Finding Your Place in the Herd - Equestrian Employment by Holistic Equitation

Table of Contents

Horse Crazy? Join the Herd

Choosing Horses as a Career

From Horse Sense to Horse Cents

Where Do I Start?

Am I Headed in the Right Direction?

8-10

Know Whom to Impress in Your Career Search

The Equine World of Employment – Career Profiles

Equine Staff Employment Agency

Animal Behaviorist

Barefoot Trimmer

Boarding Stable Manager

Carriage Driver for Tours

Clocker

Course and Jump Designer

Equine Dentist

Equine Massage Therapist

Equine Nutritionist

Equine Photographer

Equine Veterinarian

Eventer

Exercise Rider

Farrier

Groom

Handicapper

Horse Breaker/Trainer

Horse Breeder

Horse Clothing and Accessory Designer

Horse Hauler

Jockey Valet

Judge

Mounted Police Officer

Pony Girl or Boy

Show Horse Trainer

Trail Guide

Travel Agent

Is My Place in the Herd?

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Wanted: More Horse Lovers “Many persons have sighed for the ‘good old days’ and regretted the ‘passing of the horse,’ but today, when only those who like horses own them, is a far better time for horses.” C.W. Anderson Like all of us, horses need steady care and consideration to thrive and reach their fullest potential. It makes sense to have someone like you, a horse lover, working with these treasured animals, whether you perform your job in the saddle or out of it. Let your love of horses carry you on a path of professional exploration, one that can lead to your ultimate destination of a rewarding career in the equine industry. This book is designed for each and every person who wants to join the world of horses in some professional capacity and needs some guidance in finding that dream job.

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Choosing Horses as a Career If you’re thinking about pursuing an equestrian career or one that relates to horses, you are in luck. The opportunities for working in the world of horses are as numerous as the reasons for loving these wonderful creatures, and many jobs are saddle-optional. If you enjoy horseback riding or other equestrian sports, you can choose a work environment that allows you to indulge that passion such as show horse trainer, trail guide or exercise rider. For those who would rather keep two feet on the ground or who can’t locate the business end of a saddle, there are careers that contribute to the well-being of horses or make the relationship between man and horse better in some way such as equine veterinarian, animal behaviorist or horse breeder. There is a multitude of diverse jobs and career opportunities within the equine world, which offer horse lovers the chance to earn money whether they’re sitting astride a powerful thoroughbred

Horse Crazy? Join the Herd

in a race for the finish line or behind a powerful microscope in a race for equine medicine. For every equestrian pursuit, there are many people working behind the scenes to make the more

“Of all creatures God made at the Creation, there is none more excellent or so much to

visible horse activities possible. These folk are crucial to the smooth operation of any stable, ranch,

be respected as a horse.” Bedouin wisdom

or racetrack, and although it’s not necessary that workers be horse lovers, it’s certainly better all around if they are. Just as you wouldn’t want an adult who dislikes children to baby-sit your toddler

Man’s best friend may be a dog, but that’s only because a horse won’t fit into the back

or work on the school safety committee, you wouldn’t want an employee who doesn’t like horses

seat of an automobile. Anyone who’sspent time with horses knows how beautiful these

to be in charge of administering their health exams or designing riding gear.

creatures are and how tirelessly every inch of the creature’s flesh works to perform tasks that are beyond human ability. The horse is truly one of nature’s greatest achievements, a marvelous balance of strength and gentleness that has been serving humankind for thousands of years and demanding very little in return. Although modern machinery has changed this long-standing relationship between man and beast, horses still hold a special place in our hearts. Whether they’re providing quiet companionship on bridle paths, heart-pounding excitement in sports venues, or brute force at work sites, horses continue to play an important role in many people’s lives. They do so with unparalleled grace, spirit, and sensitivity. So if you’re horse crazy, you’re not really crazy at all. You simply appreciate the natural wonder that we call a horse, and you understand that this animal deserves to be treated with kindness, respect, and an unwavering commitment to its welfare.

