Central Horse News - Equine Careers 2020

Central Horse News 2020 feature on Equine Careers

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Why should I choose a career in equine?

By Sam Lacey BHSII SM, Equestrian Centre Manager, Moulton College

The opportunities within the equestrian industry are diverse, ranging from hands-on grooming and riding jobs through to research positions with internationally regarded equine scientists and everything in between. The spectrum of different job types allows those who have a passion for all things horsey to pursue a career that suits their strengths and aspirations, with opportunities to travel both throughout the UK and abroad.

Choosing to study Horse Management at Moulton College is the first step towards an exciting career with horses, whether your interest lies in developing your riding and practical skills or you are more attracted to the scientific and business aspects of the equine industry.

Career options in the equine industry After studying at Moulton College our equestrian students have either progressed to work directly in the industry or have continued their studies and gained additional qualifications. Here is an overview of just some of the career options available: Equine Groom – Working as a groom is a handson position that is both rewarding and challenging.

Depending on the industry sector, positions can include riding or others relating to horse care, including stud groom, yard groom and rehabilitation groom.

Rider / Trainer – There are plenty of opportunities if you want to ride as an occupation, whether that is within the racing industry or other competitive disciplines. Positions available range from work/ride out positions to trainers and competition riders.

Yard / Facility / Events Manager – The development of leadership and business acumen as part of their studies has enabled past students to progress onto either running their own equestrian businesses or operating organisations such as riding schools, livery yards and competition centres.

Riding Instructor / Equine Lecturer – If you have a passion for teaching and learning you could study additional qualifications allowing you to teach others to ride, and educate the equestrians of the future.

Business Administrator / Development / Sales Roles – Working either front of house or behind the scenes in any equestrian business requires a multitude of skills as well as knowledge of the equestrian industry. Skills developed at Moulton College have provided past

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students with the opportunity to work for organisations across the sector including international companies, governing bodies and charities.

Equine Health Occupations – Given the breadth of the equine health sector there is also the opportunity to undertake additional training to become veterinary assistants, nutritionists, animal physiotherapists and scientific researchers.

Getting the best start Finding a college which has a range of specialist facilities combined with a supportive teaching environment is crucial to achieving your full career potential. At Moulton College we have horses of varying levels from across the disciplines for both dressage and jumping lessons.

There is also the option for students to bring their own horse with them to College and make use of the quality facilities. The variety of College horses provides students with plenty of opportunities to develop their practical handling skills including general ground work, longreining, lunging and grooming.

One of the things that our College does exceptionally well is provide the opportunity for students to learn in an authentic commercial environment. Our state-of-the-art Equine Therapy Centre with Aqua Treadmill, Swimming Lane and Cold Water Spa provides students with a unique insight into applied equine hydrotherapy in relation to both training and rehabilitation. Involvement in the Equestrian Centre’s competitions and events also provides additional insight to students of the variety of career options open to them on completion of their course.

Want to find out more?

The best way to find out more about an exciting career in equine is to come along to one of our Open Events where you can speak to tutors and students and discover the best path for you. Check out our website for details of future events: www.moulton.ac.uk

For the latest news visit www.centralhorsenews.co.uk

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Why choose Equine Studies at Moulton College?

Our courses have been designed to give you a thorough understanding of equine care.

Learning at our commercial Equine Centre, you’ll gain hands-on experience to develop your practical skill set and prepare you for working life in the equestrian field.

Our Facilities: • Recently refurbished 40m × 60m indoor riding arena with galleried seating.

• Outdoor riding arenas, 20m × 60m and 20m × 40m.

• Cross Country Schooling Field.

• Hacking trails across the College Estate.

• Stabling for up to 36 horses.

• Quality horses from a range of disciplines including a number of school masters.

• A mechanical horse.

The Benefits: • Access quality learning resources at our state-of-the-art Equine Therapy Centre.

• Gain practical and theory based tutoring by specialist lecturers.

• Ridden lessons provided by experienced BHS qualified coaches.

• Learn from our expert commercial Equine Hydrotherapy team.

