Abraham Carlse with mare and Seventh Rock foal
Plenty has been written in local times of the unrest in the farming community in the Western Cape. Many farmers have been accused of ill-treatment of their staff, and of not paying their seasonal workers adequately. There has been unrest in some areas, and people have even been killed during these events. However one needs to be ask if this is a fair picture overall.
What is really happening behind the scenes and how do the thoroughbred stud farms measure up?
I have approached a number of the stud farm owners and managers in the Western Cape to try and answer these questions.
Most farms have implanted various programmes designed to benefit their general workers and grooms. Many of the Cape stud farms have introduced various training programmes designed to benefit their general workers and grooms.
The Cape Breeders Club, under the tutelage of Liesl King, initiated an education programme for grooms in 2005, which was funded by the Cape Breeders. Liesl and Belinda Thom Bain taught a series of life skills courses for the Cape grooms, which was funded by the Cape Breeders. The opening course was opened by the then Western Cape Agriculture MEC Kobus Dowry, and it proved a smash hit with all who attended.
The programme, named ITI (Imperial Training International), was started in order to provide training for members of the previously disadvantaged community, and also to promote careers in the breeding industry for interested young people.
Three years on, Liesl and Adrian Todd then began the grooms co-op programme, to further enhance the original training, and then took the grooms on an overseas tour of Newmarket, where the grooms were given a glimpse of what happens in a different country. This was funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Highlands Farm has instituted a long running education scheme, while other farms, such as Maine Chance and KZN’s Summerhill Stud, have also played integral roles in educating and assisting their staff in the breeding industry. Many of the studs, big and small, have ensured their staff receive education, and assist them in a variety of ways.
A number of local staff have been subsidised, by the Cape Breeders Club, to take part in Summerhill’s School of Excellence – an education scheme which was put in place by Mick Goss over twenty years ago. The school’s aim is to educate and uplift the community, and to place staff members in future management roles.
One man to have benefitted from the School of Excellence was Digteby Stud’s Thabiso Nako, who was awarded a scholarship for the five month course at the School of Excellence. The Scholarship was sponsored by the Cape Breeders Club, who felt that Thabiso was a deserving and worthy candidate for the course.
Digteby’s Stud’s Judy Stegeman, was impressed by the course and facilities it offered students. The students learn about all aspects of working on a stud farm, and Thabiso excelled in both the practical and theoretical aspects. He narrowly missed in winning the top prize offered for students on the course. The Cape Breeders plan to sponsor one groom annually to take part on the course.
For the top ranking students, the School of Excellence not only provides an opportunity to learn about all aspects of stud life, but also a chance to work overseas.
At Maine Chance Farms, in Robertson, employees took part in the Micro MBA course, which is given by Samantha Sharkey on behalf of Singanyenza.
Marius Losch, one of the men Maine Chance sent to Summerhill’s School of Excellence, has just completed the micro MBA, sponsored by a Swedish company, and Summerhill are hoping to secure him an international sponsorship at some point.
This course teaches staff members about the financial side of farm life, and gives them a better idea of what costs are involved in the business.
Stud manager of Maine Chance, John Slade, believes strongly in the importance of education and motivation of staff. The farm has workers who have lived and worked on the farm for over 20 years, and it is a family affair – with workers’ children often joining their parents at Maine Chance.
The farm also has a scheme in which the employees own a mare in partnership. They breed her each season and take her resulting offspring to the sales. This scheme has proved very successful with all involved, and provides the staff with real life experience of the sales rings, and all the ups and downs which come with thoroughbred breeding.
Riverton Stud is another farm which prides itself on its calibre of workers. Duncan and Natasha Barry have made a concerted effort to assist and educate their staff. Wage scales are progressive according to skill and experience and all workers are eligible for quarterly performance bonuses.
As exporters of wine, Riverton have been accredited by WIETA (Wine Industry Ethical Trade Association) for their good work & living conditions, and employment practices.
In addition six of the Riverton Stud workers have shares in the Robertson’s very first BEE wine farm. The farm’s various staff committees have attended training in fire prevention, health and safety, and a number of other topics at the Graham and Rhona Beck Skills Centre. (This centre was launched by the Becks in 2008, with the aim of improving general education in the rural community.)
The grooms co-op transformation programme, was an initiative started by the Cape Breeders Club, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Western Cape Dept. of Agriculture, with the help of SAF Horse. The programme is managed by Adrian Todd.
The transformation programme was began with a goal of creating sustainable business opportunities for previously disadvantaged persons involved in the Thoroughbred industry.
Micro MBA candidates
The seed capital for the Groom’s Co-op weanling scheme is financed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). DTI agreed to initially 10 co-op set ups, with five in the Western Cape, two in the Eastern Cape and three in KZN. Another 20 are now in progress.