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From Horse Sense to Horse Cents “When I was a young girl, I thought of being a mounted policewoman, because I figured I could ride horses and be paid for it--what a job!” Olivia Newton-John Although it’s true that many of us work namely to earn a living, the kind of lifestyle we expect from our job-related incomes varies tremendously. Some of us place a higher premium on luxuries and are willing to sacrifice job satisfaction for a bigger paycheck. Others value the intangible, intrinsic rewards of a personally satisfying job over the material, financial gains, and these people would rather work at something they truly enjoy for fewer dollars than spend their time in a lucrative profession that makes them unhappy. While monetary gain and job satisfaction are not always mutually exclusive, you will likely encounter periods in your career, where you must forfeit one in favour of the other. This is most often the case when one is beginning to forge their career path and only you can decide which of these factors is more important to you, but if you know that you enjoy working with horses, you are already way ahead in the game of choosing a career. If being around horses or working in their behalf makes you happy, you owe it to yourself to take a serious look at the careers that are available in the equine world. The horse industry offers jobs that span all skill and income levels, so you can find a role that best suits your needs, desires, and abilities. This does not mean that you should decide today what position you want and then expect to win that job immediately and stay there for the rest of your working life. Your dream career with horses may require skills or experience you do not currently have, so your best plan may be to chart a job path that progressively leads to that desired position. In addition, your notion of an ideal horse career may change over time, as experience and the realities of life often force us to re-evaluate our goals. It’s always best to keep your employment options open. Otherwise, you run the risk of pigeonholing yourself into a career you may not want five or ten years from now. The best way to avoid digging yourself into this kind of career rut is to keep on the lookout for anything that will increase your marketability and potential worth to employers. Take advantage of every opportunity to increase or update your skills and to gain experience in different aspects of your work life. Employers place great value on workers who demonstrate versatility in expertise and a willingness to learn, so make yourself as attractive an employee as you can. With every new skill acquired, you will increase your self-confidence and willingness to gain more experience, which in turn will help you make better, more informed decisions about your career. www.horse-riding.com.au

Where Do I Start? “No ride is ever the last one. No horse is ever the last one you will have. Somehow there will always be other horses, other places to ride them.” Monica Dickens Your career is a lifelong journey of exploration, change, and self-discovery, and its starting point will influence the direction in which you travel. In the following pages, you will find information on twentyseven different careers within the horse world, y including jobs you may be familiar with and ones you may not have considered. These career profiles contain basic facts about each job, including general duties, education or skills required, salary levels and some of the pros and cons associated with the job. They are intended to serve as motivation for further research and represent only a fraction of all the opportunities that are available to horse lovers. There are many hundreds of potential horse-friendly careers from which to choose, and the ones we have mentioned in this book will give you an idea of the enormous range of functions served every single day by people who share your love of horses. Look through these career profiles and note which ones especially catch your interest. Keep track of the jobs that appeal to you and try to determine what it is about each one that makes it an attractive opportunity for you. Is it the direct contact with horses, the chance to teach others, or something else? These commonalities are crucial, as they say a lot about the kind of career you would most enjoy. There is no such thing as a perfect job, but by paying attention to what is most important to you in a career, you can create a working life that most closely resembles your ideal dream job in the horse industry. For every job that you consider, be realistic about its possibilities. Each of us has strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, and physical and mental predispositions that affect our ability to succeed in certain roles. If you dream of becoming a race jockey but stand at six-foot-two and weigh in at two hundred and fifty pounds, you will have a hard time convincing anyone, including the horse, that you should climb up onto that saddle and compete against smaller, slimmer riders. There are also many less apparent, but equally important, factors to bear in mind, such as your psychological mindset. If you fantasizes about becoming the next world-class horse-show champion but also dread the prospect of extensive travel, a profession that forces you to compete in various venues around the world is probably not the right one for you—unless you are willing to endure detested travel for the sake of potential fame. Again, it’s up to you to decide what’s most important to you and to make an educated decision about the path you want to take. www.horse-riding.com.au

horse industry needs people performing jobs that don’t require riding, such as designing facilities, conducting research, coordinating events, and managing farms. Volunteering: Volunteer your services or work as an apprentice or intern in the kind of environment you are considering as your potential workplace. No amount of research or information is a substitute for real-life experience in your chosen capacity. Experience: Check the minimum experience requirements for the job. Do you need previous professional, paid experience to move into this career, or will volunteer work and life experience qualify you for the position?

Am I Headed in the Right Direction?

Training: Training can take the form of handson training in some employed capacity or more formalized training from a school, college, or other accredited institution (see “Education” below). Check the minimum training requirements for the chosen occupation.

