CAREERS, EDUCATION & TRAINING
EER CARH PAT Equestrian Journalist
SO YOU WANT TO BE A…
T
he equestrian industry is full of incredible careers, and in the British Equestrian Trade Association’s (BETA) Career Month, Claire Williams, Executive Director of BETA, spoke to lots of different people with incredible jobs, and picked tips from each! Here are just a few:
Equestrian Events Organiser Claire spoke to Nicky Townshend, Assistant Director of Land Rover Blair Castle Horse Trials, here are some highlights: • There are different ways to get into this kind of role, Nicky does have an equine degree but found her way here through working in lots of different jobs in the industry • Having equestrian knowledge really helps as it helps you understand what competitors want, and what types of tradestands might entice
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visitors too • Some event teams are really small, meaning that the job role is diverse. From talking to tradestands and sponsors to generator contractors • It’s not necessary to have a degree (but it can help), but the key is to get in touch with events and look for placements available and go and work with the team for a season Consider volunteering at local events, get an understanding of what goes on behind the scenes including the long hours and the pressure • Computer literacy is also incredibly important as is experience on social media platforms. Highs of the job – when everything is ready to go and knowing that the team did it. The feeling when people come and love the event. Lows of the job - dealing with the licensing and essential paperwork side of the event.
Claire spoke to Eleanor Jones, News Editor at Horse & Hound, here are some highlights: • It’s not always regular hours • You have to know the subject well • You have to be interested in people - why is this happening, how do you feel about that, and how will it affect people • The role has changed over the years due to social media and the internet. The good thing about the internet is that you can cover so much more than just in print, you can also keep people up to date in real time and use video • You need to be good at English, but that ability to ask the questions that matter is essential • There are different ways to get into journalism, from training on the job, NCTJ, journalism degrees, and magazine training courses. Highs of the job - making a difference and being able to research and then share stories that can impact people. Lows of the job – when stories fall apart at the last minute.
Nutritionist
has been approved to be on the register Claire spoke to Louise Jones • The job can be diverse from Redmills and Kate Hore depending on what type of from NAF. Here are some nutritionist you are. Kate does highlights: a lot of training, works with • There’s a voluntary register to legislation and regulatory be a registered nutritionist. This requires the nutritionist to affairs, writing educational articles, and developing new provide documents and products with the veterinary evidence of experience to be team. Louise visits clients such considered. When accepted, as racehorse trainers, studs and there’s the need to do CPD more doing diet reports, • Being a nutritionist may analysing forage, giving advice become a protected term in on clinical situations with vets, the future- at the moment it in addition to office work too isn’t. The RNutr letters after • If you’re trained in nutrition, the name show that person
