Successful season of schools visits conclude

As schools across the UK begin their summer break, last week saw the final groups of pupils of 2014 visit Dalham Hall Stud for an exciting and informative tour of Darley’s facilities and the opportunity to learn more about the breeding and racing industry.

The visiting children enjoy a behind the scenes tour of how the stud is run including seeing stallions, following in the footsteps of a mare arriving at the stud for covering and getting up close and personal with some willing mares and foals. They also learn about Sheikh Mohammed and his passion for the thoroughbred.

It is now ten years since Darley joined forces with BHEST (The British Horseracing and Education Standards Trust) to arrange the series of visits as part of their ‘Racing To School’ programme from May to July, with additional visits from local schools also taking place. Racing To School was set up to deliver stimulating and exciting educational activities in an open-air environment that support and enhance National Curriculum subjects.

It has proved extremely successful at increasing interest in the industry of both children and teaching staff, as shown by the quotes below.

Jacqui Lound of Fakenham Junior School said, “This is a great way to raise the aspirations of the children – to see a ‘different world’ from their own. The visit inspired some to think that they’d like to work in such a place.”

Libby, a 12-year-old pupil at St Louis Middle School said, “I enjoyed the whole day, most of all meeting the mares and foals. They were really lovely and friendly. The landscape was amazing and the architecture was brilliant.”

The school visits are complemented by the Darley Kids’ website (www.darleykids.com), which offers a wealth of information on Sheikh Mohammed and Darley, the origin of the thoroughbred and horseracing, plus a diary of selected foals who are followed from birth to the racecourse. There are also some games to play with a monthly prize on offer to the highest points scorer.

For further information on arranging a school visit at Dalham Hall Stud, please contact Franziska Schaertlin Coffey on +44 1638 730070.