“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” ~ Sir Winston Churchill

A career among horses is a demanding one that often involves hard work and long hours, but it is an extremely rewarding one as well, thanks to the sensitive and affectionate nature of these complex creatures. There’s something about being around these marvels of beauty, strength, and intelligence that makes you feel good. The trick is to find your place in the herd: the position that best corresponds to your unique talents and abilities. Once you’ve narrowed down the employment possibilities to particular careers, use the acronym I LOVE THE HORSES as a guide and consider the following important factors for each potential job:

Intuition Learning Open-mindedness Volunteering Experience Training Horse Contact Excitement Harmony of Mind and Body Opportunity for Advancement Recognition Skills Education Salary Intuition: Call it intuition, instinct, or that gut feeling you get at certain times. We all have it, but don’t always give it the respect it deserves. When your intuition is prodding you in one direction, don’t dismiss it as irrelevant. Those “vibes” you sometimes feel are your mind’s way of telling you something important. Remember that you are the ultimate authority on how well a job fits on you, and even the most well-intentioned friends and family members cannot know you as well as you do. Learn to trust your intuition and use it as a guide to your true feelings. www.horse-riding.com.au

Horse Contact: If a love of horses is your primary motivation for entering the horse industry, the Learning: Use every available resource to learn as level of exposure to these animals is a major much as you can about the job you are considering. selling point. Does the job involve regular contact Read magazines, newspapers, and books devoted with horses, occasional contact, or no contact? to the subject and check out online websites for Choose a career path that offers you the type of more details. Talk to people who are employed in human-horse interaction you want or paves the your chosen field for useful first-hand information way toward achieving it in the future. about the job. Some good questions to ask at these fact-finding meetings, as well as on actual interviews for the position, include: What skills are most important in this job? What personality traits are most advantageous in this job? What would a typical workday be like? What is the salary range? How much of my workday will involve contact with horses? In this job, will I learn new skills that I can use to progress to another level of employment? If I took this job, what could I expect to be doing one year from now? Five years from now? Ten years from now? Open-Mindedness: Cultivate an open mind and exercise it regularly. Flexibility in considering new options, acquiring new skills, and adjusting to changes will serve you well in your career with horses, just as it would in any other profession. This flexibility also includes thinking outside the saddle. In addition to equestrian professionals, the

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Excitement: Some of us crave more excitement in our jobs than others. Certain areas of the horse industry, such as thoroughbred racing or hunting tournaments, have given many people unrealistic expectations about the level of stimulation found in horse-related jobs. There are certainly equine careers that are exciting and achievable, although they tend to be highly competitive and require extensive training. Most of the jobs in the horse world involve considerable routine and repetition, especially in caregiving and maintenance roles, but the continual direct contact with horses may be more gratifying to you than thrills and chills. Harmony of Mind and Body: We all have different mental and physical needs and desires. Some people prefer a substantial amount of physical activity in their everyday lives, others thrive on mental stimulation, and still others need a combination of both to be happy. If you enjoy exercising your problem-solving and analytical skills in scientific or theoretical pursuits, no amount of physical exertion will satisfy you for very long. In that case, a job in the field of equine research may be more appropriate for you than one in stable management. Likewise, if you seek the physical exhilaration of equestrian sports, a job that leaves you little time to ride is probably not a good choice. Opportunity for Advancement: As happy as you may be in a particular career with horses, you may want to make a change at some point in the future. It’s a good idea to find out if the job you’re contemplating is a suitable springboard for other positions and, if not, learn exactly what you need to do now to prepare for the future. Recognition: If public or industry acknowledgement of your work is important to you, you may want to pursue the high-profile specialties that put you in the limelight, such as equestrian showmanship or thoroughbred racing. There are a limited number of so-called glamour jobs in the horse world, and they are fiercely competitive and physically rigorous ones. It is worth noting that most jobs provide recognition, although not necessarily of such high profile. If you choose a careeer in equine medicine and perform research

Know Whom to Impress in Your Career Search Skills: Learn about the skill sets required for the job you’re considering. If you already possess the required abilities, will you find the position too boring, or can you learn new skills on the job? If you do not have the requisite skills for the career you have in mind, will you need to learn them through a formal education or will hands-on experience suffice? Education: Find out whether the job requires any formal education that you don’t have. If so, will you have the physical and/or mental capacity as well as the motivation aand financial resources to get the training you need? If not, can you work at a different job in that field until you are ready to take on the educational challenge, or can you get financial assistance now for your training? For information on specific schools, check out www.horseschools.com. The website lists and ranks equestrian schools, primarily giving information on those in the United States but also including data on some facilities in Canada and the United Kingdom. Salary: As discussed earlier, money may be the sole factor of consideration for some people, in which case none of the preceding factors will matter much if the salary is too low. Entry-level jobs should be considered as jumping-off points from which you can progress to other, potentially more lucrative jobs. It’s important to learn if the job you want generally commands a higher salary as experience, training, or formal education progresses or if the pay rate remains relatively stable throughout the course of a career.

