Te Akau Team Spotlight

This month we shine the spotlight on a bright young Te Akau team member based at Te Akau Stud - Sinead Scott ...

I was born and raised in Dunedin, and that's where my family lives.

I started riding lessons with my friend when I was 10 years old.  I leased a horse when Mum and Dad realised it wasn't a passing phase and then they bought me my own horse.

I've had my main horse Ruby for 7 years. I've trained her to do pre-novice eventing, and up to 1.15m show jumping. I've also had a few thoroughbreds off the track that I have schooled and taught to jump and sold them on. I also have my wee 4YO Marco who is a Mastercraftsman that I taught to jump and I have been taking him out competing. I have competed in plenty of A&P shows and come home with many ribbons!!

I don't have a family background with horses, but my Great-Nana and Grams loved to bet on the horses. My mum is highly allergic to horses and my dad is a car fanatic (races cars and owns a car yard) but they have always supported me and took me to competitions when I was younger.

I haven't been to many places, but I like Wanaka and Queenstown and have been with my family to Hawaii.

I applied for a job at Te Akau and they flew me up for three days and offered me the job. I've been working here since last April.

The big paddocks and rolling hills at the stud are so good for the horses. The hill work is amazing fitness and muscle work for the horses in trainin here. It really gets them thinking and learning how to use themselves better and it's a really nice change of scenery.

I don't have any favourite horses and I love working with them all. I love riding and teaching the trainers so you do get a bond with them.

I am really enjoying the pre-trainers and the breaking in of the yearlings. I'm not sure what my future goal is yet but I do want to stay in the racing industry and of course stay with Te-Akau as I have the most amazing boss - David and Karyn really look after me!

A lot of my friends are still in Dunedin and have office jobs or studying and other interests. Some love horses though and would come out hacking with me as I always had two horses to work or just come out and watch me ride. Especially, when I would take mine to the beach.

I have two dogs of my own and my two horses that I love to bits and I read as much as can about horses.

My favourite dinner is beef or anything other than fish or seafood as I am highly allergic.

My dad's father, Bob Scott, is a known race car driver of his time and every year they have a memorial hill climb event for him in Kaitangata. Dad has lots of toys from corvettes to his three race cars and of course his massive car trailer to travel them around.

Main pic from left - Sinead, Melissa and Julia-Rose - all part of the Te Akau team at Ellerslie on Boxing Day