Racing
Career Pathways: Yearling Handler
Do you want a job where you can travel the world, work with horses, network and constantly improve your knowledge of the industry? According to highly regarded yearling handler Adam Purcell, freelancing for stud farms offers all of this and more. It’s a job that has taken him all over the world including working for Rathmore Lodge during the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
"I think every different sale, every horse is different. You never find two horses that are the same and that's why I love it," said Adam.
"You are constantly improving yourself - how you work, and you're constantly improving your knowledge on the industry. So it's just the constant growth that I love and that really comes hand in hand with yearlings. You have no choice but to learn.
"I'm actually a carpenter by trade and now all of a sudden I'm in Adelaide leading yearlings around so this job could take you anywhere. It really is a world-wide job where you can travel so much – you can go anywhere in the world with it. Especially if you have the right mindset and attitude," he said.
According to Adam, a background in horses isn't necessary to be a yearling handler. A good attitude and work ethic is what will get you a long way.
His work involves prepping yearlings for sale and parading them for potential buyers where they will hopefully sell well.
"I find yearlings they're still like babies in their heads. It's like when you're talking to a little kid you just have to tell them everything will be OK, it's fine and just bring them through the motions.
"You have to be as relaxed as them so I always say the lead it's like you are telephoning. Whatever you transmit down that lead it's going straight into their head. They're thinking he's worried I should be worried too so you just try and relax them as much as you can and hopefully they just take it in their stride and generally the good ones do really well," said Adam who comes from the same small Irish town as Melbourne Cup winning jockey Robbie Dolan.
"Personally I come from a background of horses. I always grew up with horses on the farm. My dad was a jockey so it was always in my face. But I know plenty of people especially in Australia – backpackers they walk into a farm on regional days and all of a sudden they're at a yearling sale bringing through a $200,000 lot. And for them it's as surreal as for the horse.
"So anyone can do this job you just have to have the right mindset and be social. It's a huge industry for networking, talking, and socialising. So if you feel like it, throw your hat in the ring and go for it," he said.
Demand for yearling handlers is high throughout Australia and the world. You just need to be willing to travel the circuit to find consistent work.
We spoke to Adam at the Adelaide sales in March, from there he had plans to run through the rest of the sales in Australia and then head to Kentucky for their circuit.
"Yearling handlers are stupidly in demand. If you think about it, you have got a sale here for 450 horses. Then you're running onto nationals which is in excess of 1200 horses, so a lot of people take care of a lot of horses.
"Some people look at them and think oh that's a big scary horse but they're just big babies," he said.
As for finding work on the sales circuit, Adam says it's as simple as reaching out to a stud farm you would like to work for.
"The best way I could tell you is just approach somebody. A lot of people in this industry are very approachable so all you need to do is put your hand up and say I want to do this, I want to learn, and people in this industry will help you. They will definitely help you.
"So if you've found a farm you really like shoot them a text, shoot them an email and I have full faith that you'll more than likely get a job," said Adam.
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