BSET Academy Blog – June 2025

BSET Academy Blog – June 2025

June has been jam-packed with hands-on learning, travel, global news, and winter beauty blooming across the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands landscape. With exams approaching in just a few weeks, our students have been out and about making every hour count, from Summerveld gallops to global clinics, from racehorse rehab to polo prep!

Second-Year Students in Summerveld and Durban July excitement

Our second-year students spent an exciting and educational week in Summerveld with lecturer Birgit, treating elite racehorses and observing the gallops in preparation for the Durban July at Greyville. As part of their fieldwork project, they also visited the Coastal Horse Care Unit, where they provided much-needed TLC to rescue horses. These quiet, healing moments were as rewarding for the students as they were for the horses.

First-Year Students Enter the Field

Our first-year students experienced their first field visits with Birgit, a huge milestone! Travelling to various yards and observing equine treatments, they began clocking vital hours and working with the Transeva machine. Although intense, they’ve embraced the process with great enthusiasm.

Durban July and Polo Season Winding Down

Some of our students will be attending the Durban July races and the July Blog will fill you in. This is a fantastic chance to witness the excitement at Greyville in person. The students have also been working hard to treat client horses between polo tournaments, making the most of this polo season before it winds down. The fieldwork and experience gained are critical ahead of upcoming end-of-term exams. All the BSET students also visited and presented at a recent POLO clinic in the Karkloof. See the images below. Lots of fun was had by all.

From the polo clinic host: “Thank you so much for coming today. We loved having you here!”

Winter Aloes and Horse Clipping

On the road to BSET, the winter aloes were in full bloom, adding colour and beauty to our crisp mornings. And back at the yard, students have been refining their practical skills with clipping sessions, preparing horses for work and comfort.

Global Connections: Beth and Sadie Abroad

Beth and Sadie have been wrapping up a rewarding season in Hong Kong, teaching clinics and advancing their practice. We are thrilled to welcome Sadie back to BSET for a week in July, where she will share her inspiring journey from BSET student to International Equine Practitioner. She will be lecturing, testing students in SUMCHI technique, and offering rich professional insight. Beth is currently preparing for a round of clinics in the USA and Canada and will return to BSET in September 2025.

Alumni Spotlight: Wilru Joins EPOL!

Breaking news! We are proud to announce that BSET graduate Wilru has joined the EPOL Equine Team.

Wilru is a Western Mounted Games and polocrosse rider, holding four national records, and is EQASA Level 3 certified. With specialized training in Equine Transeva Technique (ETT), bit and saddle fitting, and equine dentistry, plus practical feeding and nutrition experience from a KZN stud farm, Wilru brings a powerful blend of skills to the EPOL team. Based in Gauteng, Wilru will also be traveling across the Free State, North West, Northern Cape, and Mpumalanga, offering expert support to horse yards across the regions.

Closing Note

As we step into the final stretch of the term, the energy is focused, the days are full, and the passion for horses and learning continues to grow. Whether in the field, across continents, in the Entrepreneurship and Business Ventures lectures developing personas, preparing business plans and writing reflective essays, or back at the yard, BSET Academy is buzzing with progress and possibility. Stay tuned for more exciting updates as exams approach and we gallop toward the close of another incredible term in early August 2025.