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“One reason why birds and horses are happy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses.” Dale Carnegie As you read the following career profiles, you will probably think of other pros and cons for each job, or you may have a completely different idea about whether certain factors are positive or negative factors. Some people dislike having to do extensive traveling for their jobs and would characterize it as a con, but others enjoy driving so much that they don’t mind spending an extra hour a day behind the wheel of a car. This difference in taste holds true for many aspects of employment, and you should remain loyal to your own preferences when deciding whether a career is right for you. If everyone you know thinks you should compete in professional horse shows, but you’ve always wanted a job teaching others to ride, stick to what you know to be your heart’s desire. Impressing other people may have its rewards, but they are not ones that will make you happy in the long run. There is only one person in your life that needs to be impressed with your career, and that is you. So win yourself over by building a career with horses that is based on your own idea of what a dream job is. That’s truly the only kind of impressing that will bring you long-lasting happiness. Keep this in mind as you examine the career profiles found in the next section.

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The Equine World of Employment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Career Profiles www.horse-riding.com.au

For employment in the equestrian industry in Australia - the best jobs are at: www.equinestaff.com.au www.horse-riding.com.au

Barefoot Trimmer

Animal Behaviorist (Ethologist) If you love watching horses and frequently ask yourself questions like, “Why does a horse do that?” then you have the curiosity necessary for a career in ethology, the scientific study of animal behavior. By studying how animals interact with each other and their environments, an animal behaviorist attempts to understand how that behavior affects reproductive success and survival. Within the realm of animal behavior, there is an enormous range of disciplines that share a common interest in how animals act, and animal behaviorists can come from fields as diverse as biology, zoology, comparative psychology, and evolutionary sciences. This broad applicability allows those interested in animal behavior to pursue careers in any number of areas, either in the laboratory or in the field. An understanding of animal behavior can be put to practical use when designing horse facilities, implementing horse breeding and survival strategies, or approaching any number of horse-related issues. Many animal behaviorists remain in the academic arena, working as teachers or conducting research at the university level. Aside from a fascination with horses and how they interact, animal behaviorists specializing in horses should have an interest and aptitude in biology, psychology, or zoology. A bachelor’s degree may be sufficient for some jobs in animal behavior, but a Master’s or even a Ph.D. is generally required for those who wish to teach at a university. Pros Optional levels of contact with horses Ability to work virtually anywhere Broad range of career specialties from which to choose Chance to see behaviorist theory put to practical use in horse-related issues Cons Highest levels require extensive education Certain jobs may be contingent upon availability of grants or other funding www.horse-riding.com.au

High heels may work wonders for a girl’s appearance, but they’re not doing her feet any favors. The same problem affects horses who suffer discomfort and lameness from heels that have grown too high, usually because of unnatural living conditions or improper hoof care. Barefoot trimmers address high heels and numerous other equine foot problems by performing regular trimming and foot health maintenance, but they do so in an unconventional way. Horseshoes are passed up in favor of keeping horses barefoot, just as nature intended. This barefoot approach to hoof and foot care represents a departure from the traditional methods used by farriers, who automatically shoe every horse, but its supporters claim it is based on common sense. A horse’s hoof is designed by nature to adapt to the environment, but this process is disrupted when animals are domesticated and subjected to artificial or conflicting conditions. Many horses are trained and ridden over rough terrains only to be bedded on rubber mats, and these inconsistent surfaces, as well as the presence of manmade horseshoes, interfere with proper growth, wearing, and hardening of each hoof. The barefoot system allows the foot and hoof to develop naturally, with regular trimming and foot care employed to simulate the normal wear that is prevented by unnatural living situations. Many equine veterinarians and podiatrists now incorporate this new discipline into their medical practices, but the growing popularity of barefoot trimming makes it an excellent opportunity for horse lovers who want to work directly on horses to improve their health and quality of life. Interest and aptitude in science and mathematics is an asset, as foot health relates to numerous aspects of equine physiology, such as neurology and anatomy, and relies on an understanding of angle degrees and force dynamics. For horse lovers who wish to enter this field, there are any number of educational resources for learning the art, ranging from clinics and courses lasting several days to long-range certificate or degree programs involving several years of study and many hours of hands-on experience. If you pursue this career, seize any opportunity you can to spend time working on horses’ feet through apprenticeships or volunteer positions. Even after you’ve acquired formal training, word of mouth may be your best job placement tool, so the more your work is recognized and appreciated, the better off you’ll be. Pros Close daily contact with horses Optional levels of education requirements Cons Approach is not yet mainstream, so opportunities may be limited at first Mandatory understanding of equine physiology www.horse-riding.com.au

