A pilot programme that connects pony club riders with the thoroughbred industry is being hailed as a major success.
The second day of the two-day Ride To Time initiative, which introduced 12 Taieri Pony Club riders with a passion for horses to the skills involved in thoroughbred racing and training, was completed at Wingatui over the weekend.
The young horsepeople were taken through balance and fitness training and industry rules and regulations, and shown riding form techniques on a mechanical horse, before taking to the track to ride to a specified time.
The dozen riders showed enough talent in the saddle to impress New Zealand's most winning jockey, David Walsh, who was on hand through his recent appointment as an apprentice jockey mentor with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR).
Walsh's trained eye saw enough talent and form in the saddle to suggest some of the riders could go on to become jockeys, he said.
''They really enjoyed it and everything went really well.
''I am sure there will be someone that comes out of it that might go down and get a job in a stable or go and ride a bit of work.''
One of the main benefits of the programme was the way it gave young people with horse skills but no previous connection to the racing industry an insight into that industry, Walsh said.
''All we are trying to do is open the door, let them have a look at what's out there.
''We are preaching to the converted, as they love the horses and they know how to ride, but some of them would not get started if they wanted to go into racing.
''So, what we are doing is giving them an invite and giving them a bit of a rundown on what happens and then they have the contacts if they want to take it further at some point.
''There might be a few that come out of it that get keen straight away, or there might be some that get keen in two or three years.
''It's just a matter of letting them know there are good career paths in racing, and they get a good experience that they will never forget.''
Otago Racing Club operations manager Noelle Supple, who played a key role in formulating the pilot scheme, said she had had strong feedback from riders and their parents.
''I have had emails already from the children's parents asking when we can get them back out on the track and what is the next step; it's really positive.''
NZTR industry training and education consultant Chris Watson oversees the Ride To Time pilot scheme and attended the two-day Wingatui course.
Watson was also pleased by what he saw from the riders and was working on future avenues for the pilot programme, he said.
