ITBA, in association with equuip, hosts an Online Seminar on Mental Fitness and Resilience in the Thoroughbred Industry on Wednesday 1st March. The seminar is aimed at those working in the breeding & racing sector, both employees and employers’.
The panel will be led by Dr Jennifer Pugh, Senior Medical Officer IHRB, Lisa O’Neill, Welfare Coordinator, equuip, and Dr Cíara Losty, Sports Psychologist, The Jockey Pathway. The seminar will look at defining mental fitness and wellbeing, relevant research in the industry, how to approach someone who may be struggling and an overview of workplace and industry supports.
Please register your attendance to this event by contacting Hannah Marks at ITBA HQ on 045-877543 or email hmarks@itba.ie
Click here to watch live from 7pm, Wednesday 1st Mar.
Date: Wednesday 1st March
Format: Online via Zoom
Time: 7pm - 8:30pm
Delivered by:
Dr Jennifer Pugh, Senior Medical Officer, IHRB
Lisa O’Neill, Welfare Coordinator, equuip
Dr Cíara Losty, Sports Psychologist, The Jockey Pathway
Topics:
- Defining Mental Fitness and Resilience
- Relevant research &Thoroughbred Industry Perspective
- One good adult- approaching someone who may be struggling
- Overview of Industry supports
Dr Cíara Losty
Cíara is a lecturer in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology in the South East Technological University in Waterford and is the course leader for the MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology programme. Cíara is accredited as a Professional Member by the Sport Institute Ireland Professional Quality Assurance Committee in in the area of high performance sport psychology delivery. Cíara was part of Team Ireland sport science and medical team for the Tokyo 2020 and London 2012 Olympic’s. Cíara was appointed Transition Psychology Senior Consultant for Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and provided onsite support to the Irish Eventing team. In 2022, Cíara was appointed as the performance psychologist to the Irish Paralympic Team for Paris 2024. Since 2017, Cíara is the sport psychologist for The Jockey Pathway and works with all licensed professional and amateur jockeys in Ireland.
Dr Jennifer Pugh
Jennifer has always had a keen interest in horse racing, having held her amateur rider’s license for 10 years and was Irish Ladies Point to Point Champion Rider in 2009. She has been working as racecourse medical officer since graduating in 2004 from Queens University Belfast. Jennifer worked as a GP from 2010- 2020 in Co Kildare, combining this role with her racecourse medical officer’s work and in 2019 Jennifer took up the role of Senior Medical Officer for the Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board (IHRB). This role deals with the care and well-being of the licensed jockey’s and the pre-hospital emergency care at Racecourses throughout Ireland. As well as acting as Racecourse medical officer on the racecourse the role includes licensing policies and procedures, injury management and fitness to ride, management of support services to jockey’s including physical and mental wellbeing supports, and involvement in the Jockey’s Research Group.
Lisa O’Neill
Lisa has always been involved in horses, growing up her father trained racehorses and her mother worked in Tattersalls Ireland. From taking out her license early in her career, Lisa has tasted plenty of success in the saddle, she was crowned Champion Lady Amateur for three consecutive years in a row from 2017 – 2020. Some of her biggest successes included two Kerry Nationals in Listowel, with Wraith Of Titans and Potters Point. While her biggest success came on the famous Tiger Roll when winning the JT McNamara National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Having rode over 100 winners in the saddle, Lisa is also a regular contributor to both Racing TV and RTE. Lisa completed her Masters Degree in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology and has recently joined equuip as their Industry Welfare Co-Ordinator. The role includes support and delivery of industry specific welfare and wellbeing programs to thoroughbred industry personnel.