• Small group sizes to ensure quality provision tailored to individual needs.

• Option to participate in ridden competitions at the centre as well as in the inter-college league with other colleges in the region.

• Access to the BHS pathway schemes including the BHS Challenge Awards.

Courses are available from Level 1 right through to degree level.

To find out more about our equine courses visit www.moulton.ac.uk or call us on 01604 491131

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CAREERS

SO HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR WAY INTO A CAREER JOUSTING?

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t was at the age of 14 that Karl Ude-Martinez, founder and owner of The Knights of Middle England Jousting Display Team and Jousting School first discovered his passion for jousting, having grown up riding at the Warwick International School of Riding; the family equestrian centre run by his mother -

Janet Martinez. One weekend a jousting team from Wales were boarding their horses overnight, as they were performing at Warwick Castle.

Due to a sudden staff illness, the team found themselves a Knight short and asked Janet, if she had any good riders who could fill the spot – “Yes, absolutely – my son can do it!” and that was that – just a few short hours later Karl found himself cantering into the arena in front of 3,000 people, on an ex-racehorse called Sam taking part in his first jousting show and the rest, as they say, is history….

Today, the Knights of Middle England is the UK’s leading jousting company providing jousting and live arena entertainment for the very same Warwick Castle, where Karl

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rode in his first show as well as at other events and venues all over the Country. The team also run the UK’s only dedicated Jousting School and Amateur Jousting League where absolutely anyone can try their hand at jousting – even if you have never sat on a horse before! They also offer Horse Archery and Trick Riding training as well as all ‘regular’ riding at the family run Equestrian Centre.

SO HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR WAY INTO A CAREER JOUSTING? Obviously every yard needs grooms. No matter what the horses do, they still need looking after – although training horses for trick riding, jousting and horse archery is a little more unique, as is preparing them for Film & TV work such as Game of Thrones or King Arthur. Grooming is a great place to start, gain experience and work your way up.

But what does it take to ride in one of their fast, action packed jousting and stunt shows? You

have got to be a very experienced & capable rider, next on the list – you can’t be shy in front of a crowd! Performing to crowds of thousands daily, acting and performing experience is a definite bonus. Karl is a professionally trained actor with theatre, TV & film experience and he combines this training with his equestrian skills when performing, writing and directing the shows.

All training is offered for those wanting to join the team, so it is a very exciting and unique opportunity for those who work with horses but would like to try something a little different. Kelly Baddeley, who played the leading female role in their show this year ‘Wars of the Roses, Live!’ at Warwick Castle joined the company nine years ago with absolutely no jousting experience and is now one of the leading female jousters in the country. She also manages the yard of 25 horses and all team logistics. Kelly completed an Equine Science degree at Hartpury College and has worked for the company since graduating and is now a key part of the team, so despite what many people think, it’s not just a job for the boys!

The Knights of Middle England are always interested in hearing from people who would be interested in joining the team with offers of weekend and seasonal work available – so if you think jousting might be for you then don’t hesitate to get in touch.

For the latest news visit www.centralhorsenews.co.uk

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Land Based Courses at Cirencester Sixth Form College

Cirencester College is the perfect place to start your journey towards the career of your dreams in the land based industry. With so many different options and routes available NOW is the time to apply!

Level 3Vocational Courses Horse (Equine) Management Perfect if you’re interested in: Horse behaviour and welfare Yard management Fitting tack and equipment Caring for competition horses Horse fitness Rehabilitation & therapy Equine Health Working horses from the ground

Land & Wildlife Management (Countryside) Perfect if you’re interested in: Trees & woodlands British wildlife & conservation Natural history Environmental education Environmental management Water quality & management Farming and agriculture Countryside tourism

Level 2Vocational courses

Horse (Equine) Care Horse Care Land & Wildlife Management (Countryside)

Animal Management Perfect if you’re interested in: Animal handling, feeding & accommodation Animal biology, behaviour & communication Farm livestock & husbandry Exotic animals Animal welfare & breed development Zoo husbandry & management Veterinary studies Wildlife care and management

Foundation Degrees

Environmental Conservation & Heritage Management British Wildlife Conservation Animal Science

To apply log on to our website www.cirencester.ac.uk.

