Scholarship winner on course for a bright future!

Equestrian Victoria is again proud to support the Marcus Oldham Australian Equestrian Scholarship which is available each year to applicants of the Diploma of Equine Management Course.

This year’s very worthy scholarship winner is 18-year-old Caitlin Ward who will make the journey from the Gold Coast next year to live on the 200 hectare Geelong campus with her horse as she completes her studies.

Caitlin has been riding since the age of 5 and has continued her Year 12 studies whilst maintaining active participation in both Interschool and Equestrian Queensland competitions.  She has numerous accomplishments under her belt already including being a finalist in the 2018 Eventing Queensland Rising Star Awards and winning the Encouragement Award in the same year.  Other achievements include winning the 2020 Interschool High Point OTT Eventing Award, the 2020 Pony Club Queensland State Championship (Jumping Equitation), along with being named the 2021 College Equestrian Team Captain for her school.  

“I’m so thrilled to have the opportunity to not only study at Marcus Oldham but also to be awarded the scholarship”, said Caitlin.  ‘I have always wanted to have a career in the equine and performance horse industry and this course is the best start I could ask for”.

Recognised internationally across key sectors of the horse industry, the course at Marcus Oldham equips students with the skills necessary for a successful career in their chosen field, whether in breeding, racing, equestrian or interrelated activities – the opportunities are boundless. The intensive one-year Diploma of Equine Management is structured equally into three broad areas: practical and horse management skills, equine science, and business management.

Caitlin already has her life mapped out with her eyes firmly set on travelling overseas to work for 12 months following completion of her Diploma, after which she plans to return home to commence a degree in Vet Science.  If that’s not enough, she has a long-term goal of representing Australia in Eventing at an international level!  What a worthy recipient Caitlin is and we look forward to following her progress.

Director of Equine Management at Marcus Oldham, Emma Morel said, ‘It’s so exciting be able to help young people fulfill their goals through the course.  They come into the College with a dream and we provide them with both practical equine and business management skills the set them up for a multitude of career options.  Working with organisations such as Equestrian Victoria is pivotal to the promotion and success of the Equine management courses.”

With an alumni including Dressage rider Gitte Donvig and renown cross country course designer Ewan Kellett, the course has proven success in delivering quality outcomes, and in 2022 the Marcus Oldham College will reach a milestone sixtieth anniversary!

Congratulations and good luck, Caitlin.

Caitlyn Ward.
Photo courtesy Blue Ribbon Photography

For more information on the course visit https://marcusoldham.vic.edu.au/courses-enrolment/equine

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