Alison Bell – CAFRE Alumni
Alison Bell is from Belfast and a graduate of the BSc (Hons) in Equine Management at CAFRE, Enniskillen Campus. She is groom to current Eventing World Champion Yazmin Ingham and was recently short listed in the ‘Absorbine Groom of the Year 2022’ competition.
Why did you decide to study at CAFRE?
I wanted to make a career out of my passion by working with horses. Studying the BSc (Hons) in Equine Management at CAFRE Enniskillen Campus gave me a great start into my career. After learning about the hands-on approach at CAFRE and seeing the facilities they had to offer a student, I knew it was the place for me to study. I knew it would give me every chance to network and grow as a well-rounded equestrian. The course gave me a solid base of knowledge for going out into the industry and it’s given me specific areas of interest within the equestrian community!
What was your first job?
My first professional job after graduation was a home groom for Joseph Murphy Eventing in Killyleagh, Northern Ireland. I loved every minute of my time based with Joseph and Jill at their yard. They are the reason why I continued into competition grooming over in England!
Tell us a little about your current job?
Currently I am working alongside Yasmin Ingham and her team based is Nantwich, Cheshire, England. I will be going into my 5th year with Yaz in January! My typical day at the yard starts at 8am and we try to finish for 5pm, but as we all know with horses it is not always the case! During the eventing season it can be 4am starts and very late-night finishes. This comes with the job and I love every minute of it as I get to see the horses enjoy themselves out competing! The best thing about my job is definitely being able to travel around the world with amazing horses and watch them achieve amazing results! Seeing Yaz and Banzai du Loir winning individual Gold at the World Equestrian Games in Pratoni (Italy) this year was a real highlight for me.
Have you undertaken further training since leaving CAFRE?
Yes, I went back to university to do a part time MSc in veterinary physiotherapy at Harper Adams University while working full time with Yasmin Ingham.
What is your fondest memory of your time at CAFRE?
The friends I made at college are unforgettable, our memories together still make me laugh now! I really enjoyed my time within the equitation yard and taking the horses out to competitions at the weekends. The craic was always mighty even on the early morning yard duties but it really sets you up for when you leave college and join the industry.
Do you keep in touch with fellow students who were in your class?
Yes I do try and keep in touch with everyone! Lots of us are in different parts of the world and the industry so thankfully social media makes it easy to see what everyone is up to. It’s hard to find the time to meet up with people with our busy lives especially during the eventing season.
What advice would you give a new graduate?
Just keep working hard and be open and willing to learn new things wherever you go because you never know it all and you never stop learning! Actions speak volumes in this industry and it’s something that can really differentiate one person from another. In this industry, it’s impossible to ‘know it all’. Every situation is different to the next and everyone has a unique way of doing things. Keep your mind open, work with a range of people, listen and learn, be open to the various ways of approaching and handling situations and be prepared to take a different approach to something you may have learned in a textbook. My education at CAFRE gave me a solid grounding for undertaking post-graduate study and my career in the equine industry.