And photographs, if you have any.
Horseytalk.net Special Interview
Harriet Brown
Harriet Brown is General Manager at Hobgoblins Stud, East Sussex a family owned breeding enterprise specialising in Warmblood Competition, Quarterhorse and Morgan horses.
It is the only such facility in the UK owned and managed by a Resident Veterinary Surgeon who is a Diplomate of the European College of Animal Reproduction and holds a PhD in Equine Reproduction.
Harriet talks about her love of horses, her career and her work at the Stud.
I studied BSc(Hons) Equine Sports Performance at Brighton University and applied to Hobgoblins Stud and Equine Reproduction Centre to do a work placement in my first year.
The rest as they say, is history.
Dr. Campbell asked me to continue at Hobgoblins on completion of the placement
as a part time employee during my studies, with the view to progress onto
a full time managerial position on graduating.
As well as working with horses ranging from top competition stallions to broodmares with foals at foot, I have travelled to some of the countries top events on stallion displays and met some of the leading people in equestrian sport such as Daisy Berkley (nee Dick) and Lucinda Green.
Graduation loomed and I achieved a 2:1 with a 1st for my disertation: "The affect of different materials of exercise boot on heat dissipation of the lower limb following exercise."
Having graduated in July with full time employment commencing at Hobgoblins the following March, I decided to travel to Australia to do a breeding season in the southern hemisphere. I worked on an equine clinic whose proprietors also ran a thoroughbred breeding business, so not only was I working in equine reproduction, I was also learning veterinary nursing skills and preparing thoroughbred yearlings for the sales.
Ironically, my time at university was also when I had the most time for my own horses.
I progressed up to BE100 with my mother's Connemara x Thoroughbred, Balbriggan
Boy. I also broke in her New Forest pony, Lucky Lane Jack. At just 6 years
old, this pony has already completed a BE90 event and won at Riding Club Area
level qualifying for the National Championships. I did, however, have time
to bring on my 4 year old Welsh x Thoroughbred whilst working at Hobgoblins
this year. I am very pleased with how he is coming on and hope to event him
next season.
My job title at Hobgoblins is "General Manager." I am very lucky as the job is very varied, from updating office records to assisting with the scanning and Artificial Insemination, from semen collection and freezing to riding on the Ashdown Forest.
Recently I have also been the secretary for a conference organised by Dr. Campbell as President of The British Equine Veterinary Association. Supported by the European Veterinary Federation (FVE), the conference aims to review the current legislation for the long distance live transport of horses for slaughter.
I am honoured to have been part of such an important cause and have met some dedicated professionals who are genuinely passionate on the subject.
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