'I thought I had to raise all the money from sitting in my podiatry office.’ - career change pays off for Green

Cover image courtesy of Armidale Stud

Armidale Stud in Tasmania is a picturesque property which consists of 1000 acres of prime country in the central north of Tasmania nestled between the junction of the Liffey and Meander Rivers near Launceston.

Armidale Stud has been part of the Whishaw family since 1919. It is now under the guidance of Managing Director David Whishaw and his wife Rhiannon Whishaw, who serves as the racing and bloodstock manager.

Armidale Stud is where yearling manager James Green, for just over eighteen months, has left a profession in podiatry to follow his passion for thoroughbreds.

It has been a whirlwind week for Green, and he admits that he's feeling a 'little rusty' on Friday when travelling home to Tasmania.

With most of the bloodstock world clustered on the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, others travelled to the Gold Coast to celebrate the finalists of the 2023 Stable and Stud Awards on Wednesday night hosted by the Gold Coast Turf Club.

Among the seven categories awarded is the Newcomer, sponsored by Lindy Maurice’s Thoroughbred Industry Careers (TIC) and Marcus Oldham, whose recipient has worked in the industry for less than three years; the winner was Green.

Honoured to receive such a prestigious award so early in his career, with a chuckle, Green added, “Obviously, I am thrilled to have won and been recognised, but I didn’t even know the Godolphin Stud and Staff Awards existed until I was nominated.

“Eighteen months into my career, the furthest thing from my mind was an award, and I never thought I’d even be nominated for something, let alone win it.”

Career change

As Green described, the furthest thing a ‘naive 18-year-old’ would have been a profound career change from podiatry to thoroughbreds.

“Working with thoroughbreds was never on the radar as a young person. My parents pushed me to have a nice solid career and a stable income. As a naive 18-year-old, I thought podiatry could be an interesting career, so I did my four years at university and went straight into the profession.”

Although, it turned out podiatry was not Green’s true calling in life and deciding to take a seachange.

“I entered the thoroughbred workforce because I had a passion for racing and wanted to learn more. My parents bred a few cows when I was younger, and that process interested me.

“But I thought I had to raise all the money from sitting in my podiatry office, but I took a chance to gain hands-on knowledge, and the Whishaw family gave me the opportunity.”

Green admits he is much happier now working with the horses daily but that the industry ran much differently than expected.

“I think I had this naive idea that I could get into the horses, learn how the breeding side works, invest a bit of money, and try to make some money, and it would all just work.

“My goal in the future is to invest in bloodstock, I would love my own broodmares, but I realise some of the difficulties now, but I’m slowly chipping away at it.”

Despite the pitfalls and tragedies in among the triumphs of breeding thoroughbreds, Green wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Once I got involved here at Armidale, I enjoyed it so much that I’m working on the farm full time.”

Green sticking with breeding

Green has been entrusted as the yearling manager at the Whishaws' farm, with paddocks that have raised the likes of the champion, Mystic Journey, a daughter of the Armidale Stud’s very own Needs Further, and the multiple Group 1-placed Soul Patch are just some of the names produced under the Armidale Stud banner.

It is no small feat for Green but one he takes all in his stride.

“It’s a small team at Armidale Stud; we all pitch in where we can. Currently, as it's wintertime, things are a bit quieter at the moment. I’m just working with the team day-to-day.

“We have just finished the weaning process with our weanling crop, so now we are preparing to start educating our weanlings, which, of course, will become our next crop of yearlings. My role will be overviewing that process and ensuring our stock is heading in the right direction.

“I just love watching the stock develop and then as a team trying to place them where they will fit best at the sales. We are a small family-run business, so David and Rhiannon (Whishaw) make the final call at the top, but I’m getting increasingly involved in that side of the business, which I really appreciate.”

Green, extremely humble, laughed and said, “When I first started, I was petrified of the horses. At the time, I didn’t know how to respond to the horses' behaviour.

“My first yearling preparation, I reckon I barely kept my head above water the first couple of days. I would have loved and wished there was footage of my first yearling preparation compared to my development now, and I think the difference would be great to look at.”

Quickly getting over the fear of horses and proving to be quite the natural, Green has even handled the resident stallions at Armidale Stud, Needs Further and Alpine Eagle.

“I have handled the stallions Needs Further and Alpine Eagle. Jayden Schueddekopf is our stallion manager, so he handles most things in that department. However, I have done my fair share of work with the boys.”

Green is always eager to thank and share his appreciation to David and Rhiannon Whishaw for a life-changing opportunity.

Gallery: Stallions standing at Armidale Stud

“David and Rhiannon are incredibly passionate about their farm, team and business. They have helped and taught me so many things and continue to do so, and they keep me motivated and focused.

“I’m very thankful for the opportunities they have given me.”

Green inspires those feeling unfulfilled in their current occupations and reminds them that a career change, albeit scary at times, is always possible and with passion, dedication and open mind, you can thrive and succeed.

The thoroughbred industry has gained a name it will likely see around for a long time.