Boarding Stable Manager (Barn Manager) Think of anything that goes on at your average boarding stable, and chances are good that it falls within the boarding stable manager’s area of responsibility. In a facility that houses other people’s horses, the manager is in charge of everything from the care, feeding, maintenance, safety, and health of horses to the supervision of stable staff to bookkeeping functions to business management. Ideal candidates for this position enjoy working with horses and possess excellent interpersonal and supervisory skills, a strong business sense, and a background in horse health and first aid. They must possess the ability to oversee the day-to-day functions of a stable while also performing business and administrative duties. Managers are usually expected to supervise or provide riding lessons, so aptitude in some form of equestrian art is also recommended. Boarding stable managers may be self-employed or part of the facility’s regular staff. Benefits are seldom provided, but larger stables may include housing as part of the employment package. Required credentials vary from stable to stable, but due to the considerable involvement in the business management of the facility, a four-year degree in agricultural management or an agricultural/equinerelated concentration is a tremendous asset. Physical stamina is necessary for both the rigorous labor and the extensive work shifts that may include early morning, late night, or weekend hours. Typical starting salaries in the United States fall in the range of $18,000-$35,000. Pros Close daily contact with horses Invaluable learning experience from exposure to all facets of stable management and horse care Interesting and diversified work Autonomy of managerial position Housing sometimes provided Cons Physically demanding work Long hours Low wages and few benefits www.horse-riding.com.au

Carriage Driver for Tours If you’ve ever ridden in a horse-drawn carriage that takes tourists through a site of interest for a fee, you’ve seen the most visible aspects of the carriage-driver business. Customers pay to relax and enjoy an old-fashioned carriage ride, usually in the midst of modern vehicular traffic, while the driver points out various points of interest and relates intriguing local facts. It seems like a simple job, but there is more to being a carriage driver than meets the eye. Drivers of tour carriages need to know how to handle a horse under any circumstances that may arise as any number of factors, including road conditions, weather changes, and automobile movement, can cause a horse to react unpredictably. Like the mailman, the carriage driver is often at the mercy of the weather. Extremes in temperatures tend to drive away customers and in many places there are strict laws preventing the use of carriage horses in dangerously hot or icy conditions. For this reason, the trade may be a seasonal one in some geographic regions. Some drivers own their own horses and carriages and are self-employed, while others work as employees of a tour-guide company or horse stable. In either case, the driver is generally responsible for the care and maintenance of the horse, carriage, and equipment. A clean driving record and a special license to operate carriages may be required. Because drivers must interact with passengers, good communication and interpersonal skills are also essential. As much of the tour industry’s revenue in North American and the UK comes from gratuities, a carriage driver’s income often depends upon being personable and helpful to the customers. Good horse-handling skills, an enjoyment of the outdoors, and the ability to memorize a “script” are also essential. Pros Close daily contact with horses Outdoor work Social interaction with many different people Cons Work may be seasonal Work restricted to tourist areas Income may be based largely on gratuities www.horse-riding.com.au

Course and Jump Designer

Clocker (Timer) Timing is everything, especially in a horse race. When many tons of horseflesh come hurtling down the workout track or racecourse, the eyes of spectators may be glued to the speeding animals, but the clocker or timer has to keep one eye on the horses and another on the stopwatch. A timer observes, records, and reports to the racing secretary and other officials all details related to timing, such as the starting time of the race, the times that the leading horse crossed interval markers, and the time the winner crossed the finish line. A timer must also handle any discrepancies between the times recorded by the automatic electronic timer and those recorded by the human timer. As times are measured in fractions of a second, a key requirement for anyone interested in becoming a clocker is a meticulous attention to detail and a dedication to absolute precision. This job is best suited to those who enjoy working outdoors, have a keen interest in horseracing, and pride themselves on accuracy. Pros Close daily contact with horses Insider’s knowledge of horses’ performance Cons Low wages Repetition/monotony www.horse-riding.com.au

The next time you watch a horse and rider sailing over one of those disturbingly high hurdles, remember that it’s the object of someone’s creative mind to design those obstacles. It doesn’t sound like such a difficult project, but you need to understand the strengths and physical limitations of horses, as well as their behavior patterns, to effectively design a course or jump. This insight is will help you hit the right level of difficulty, one that will be challenging to most animals but not impossibly so, and maximize the chances of creating a course that will encourage horses to jump. These are important factors, as no one wants to see twenty different horses crashing into the same wall. There are other considerations, such as ensuring that there is enough room between obstacles to create a pleasing rhythm of free, fluid motion and forward, jumping action. Turns in the course must be designed in a way that challenges the abilities of the horse and rider but allows for a steady flow and pace. It’s not enough to simply get over, across, or through something. It has to be executed in a manner that looks easy but demands tremendous discipline and precision. Esthetics and innovation are important considerations too, so the most talented designers strive to create novel, attractive, and interesting courses This kind of design work requires a combination of skills from various areas, including science, mathematics, construction, equestrianship, and art. If this type of creative challenge sounds intriguing to you, perhaps you should check out your region’s licensing or certification requirements and set your sights on a career in this very specialized field. Pros Means of indulging multi-discipline interests Creative outlet with practical, revenue-producing application Cons Training or certification requirements Specialized field with limited work venues www.horse-riding.com.au

