Catching up with 2020 Toby Balding Award Winner, Lauren Poole

 In Blog

We caught up with 2020 Toby Balding Award winner Lauren Poole… delighted to hear she’s back in the saddle, and really investing in developing and diversifying her skill set. Good luck Lauren!

New Normal

What a relief it is see everything starting to go back to the normal. Although normal is a new normal and it’s taking some getting use to. Having been furloughed for three months, it’s great to be back riding out albeit unfit and a bit heavier than before. The winter horses are back in work so at least we are getting fit together! The covid rules have made going racing a strange experience but it’s great to see everyone following the rules to ensure we are allowed to continue racing.

Since my last blog I have been keeping myself busy. I have enrolled on a bookkeeping course and am nearly finished studying to take the exams. I love working in the office and doing the admin side of racing so I am hoping this course will open some doors in the future.

I have passed a medical exam and sent off for a provisional license to drive a 7.5 ton horse box. As soon as that arrives I will be booking in to do the theory and the practical not long after. I am hoping to get this sorted pretty soon so I am able to do some of the transporting when the winter racing is in full swing.

Up next

My next plan is to master social media, as everything is moving more online nowadays, I am currently trying to find a social media course to help me learn how to make our postings really stand out. I just wanted to say a huge thanks again for being selected to receive this award. It is allowing me to do things I would never have been able to do before and I’m definitely trying to make the most out of it!

Enter the 2021 Toby Balding Award for Development & Training

The 2021 Toby Balding Award for Development & Training is now open for applications! This is an annual £3,000 award to a member of racing staff who demonstrates a desire to further their career and to train for a higher-level qualification or undertake personal development training.

Sign up or log in to the hub and head straight to Awards for all the details and eligibility info.

 

(Picture taken Summer 2019)