September and October Highlights

Exciting News for Sadie Van Zyl and Beth’s Upcoming Travels

We are thrilled to announce that Mersadez (Sadie) Van Zyl, a BSET graduate from 2019, has joined ETT International and Beth in Hong Kong from September 2024. Sadie’s new role is an incredible step forward for her career and will provide immense support for the team. Her presence will also allow Beth to expand her travels, spending more time at BSET and conducting SUMCHI and ETT clinics around the world. Beth’s next adventure takes her to Europe, where she will be hosting a sold-out clinic in Austria! She heads there on 4^th November 2014, and we’re sure it will be a huge success.

September: A Snowy Start to the Semester

September marked the start of our final semester for 2024, and it’s been an incredibly busy month! The semester kicked off with multiple rehabilitation cases, keeping us all on our toes. From idiopathic lameness to polo injuries and misalignment issues, our team learned so much about seeing the world through the eyes of these horses and tailoring care to their needs. We even had a fascinating case involving a polo horse, where the decision had to be made whether to continue its polo career or to put her into foal. The experience has deepened our understanding of the complexities of rehabilitation and making sound decisions about the well-being of our equine friends.

One of the most memorable moments in September was an unexpected blanket of snow that covered the farm. It was an incredibly cold weekend, but the sight of the farm draped in white was magical. The horses mostly stayed indoors to keep warm, and plenty of munchies were handed out to keep them content! We took the opportunity to capture some wonderful photos of the horses and dogs enjoying the winter wonderland and beautiful sunsets which brought a sense of calm and joy to the farm, and it was great fun for all the students, too!

 

We also welcomed numerous rehabilitation horses throughout September and had two visits from the chiropractor, further ensuring that our horses are in the best possible condition. Student visits continued to increase, and it looks like our 2025 intake will be at full capacity! Excitingly, we’ve even started to see the 2026 list begin to grow.

Our second-year students were hard at work, completing all their ETT hours and exceeding our expectations. Their dedication and skill development have been truly inspiring, and we’re incredibly proud of their progress.

October: Skill Building and Exam Preparations

October saw our students advancing their ETT skills under the expert guidance of Birgit, with plenty of fieldwork to help them gain practical experience and complete their required hours. We’re all working hard as we prepare for the year-end exams, which are just around the corner.

For the first years, the Cathsseta business module is wrapping up with a final budgeting task. After that, they’ll move on to their Cathsseta summative assessments. Meanwhile, our second years are finalizing their Executive Summaries and Business Plans for their prospective business ventures, showing just how much they’ve grown in terms of their business acumen – an essential skill in the world of leadership and business. Entrepreneurship and Business Ventures (EBV) has been a new addition to the 2^nd year BSET Academy curriculum this year and has been a worthy addition to the students learning, insights and perspectives on running a business.

As part of our commitment to a well-rounded education, all students completed their First Aid training in October. This comprehensive training is a critical part of our curriculum, ensuring our students are well-prepared for any emergency situations they may encounter in the future.

We also introduced liberty training in EKWOS with Mandy, which has been an exciting new development, especially for the first years. They love it. Watching the horses and students grow in confidence and understanding during these sessions has been incredibly rewarding.

Celebrations: Horse Birthdays!

September and October were also months of celebration with multiple horse birthdays. We always make sure to celebrate these special days with a fun and festive atmosphere – complete with a cheerful “Hip Hip – Hay Hay” for all the birthday geldings and mares!

Looking Ahead

As we move into the final months of the year, we are pleased by the progress we have made and excited for what’s to come in the latter part of 2024 and then for 2025. From Sadie’s new adventure in Hong Kong to Beth’s upcoming travels, and the continued growth of our students, BSET Academy is buzzing with excitement and momentum.

Here’s to a successful end to 2024. Good luck to our students for the upcoming assessments and examinations! Robyn has done a great job of keeping everyone on track.