a tour of the college and the other group received a ‘taster’ lecture.

“I went on a campus tour first. I was impressed with the equipment for the horses; racing, equestrian, blacksmithing and breeding the college has it all.

“The staff were so easy to talk to while we were there. The atmosphere was relaxed which encouraged us all to ask the staff questions.

“In the second part of the tour, we got a taste of what the lectures at CAFRE would be like. I liked this idea as it was the last tick on my research list. It gave me an idea of ​​the training and how engaging the staff is. The information was very interesting.

“We studied the digestive system, the four stages of foaling and the anatomy of the foal. We also learned about different tacks and why we use them.

“I really appreciated how hands-on the learning was, making it easy to relate to the real world.

“Looking back, attending the taster day was a really good way to meet other potential students.

“When we went in in September, we were able to start a conversation by asking if they had been on that bottom, a great icebreaker.

“In the short time that I have been a student at CAFRE, I have had so many different opportunities. I had never ridden racehorses before, but now I go out every morning.

“I had the opportunity to ride one of the horses, Jet (Captain Forpaddythe), on a school trip to Moira Equestrian Centre. It’s something I never saw myself as because my experience was in show jumping, but I love it.

“As part of our training modules we went on some great trips to the incredible Carlswood Stables (Meath) to meet Cyan O’Connor, Red Mills (Kilkenny) and Ash Hollow Equestrian (Drummore).

“The time I spent at CAFRE exceeded my expectations and the close-knit campus was very welcoming and made the transition from school to CAFRE seamless. If you are thinking of coming to CAFRE, you will not regret your choice.”

On Friday 25th November, the Enniskillen campus is hosting a ‘Taster Day’ course.

This event is aimed mainly at prospective higher education students prior to their UCAS applications.

If you’re graduating in 2023 and want to build a career in the equine industry – be quick and sign up for a Taster Day.