Equine Massage Therapist Are you one of those touchy-feely people who always seem to know how others are doing? Do you also love horses? If so, equine massage therapy may be a good career choice for you. The same massage principles and techniques used on people are now being practiced on horses, and anyone who is sensitive to nonverbal cues has an advantage in this field. Until recently, equine massage therapy has been used primarily on horses in competitive sports disciplines such as thoroughbred racing, where top-performing animals represent millions of dollars in potential purse winnings or stud fees. Massage therapists manually check these horses for signs of injury or soreness and use their skills to address any problems before they become serious to protect the general health and performance ability of the horses.

Equine Dentist If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever had a chronic toothache, you know firsthand the importance of regular dental treatment, but for horses this aspect of health care has been--quite literally--sorely overlooked. Veterinary schools often do not include equine dentistry among their required courses, and many horse-health practitioners are familiar with only the most rudimentary dental procedures. In the United States and Australia, there has been a recent upsurge of interest in this long-neglected area of equine health, and schools for equine dentistry are becoming more and more common. This is good news for horses that have suffered unnecessary pain, illness, and premature death due to inadequate dental care, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also good news for anyone who loves horses and wants to earn a living by providing them with much-needed services that can ease their suffering. Although veterinarians can qualify as specialists in equine dentistry by undergoing extensive additional training, laypersons can also receive training in equine dentistry schools and conduct their business jointly with a veterinarian or in private practice. Candidates for a career in equine dentistry should enjoy working closely with horses and have a strong interest in and aptitude for science and biology. Career prospects for equine dentists are good, as these specialists are likely to be in increasingly greater demand in the coming years. Pros Close daily contact with horses Good pay Growth industry Cons Mandatory educational requirements Extensive travel and possible relocation to patient bas www.horse-riding.com.au

In the past few years, there has been a growing recognition of other effects of massage treatments, such as improved blood circulation, reduced lactic acid buildup, greater muscle flexibility, and enhanced relaxation. The advantages apply to the equine population in general, and horses outside the highstakes industries have recently been enjoying the benefits of massage therapy as well. This is fortunate both for the horses and for those interested in becoming massage therapists, as it widens the circle of potential clients and increases the demand for these services. If you think this might be the job for you, you need to check out the educational requirements for practicing as a massage therapist in your area. In the United States, graduation from an accredited massage therapist certification program is a prerequisite, but every state differs in the type and extent of education required. Considerable physical stamina is required, as massage pressure is applied for the duration of each session, which usually lasts at least an hour. An aptitude for understanding equine anatomy and physiology is also an asset, as is aggressiveness in promoting your services and winning new clients. Earnings vary greatly, depending upon the needs of the locale and the status of the client. For treating top-notch equine athletes, some therapists can earn $100 for each session, but most practitioners earn anywhere from $40-75. For veterinarians or human massage therapists, certification in equine massage therapy offers an additional source of income. Pros Close daily contact with horses Opportunity for self-employment Good earning potential Cons Educational requirements Need for aggressive self-promotion to optimize earnings If self-employed, additional expenses (travel, vehicle maintenance, insurance, etc.) www.horse-riding.com.au

Equine Nutritionist (Feed or Nutrition Specialist) Just as professional skiers have different nutritional needs than couch potatoes, racetrack thoroughbreds require different diets than aging paddock companions. Equine nutritionists specialize in identifying the proper feed and supplement regimen for horses of various breeds, ages, and lifestyles. They may work at facilities as diverse as breeding farms, stud farms, racetracks, and riding stables and may serve growing, performing, or aging horses. Equine nutritionists work in conjunction with veterinarians, stable staff, and trainers to ensure the horses’ optimum health and welfare and may engage in the marketing and selling of feed products. The successful nutritionist has a strong interest in the welfare of horses, an ability to communicate well, an aptitude for science, an understanding of raw feed materials, and a familiarity with equine physiology. Because of these important prerequisites, equine nutritionists usually need degrees in animal science and nutrition. Pros Regular contact with horses Opportunity for diversification and supplemental income through marketing and selling of feed products Opportunity for self-employment Cons Educational requirements Considerable travel if self-employed Additional costs of self-employment (travel, vehicle maintenance, insurance, etc.) www.horse-riding.com.au

