CAFRE equine learners explore leading equine enterprises

Date published: 26 May 2026

The tour was designed to broaden sector knowledge through direct engagement with leading equine enterprises across Ireland. 

The trip provided the attendees with first hand exposure to a diverse range of equine business models, from high performance sport and racing to education, nutrition, and therapeutic equine services.

Day one included visits to Gavin Cromwell Racing, where the group gained insights into the management of a premier Flat and National Hunt racing yard. Topics included training systems, staff organisation, horse welfare, and performance planning for the 170 horses in training in this highly regarded yard. The group had the opportunity to meet the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN owned by JP McManus. 

The itinerary continued to Karlswood, the home of Irish Olympic medallist, coach and international horse producer Cian O’Connor, showcasing sport horse development, with an emphasis on training horse-rider partnerships and preparing horses for competitive and commercial markets in world-class facilities. 

The final visit of the day was to Stewarts Care – Equine Assisted Therapy, highlighting the social impact of equine enterprises and demonstrating how horses are successfully integrated into therapeutic programmes supporting health and wellbeing. The group gained insights into specific horse training methods used to prepare horses for therapeutic work and engaged in discussions regarding potential career paths within this fulfilling sector.

Day two commenced at Annaharvey Farm, a prominent equestrian centre encompassing a riding school, livery yard with an AktiveStall option, and a holiday destination for horse enthusiasts. Participants gained awareness of business diversification and explored innovative automated feeding systems used with the equine herd. 

The visit highlighted how the farm integrates its agricultural operations with equestrian activities: waste products produced by the horses are utilised to enrich the farmland, while high-quality forage and bedding are supplied from the farm to support the equestrian section. This sustainable approach enables efficient facility management for up to eighty horses and demonstrates the benefits of a circular system within the enterprise. 

The tour concluded at Connolly Red Mills in County Kilkenny, a globally recognised animal feed brand available in 80 countries. Here they explored equine nutrition, product development, quality assurance, and the importance of innovation and sustainability in a global agri equine business. They witnessed the onsite testing laboratories and were guided through the step-by-step processes involved in feed manufacturing and production.

Seeing a range of successful equine operations in practice reinforced key business development principles for the Equine Peer Learning group, including strategic planning, adaptability, customer focus, and the importance of strong industry networks. The tour provided opportunities to benchmark best practice, identify opportunities for enterprise growth, and understand how informed business decisions underpin long term sustainability and performance.

Reflecting on the experience, participant Christine Hankin commented: “Visiting the various yards provided lots of business model insights, and plenty of topics for conversation. I loved seeing how yards managed their challenges and picked up a few tips along the way. A very worthwhile couple of days.”

Experiential learning opportunities such as this tour form a vital part of CAFRE’s BSc (Hons) Degree in Equine Management, supporting the development of commercially aware graduates equipped with the practical insight, confidence, and connections needed to succeed in a dynamic equine industry. 

CAFRE and the group would like to extend their sincere thanks to all the yards and businesses for their warm hospitality and invaluable insights during the tour.

If you are interested in any of the courses offered, please visit the CAFRE website.