Student interns at legendary horse farm

Friday, August 19, 2005
Clarissa Nutt holds a filly out of Halo's Image while preparing her for the Fasig-Tipten Sale.  Nutt groomed Hill-n-Dale horses for the sale. (NCTA)

CURTIS -- Medicine Valley High School Graduate, Clarissa Nutt, traveled to Kentucky this summer to complete her Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture internship at the legendary thoroughbred horse farm -- Hill-n-Dale.  Hill-n-Dale is a thoroughbred breeding and yearling preparation facility.  Those who keep horses at the farm include well known race horse owners George Krikorian, Bob Baffert, Mike Pegram and Michael Paulson among others.  Hill-n-Dale was also home Triple Crown Winner -- Seattle Slew and now his unbeaten son, Vindication. Faculty at the college had been encouraging Nutt to call the farm regarding internship opportunities.  When she did call in early May, the farm had just finished work at the Kentucky Derby.

"You called me for the job so giddy up and get on," said Hill-n-Dale Farm Manager, Joe Ramsey.

Clarissa had less than 24 hours to be in Kentucky if she wanted the job.

This is not the first connection NCTA has had to Hill-n-Dale.  Ramsey married one of the college's veterinary technology graduates -- Shirley Pollard.  Shirley is now working as a nurse.

Nutt joined three other students in the International House on the farm -- Amy was from Canada and had worked on the farm for four years.  Udo, from South Africa, was working on a one year internship and Andreaj from Slovakia was also completing a year internship with Hill-n-Dale.

Nutt's job began in the brood mare pasture as she spent 10 hours a day checking 13 mares to see if they had made any progress toward foaling.  She was required to walk through the herd every 20 minutes.  Once Nutt recognized the signs of labor she would move the mare to the barn, clean her up, wrap the tail, call everyone who needed to be present, bring out the foaling cart and begin documenting.  Once a foal was on the ground, the mare was milked and the colostrum bottle fed to the foal.  Among other activities during this busy time, the placenta was weighed and more notes were taken.  Nutt had the opportunity to help foal out four babies.  When the foals have the potential to sell for millions of dollars, a successful foaling is vital.  One filly at the farm sold for $1.35 million -- her full brother is expected to bring even more at the September sale as a yearling.  

Once all the mares at the farm had foaled, Nutt's job turned to daily care of the horses. Nutt was in charge of Barn 5 and assisted with a second barn.  She was the only one given a radio between the two facilities and helped managed five other people.  There were four maiden mares all in foal to A.P. Indy in Nutt's barn.  The mares are expected to sell in the November/December sale for over $2 million each.  She fed, groomed and cared for these mares every day.  

Nutt's job including cleaning stalls, medicating horses, taking foal temperatures, taking a few mares to the breeding shed (both at Hill-n-Dale and at two other farms), cleaning tack, feeding hay in the paddocks, turning horses out at night and bringing them back to the barn before the mid-day heat, grooming and other general horse care.  

"It was a good experience because, unfortunately, the farm was having a bad year with a lot of sore feet and legs, ulcers in the eyes, foals with Rhodococcus-equi (a serious foal pneumonia) and I had the chance to see a lot of things," said Nutt  "I did all the oral treatments in my barns."

The daily tasks of caring for horses were often interrupted by visits from clients.  Clients were shown horses and Nutt helped with the preparation of those horses including all of George Krikorian's animals.  Many times these owners would tip those farm people showing the horses.  Tips ranged from $100 to $2,000 in cash.

"Most of the time the tip was split between everyone in the barn as we all worked together to keep the horses looking nice," said Nutt.

Nutt did participate in some yearling filly and mare sales preparation.  This work included grooming, hand walking and taking horses to and from the mechanical walker.  She even helped hold yearlings when they were taken to the swimming pool.  Nutt took photos during the sales and the farm asked her to make copies as they may use them in the next Hill-n-Dale sale brochure.

Nutt didn't leave the farm except to buy groceries and go out to eat occasionally.  The job was six days a week.  She was provided housing and compensated $350 per week.

"We were invited to eat dinner at the farm owner's house one night," said Nutt.  "It was told it was a privilege to be invited to their house as an intern who had only been at the farm for three months."

Nutt will complete a degree in Agriculture Production with an emphasis in Equine Industry Management from NCTA in May of 2006.  

She is looking for an opportunity to work with Quarter Horses in either Texas or Australia although she hasn't ruled out the option to return to Hill-n-Dale.

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