Equine Photographer You can enjoy working amidst horses without having to ride one of these big beasts. If you won’t or can’t ride, but have a love for both horses and photography, why not combine the two interests? Photographers are needed to record images for many aspects of the horse industry, including news, publicity, events, publishing, and competitions. An inclination and aptitude for artistic expression is essential, as is good vision and a keen eye for details. You’ll have to utilize the same resources and meet the same requirements as photographers working in other areas. This may include training at a fine-arts institution or photography school, interning as a photographer’s assistant to gain experience, or volunteering at a studio. Photographers may be self-employed or may be part of the regular staff needed for newspapers, magazines, book publishers, or any number of institutions that use photography. Equine photographers should expect to spend considerable time traveling to various venues. Pros Regular contact with horses Opportunity for either self-employment or staff employment Outdoor work environment Cons Irregular hours Additional expenses if self-employed (travel, vehicle maintenance, insurance, etc.) www.horse-riding.com.au

Equine Veterinarian Horses and competition just seem to go together, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s especially true in the equine medical profession. With the worldwide horse population estimated at an impressive 65-75 million, including about 10 million horses in the United States and more than a million in Australia, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a definite need for more horse doctors. Yet there are fewer than three dozen veterinary schools in the United States and only half a dozen in Australia. For the student interested in becoming an equine veterinarian, those figures add up to some very stiff competition, with only one-third of applicants to veterinary colleges being accepted in any given year. For the horses, those same figures virtually ensure that only the most dedicated, hard-working horse lovers will be tending to their health concerns, so if you fall into that category, you owe it to the animals you love to take on this challenge. Veterinary candidates must demonstrate academic excellence and a strong aptitude for biology, science, and math. Schools also look for hands-on experience with animals or health-related work, even if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on a volunteer or internship basis. Post-secondary educational requirements vary from country to country, but in the United States a veterinary student usually studies for four yeas to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree or, less commonly, a Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD) degree and then must pass a national board examination. Veterinarians can work at any number of facilities, including clinics, ranches, or farms, or they can enter into a private or joint practice. Some graduates of veterinary school continue their education by earning more advanced degrees for specialties such as surgery, pathology, ophthalmology, or research. Veterinarians can choose to pass on their knowledge by teaching at a university, or they can improve the quality of life for horses by conducting research into equine medicine. For travel enthusiasts, training in specialized areas can provide the occupational and financial motivation for visiting other countries. Although veterinary credentials are not universally applicable, there are a number of reciprocal arrangements. Veterinarians from the United Kingdom and New Zealand, for instance, can practice in Australia. This sort of geographical freedom makes things easier for veterinarians who work on a seasonal time frame, and it improves the quality of services available to horse owners. Horse breeders can follow the breeding season and tend to horses on an international scale, timing their services to optimize results. Pros Opportunity for specialization in many areas Good pay Cons Fierce competition for veterinary school admission Advanced degree usually needed for specialization www.horse-riding.com.au

Eventer Combine the three disciplines of dressage, show-jumping, and cross-country (endurance) to create what is known as eventing. This popular equestrian event follows either a one-day or three-day format and has been termed in the past as horse trials, combined training, and militaire. There are national, international, and Olympic eventing competitions, and in the horse world, eventing is considered the ultimate equestrian test. The sport boasts an international governing body and many countries also have a national body. An Olympic event since 1912, eventing represents one of the few glamour spots in the horse world, offering its champions both recognition and excitemnet. Like all coveted sports roles, a high-ranking position as an eventer takes enormous time, talent, dedication, and sacrifice, along with, of course, a lot of practice. For those who embrace eventing solely for the love of the sport and its physical and mental challenges, proficiency at even the most basic level more than pays off in terms of satisfaction, self-confidence, and fitness. Horse lovers looking for this type of personal fulfillment are as welcome in eventing as those out for the Olympic gold, as the sport is set up to accommodate many levels of equestrian skill with various types of competitions to suit novices, experts, and everyone in between. Specific rules and regulations spell out the details regarding eventing practices, so check with the governing bodes for more information. The international ruling organization is the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), and national counterparts include the United States Eventing Association (USEA, formerly the USCTA); British Eventing (BE, formerly BHTA, the British Horse Trials Association); the Equestrian Federation of Australia; and Eventing Ireland. Pros Close daily contact with horses Opportunity for competition at various levels of experience Potential for high excitement and recognition at highest performance levels Cons Fierce competition Earnings dependent upon performance standards www.horse-riding.com.au

Farrier (Horseshoer) Imagine that you’re walking through a gravel pit in your bare feet, and you’ll get an idea of how important a farrier is to a horse’s welfare. Farriers make or adjust horseshoes to properly fit the horse’s hooves as well as provide protection, cushioning, balance, and any correction required due to surface conditions, lameness, deformity, or injury. Farriers also trim growth from horse’s hooves, and they serve as a good first defense against foot and hoof problems by routinely checking these areas.

