Born and raised in Northland Rebecca has been apart of the Wentwood Grange team for three years. The recipient of the 2024 Sunline Trust Management Scholarship, this will be her first season as our newly appointed Broodmare Manager.
Where does your passion for horses come from? I was lucky enough to be introduced to horses before I could walk, as my parents had a small stud breeding purebred Clydesdales and sport horses. I’ve been around the breeding side of the industry for as long as I can remember. My entire dad’s side of the family has a long history with draft horses, so the passion for horses is definitely in the blood. I obviously became involved with a much faster type of horsepower as I grew up though!
How did you get started in the thoroughbred industry? I’ve always loved foals, so when we moved down to the Waikato, I took a break from university and picked up a night watch job foal watching. Once the foaling season finished, I was offered a yearling prep job, which turned into a permanent position, and I never looked back.
What is your favourite part about working at Wentwood Grange? The close-knit team and the working relationships you have with the entire crew, from seasonal staff right through to the Hawkins brothers. I also love that we are all young, passionate about the horses and genuinely invested in the industry.
What is your favourite time of year? Foaling season, without a doubt. It’s still just as exciting as it was during my first year doing it. Seeing those first moments between a mare and her foal makes everything worth it, especially being involved in the whole process from conception through to birth and their early life.
What is your proudest moment or best memory since you started with Wentwood Grange? Definitely seeing the team’s success selling the Super Seth filly out of Beela Hudood in Australia.
Do you have a favourite broodmare? I definitely have a soft spot for a few. Some of the notable favourites would be Showemhowitsdone, the half-sisters Diamonds and Bubbles and Hoard the Bubbles, as well as Yatton.
Who is someone who inspires you? Probably the team around me every day. They are always pushing themselves to grow, learn and develop, and being surrounded by that environment really encourages you to do the same.
Cats or Dogs? Our cats at work definitely have my heart 😂
Fillies or Colts? Colts.
If you could sit down and have a drink with any three people (alive or passed) who would you choose? Sir Patrick Hogan, John Magnier and Monty Roberts.
Do you have any hobbies outside of work? It’s horses during work and horses outside of work for me! I compete in endurance and my horse and I are currently training towards our first 160km single day race. That takes up basically all of my spare time. The ultimate goal would be to take my own horse overseas in the next few years and represent New Zealand.
If someone approached you eager to enter the thoroughbred industry, what words of wisdom would you have for them? I always pass on one of the first pieces of advice I was given when I started in the industry: that one of the most valuable things you can have is experience across the entire stud. I was lucky enough early on to be given opportunities across every part of the process, from reproduction and foaling through to yearling preparation and foal handling, and it’s something I’ve found invaluable throughout my career. Having that broad experience gives you a much better understanding of the industry before finding your own niche, and it’s something I’d encourage anyone wanting to get into the industry to seek out.