For further information please contact student.journeyteam@cirencester.ac.uk

LEVEL 2 DIPLOMA APPRENTICESHIP • Available for 16-22 year olds • Residential course followed by an 18 month work placement • Learn to ride and care for racehorses • First step to becoming a jockey • Guaranteed work!

• Exciting industry with opportunities to travel

CONTACT CAREERS@BRS.ORG.UK OR CALL 01638 665103 WWW.BRS.ORG.UK

Please mention Central Horse News What’s On when responding to advertisements

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Want to learn how to handcraft a saddle?

Want L ondon's leading land-based education provider Capel Manor College offers the only full-time saddlery course in Europe, where you can learn traditional skills making handcrafted saddles, bridles, harnesses and other leather accessories.

The prestigious Worshipful Company of Cordwainers' Diploma in Saddle, Harness and Bridle Making starts this September at our College's Enfield Campus. This course will introduce you to the traditional and modern production methods of the saddlery industry.

If you have artistic flair, good business sense and are interested in horses and horse riding then this is the ideal course for you.

Our students go on to work in a wide-range of careers that include: making, selling, restoring and repairing saddles, bridles, harnesses and associated leather goods. You could work in the leather or fashion industries designing and creating leather goods, costumes and accessories.

Find out more at www.capel.ac.uk

The Princess Royal College of Animal Management and Saddlery, London Capel Manor College is the only college in Europe to run a full-time saddlery course.

Students can gain the prestigious and historic Worshipful Company of Cordwainers’ Diploma in Saddle, Harness and Bridle Making; a course approved by The Society of Master Saddlers who are committed to keeping the tradition of hand-sewn leatherwork alive.

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capel.ac.uk For the latest news visit www.centralhorsenews.co.uk

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My Dream Career

“

From as early as I can remember through my Dad and Grandad’s shared interest in the sport I’ve held a passion for horse racing” says Will Hughes, 19 year old Graduate of the British Racing School. “Throughout Primary School I always had the ambition of working in racing, but as secondary school began that went away.” Now just a under a year into his career working for a racehorse trainer we caught up with Will to find out more about his journey to his dream career…

Which BRS course did you do and when?

I was part of course 329 with the legendary Miss Hobson. It was a 14-week course that went from January to April.

Did you have any racing experience prior to attending the BRS? Before the BRS the closest I had been to a racehorse was at the races. I had never ridden or looked after a racehorse in my life, or worked in any other kind of equestrian yard, and essentially needed everything explained to me for several weeks.

Tell us about your career so far…

I am just under a year of working in a racing yard, and have already learned so many skills and met so many people. You

M I

by Will Hughes get the opportunity to ride out alongside professional jockeys and interact with them, many older members of staff in racing all have their own stories to tell on where they have been and who they have worked for, often all around the globe, and you can watch how trainers deal with their horses differently and what work they do to prepare them to run at the races.

What’s the best part about working in racing/doing the job you do?

For me, the best about my job is knowing that I’ll never have to go back to working in a shop or a retail environment. Being outdoors with such interesting animals keeps you on your toes every day and no two days go the same. It keeps you fit and active so you never have to feel guilty about not going to the gym because nearly all mornings are a workout in themselves.

What are your plans & aspirations for the future?

Right now, my plans are just to complete my level 2 and 3 diplomas, then with more experience and ability, use my job to travel the UK and hopefully abroad.

For further information visit www.bsr.org.uk or contact 01638 665103

LEVEL 2 DIPLOMA APPRENTICESHIP • Available for 16-22 year olds • Residential course followed by an 18 month work placement • Learn to ride and care for racehorses • First step to becoming a jockey • Guaranteed work!

• Exciting industry with opportunities to travel

CONTACT CAREERS@BRS.ORG.UK OR CALL 01638 665103 WWW.BRS.ORG.UK Please mention Central Horse News What’s On when responding to advertisements

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