Ireland 1
Godolphin’s Kildangan Stud, County Kildare, Ireland, is where the first phase of Godolphin Flying Start commences in August each year. This phase is about 10 weeks long and trainees live in shared houses in a rural setting on the farm. They are surrounded by rich land, beautiful trees, horses and Godolphin employees on a daily basis. The Godolphin Flying Start training suite is in a central location, beside the main office of Godolphin Ireland. The local town, Kildare, borders the Curragh training grounds and the home of Irish classic racing, The Curragh racecourse. Trainees attend the Goffs yearling sale with agents and consignors, many of whom are alumni of the program. They go racing at Leopardstown and The Curragh. They attend University College Dublin for their Equine Anatomy, Physiology and Reproduction module and gain practical experience breaking yearlings each morning in Kildangan Stud. Modules include multimedia skills, communication skills and personal development. Godolphin Flying Start is accredited by University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School as a Level 9 Graduate Certificate in Management (Thoroughbred Industry).
Ireland 2
The final four month phase of the program is based at Kildangan Stud in Ireland. This phase is focussed on entrepreneurship and trainees attend University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Business School to learn the skills to pitch their own business proposal as their final project. Modules include career development, finance and digital marketing. Trainees visit industry leaders in a range of businesses, from technology to retail and various thoroughbred entities. They arrange their own practical experience with trainers, studs, racetracks and auction houses in the local area. The final externship takes place at the end of this phase, just before graduation.