The current stallion manager at Darley in America Jimmy Lovatt has been on the Godolphin team since 2007, and he describes his journey with “the Royal Blue” on this week's Boundless podcast with jockey-veterinarian Ferrin Peterson.
The Australian native was bitten by the horse bug as a child.
“My parents bought a pony for me when I was five years of age,” Lovatt tells Peterson. “I grew up in a riding school. I guess I fell in love with horses back then. In 2001, when I was back home in Australia, my bother and I were just sitting outside one afternoon having a beer. My brother said, `You know what? We should pack up our bags, go to the Bush, and work at a horse stud.' I said, `You know what? Let's do it.' Literally two weeks later we were at Widden Stud. I was there for six years. Absolutely loved it. There's what it really started for me there.”
In 2007, he made the switch to Darley Australia, and moved to Darley America in 2008. For seven years, he worked both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere breeding seasons for the outfit, but met his future wife Emma in the American office and settled in America full-time, with the exception of a four-year stint at Dalham Hall.
“It's been a journey,” he said. “It's important to get the experience. Breeding season is demanding. It's long hours. But if you manage your time right, there's still life outside of work.”
Peterson asked Lovatt what he tells young people looking to explore the industry and traveling the world.
“Since I've been here, to the amount of Americans who said, `I really want to go to Australia one day,' go and do it! If you're young, getting out of college, and trying to figure out what you want to do, and if this is the industry you want to be in, take those opportunities and go. No regrets.”
The podcast is now out on YouTube.
An audio version is also available on Spotify and Apple podcasts.
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