Launched last year by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) in collaboration with TAFE NSW in response to staffing shortages in the breeding sector, the Fast Track program offers passionate horse people a formal pathway into the sector.

Over the next 12 months, 17 trainees will study for a Certificate III in Horse Breeding at TAFE NSW Scone while completing full-time traineeships with some of the country's most respected stud farms.

More than 250 applications were received from around the country, leading to an increase in the number of places offered on the program.

"The response to this year's intake has been outstanding, with double the number of applications from 2018," TBA chief executive Tom Reilly said.

"It demonstrates to us that there are plenty of people out there who would love to build a career working with horses and who are just looking for a start.

"Fast Track offers exactly that; 12 months of practical experience working on a reputable farm combined with a formal qualification.

"It is the perfect entry-level pathway.

"The program is really starting to build momentum and I am confident that we can continue to grow Fast Track into something that is of real benefit to breeders."

Widden Stud principal Antony Thompson said the initiative played an important role in addressing a major issue for breeders.

"Staffing has been identified as an area of concern and there is a real need for something like this," he explained.

"We took a trainee on last year and we're determined to support the program again in 2019.

"The course content does a great job providing the trainees with the foundational skills and knowledge needed to get started.

"They really seem to hit the ground running when they get to the farms.

"TBA has shown great leadership in this area and I am confident that we'll continue to see the benefits of their hard work."

The 2019 cohort is made up of students from New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. Among the intake is a qualified accountant, a beauty therapist and a dive master.

The majority of the group has had little to no exposure to thoroughbreds.

They will spend the next four weeks at the TAFE NSW Scone campus where they'll take part in an intensive learning experience designed to prepare them for life working on a stud farm.

Trainees return to Scone in late July for another fortnight of structured learning before re-joining their farms where they continue their on-the-job learning for the remainder of the 12 months.

"A first for the industry, the Fast Track program allows students to combine their TAFE NSW studies with paid employment as they gain the essential knowledge and practical skills employers require of successful participants in the thoroughbred breeding industry," TAFE NSW Scone head teacher, animal care and management, Suzanne Walsh said.

Along with the formal units of study, TBA has organised a host of additional lectures and field trips to ensure trainees get the best possible introduction to the industry.

There is also a strong focus on personal development with the group taking part in first aid, defensive driver training, a personal finance workshop and mental health first aid.

The inaugural crop of Fast Track trainees are nearing the end of their 12 months in the program and have made positive impressions on the farms where they are undertaking their practical work placements.

Trainee Alyssa Pickels is based at Kitchwin Hills and, like many others in the first group, will stay in the industry after graduation.

"The Fast Track program has introduced me to the wide range of opportunities in the thoroughbred industry," she said.

"The many experiences provided through the program have shown me that I can have more than just a job, I can make it a career.

"It's really exciting to see our inaugural intake near completion," Fast Track coordinator Cecelia O'Gorman added.

"I have had the pleasure of getting to know this group over the past year and I am extremely proud of how far they have come in what is a relatively short period of time.

"Watching them grow to become valued team members on their farms has been hugely rewarding and I can't wait to see what they go on to achieve in our industry."