With the breeding season almost upon us and with many new staff on farms, it's a great time to remind your team about the online education platform, TBA Learning.
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia launched TBA Learning to allow everybody to learn the basics of horse care from industry experts.
The platform—hosted at TBALearning.com —has over 20 online modules covering areas such as conformation, checking horse health, safely loading a horse for transport, and holding a horse for a vet or farrier. Importantly, all courses are available for free.
Each bite-sized module features video, audio, and written content, allowing students to learn in a way that suits them. The modules are expected to take between 15 and 30 minutes to complete. They can be undertaken individually or tackled as a larger course in which related modules are linked together. The current courses are Horse Health, Horse Handling, Biosecurity, as well as a Foundation course.
At the end of each module there is a test, with students receiving a certificate of completion when they successfully get to the end of a module. These certificates can then be presented to an employer.
Among the experts sharing their knowledge are Mick Malone (North Bloodstock), Peter O’Brien (Segenhoe Stud), Kellie McCarthy (Mill Park Stud), Fiona Lacey (Mogumber Park), Cameron Bond (Kenmore Lodge), Angus McAlpine (Eureka Stud), Michelle Maidment (Coolmore), Barley Ward-Thomas (Godolphin) and Dave White (Vinery Stud).
To access the modules and courses, students must complete a simple registration. This will allow them to complete their studies at their own pace.
TBA Learning was developed after breeders told TBA there was nowhere to direct new staff where they could learn the foundational skills needed for work in the breeding industry. A grant from the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Levy assisted this education project.
More than 40 farms from across the country were consulted as part of the site's development, and breeders gave their feedback on what subjects were important to cover.
To contact TBA about the platform, please email madison@tbaus.com or call TBA on 0405 535 436.
