Salient Trust Young Achiever Award

Welcome to the Salient Trust Young Achiever Award Scholarship page, proudly supported by the New Zealand Equine Research Foundation with financial support from Jenny Kain of the Salient Trust.

This prestigious award has been available since 2008. We are grateful for previous support from the Chittick Family, Waikato Stud, followed by Valachi Downs Stud and the Hickman family, and current sponsorship from Jenny Kain of the Salient Trust.

What is the Salient Trust Young Achiever Award?

The annual award of $15,000 is available to assist an individual under the age of 35 years in their career in the equine industry. Applications are accepted from, but not necessarily limited to, the following:

  • A post-graduate, masters or honours student undertaking study or research in an area of equine science

  • An individual pursuing any specialised equine study or course (including farriery)

  • An individual committed to embarking on a career in the equine industry.

  • An individual already contributing to the equine industry who wishes to further their career.

Applicants will be expected to show evidence of both their commitment to the equine industry and their other attributes that would make them appropriate recipients of this Salient Trust Young Achiever Award

We welcome submissions from postgraduate, master's, or honours students undertaking equine science studies, individuals pursuing specialized equine courses, farriers, and those who are committed to starting or furthering their careers in the equine industry.

Applications close 31 January annually.

Past Recipients

  • Dr Carslake used the award to travel to the United Sates to complete his specialist training in equine medicine.

    Dr Harry Carslake

  • The award assisted Dr Peat in undertaking a post-graduate diploma from Massey University and to travel to the USA to study diagnostic imaging and lameness in performance horses.

    Dr Francis Peat

  • As a result of this award, Dr Cahill undertook an internship with Dr Jane Axon at the Clovelly Intensive Care Unit, Scone Equine Hospital, Australia, specializing in intensive care of foals

    Dr Lucy Russell