The co-op scheme received a tremendous boost in 2011, when the Riverside Grooms Co-operative sold a Silvano colt at the National Yearling Sale for R1.4 million. It was a memorable moment for all concerned! This co-op also now owns a mare. This year, she has produced her second foal for them by Seventh Rock, and the co-op members recently purchased a share in the G1 winning, first year sire Gimmethegreenlight – who they have used this year.
Adrian Todd, one of the people who got the co-op system in place, feels that the industry needs to address the issues of transformation and education more fully in the years ahead, saying, “Co-ops are a vital part of the future of racing and breeding in this country, transformation is an extremely pertinent issue in South Africa today, and it is vital we continue to talk with the government in regards to what the racing and breeding industry offers the rural communities.”
In Franschoek, Draken-stein Stud have sent grooms to the School of Excellence twice in the last two years. The farm is also heavily involved in the grooms co-op, and their staff sell a yearling every year – with the aim of bettering the total achieved the previous year. Mziwethemba “Dassie” Stuurman, who attended the course for Drakenstein, is now involved in working with Drakenstein’s top roster of sires.
Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm’s Pippa Mickleburgh is another committed to helping and assisting her staff where possible. Pippa says,” Avontuur has always understood that the success of this Estate bearing in mind it is wine ,stud and restaurant ,is in its staff; we have a loyal passionate staff who I would think in most cases do not think as this as job but as a way of life. We are mindful of continually doing training and upliftment and although the economic situation has and is tough we feel we are taking good care of them financially ,with pensions and good housing- testament to this is that most of them have been working for the family for over 15 years. The industry as a whole is very supportive of skills development and with the co op’s running well the growth will be seen in time to come with the staff.”
Graham Beck’s Highlands Farm has long one of the leaders of education in the Western Cape. Grooms from Highlands have been sent to the School of Excellence, and regularly attend skills courses at the Beck Skills Centre in Robertson. Highlands staff attend courses ranging from health and safety, fire fighting, team leading, welding and painting – and really achieve an all round education.
Frederick Makerman was sponsored by Highlands to go to the School of Excellence in KZN, and has since become one of the leading figures at Highlands, where he is involved in many aspects of the farm.
One of most inspiring and uplifting stories of recent times came with the running of the 2012 Sansui Summer Cup. This R2 million race, one of the top races in the country, was won by the Wilgerbosdrift bred Wagner. The latter’s dam was given to Wilgerbosdrift’s grooms – who were, understandably, in tears of joy watching the race!
Wagner’s dam, Cosima Liszt, has a colt by leading sire Dynasty at foot, and Saturday’s race would have increased that youngster’s value tenfold! Wagner’s half-brother, by Right Approach, sold well at this year’s National Sale.
One of the farm managers at Wilgerbosdrift, Karel Fredericks, began farm life as a groom, but, his enthusiasm and commitment saw him work his way up to manager status. He and his brother Gert are two high-valued team members at Wilgerbosdrift – one of the country’s most successful stud farms.
Wilgerbosdrift owner, Mary Slack, also sponsored her Randjiesfontein riding yard employee, Sydney James, to Summerhill. Sydney was so impressed by his KZN experience, he is now determined to work at Wilgerbosdrift itself, where his excellent horse skills and fine sense of humour will no doubt ensure he is a valued team member.
Local breeders, Veronica Foulkes and Susan Rowett, are also keen supporters of the various programmes. Normandy Stud’s Veronica Foulkes’ gave her staff a horse, The Ford, which was sent to leading Eastern Cape trainer Alan Greeff. Greeff trained The Ford (for no training fee) to score eight wins. He is still in training, and has given Normandy staff plenty of cheer.
Varsfontein owner, and TBA chairperson, Susan Rowett, is enthusiastic about the ongoing education and training schemes, commenting, “The training programmes are fantastic, and the Varsfontein grooms really enjoy them and benefit from them.”
Another exciting programme in the works is a venture funded by the Cape Breeders Club in association with the Beck Skills Centre. This is a diploma, which combines elements of the Micro MBA, SANIP Syllabus, and various other courses such as first aid and fire fighting.
While details are yet to be finalized, Cape Breeders’ Nicky Atkinson is very excited about the new programme, saying,” The big picture is to train more people with a view to uncovering potential managers for the future. We are very excited about the future of this project.”
Other farms provide workers with a wide range of benefits, ranging from housing and transport schemes, to education and schooling, and health care benefits. There are a number of unsung heroes in this industry, who deserve greater credit for their actions.
The majority of the Cape’s top stud farms are actively involved in education and are trying to uplift their workers conditions. There are numerous stories of farms and workers working together to improve life for each other.