Exercise Rider If your ultimate ambition is to become a jockey, being an exercise rider is one of the usual routes to that career. You may have dreamed of being a jockey but have grown too tall or heavy for employment in that profession, and being an exercise rider is a good compromise. Exercise riders are responsible for training the horse to behave during all phases of the exercise, warm-up, and racing process, and they serve as crucial intermediaries between the trainers and the jockeys. By understanding and implementing the trainer’s instructions, the exercise rider translates those directives into specific behaviors and trains it to respond appropriately to the jockey’s commands. The exercise rider also keeps the trainers informed about the horse’s fitness and any potential problems with lameness or soreness. Because there is a continual exchange of information among trainers, exercise riders, and jockeys, good communication skills are essential. Exercise riders must be extremely proficient in understanding and manipulating the behavior of horses, and the ability to remain focused and calm amid the confusion of exercise sessions is another important asset. Of course, they must also be in excellent physical condition to withstand the rigors of the work. Pros Close daily contact with horses Deep level of rapport with horses Excellent training for future work as jockey Cons Physically demanding work Potential for injury www.horse-riding.com.au

Farrier work is performed by hand, using anvils, hammers, and other tools in conjunction with forges (furnaces) whose heat reaches temperatures over 2000o F. Good hand-eye coordination, creative problem solving, and a perfectionist’s approach to customized shoe adjustments are crucial. Because of the manual heating, shaping, and cooling of metal and the need to fit shoes onto a horse that may not be in the mood for this procedure, farrier work is physically demanding and sometimes dangerous. Large facilities with many horses may retain a permanent, on-site horseshoer on staff, but most farriers are self-employed and serve horses from various areas. For independent farriers, a driver’s license, a portable workshop, and the willingness to travel are essential, and in some regions, it may be necessary to relocate. Good communication skills are also important to farriers, as they must confer with both the horse-facility staff and the veterinarians on issues concerning the horse’s feet, gait, and health. Self-employed farriers should be able to maintain their inventory of tools, schedule their own service appointments, manage bookkeeping records, and handle any other administrative duties associated with their profession. Credentials necessary for farrier work vary from country to country, but they usually involve several years of apprenticeship with a licensed farrier. In the United Kingdom, typical salaries for farriers are £8,500 for apprentices, £11,000-14,000 for newly qualified farriers, and up to £50,000 for experienced farriers. The median expected salary for farriers in the United States is $19,163, with apprenticed farriers earning less and experienced farriers potentially earning considerably more. To augment income, some farriers may deal in the tool trade or work with veterinary surgeons at animal clinics. Pros Close daily contact with horses Autonomy of self-employment Cons Physically demanding work Potential danger Long hours Low wages and considerable self-employment expenses such as those for travel, vehicle maintenance, insurance, and tools

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Groom (Stablehand) Being a groom is definitely not a glamour job, but it teaches the basics of horse care and paves the way for advancement to other positions. Grooms are responsible for the care, feeding, and watering of horses, and they sometimes administer medicine or vitamins to the animals or assist in foaling. They handle the horses as they enter and exit the stalls, and they must keep the stables clean, dry, safe, and comfortable at all timesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and, yes, that includes mucking out stalls on a regular basis. Grooms should also routinely check horses for any signs of injury, soreness, or lameness and report any problems to the barn or stable manager. Those starting out as grooms should have basic knowledge of horse physiology and behavior to ensure detection of any potential problems. Diligence is an important characteristic, as all maintenance duties must be performed on a stringently consistent basis. Good stamina is required, as work is physically demanding and hours are long and often include weekends and holidays. Some groom positions include housing and the opportunity to earn extra income doing other jobs on-site or off. Wages for grooms vary depending on range of experience and type of facility, but sample earnings in Australia average anywhere from $250 to $500 per week. Pros Close daily contact with horses Excellent means of advancing to position of barn foreman, assistant trainer, trainer, or (if physical size requirements met) apprentice jockey Cons Long hours Physically demanding and unpleasant work Low wages www.horse-riding.com.au

Handicapper The atmosphere of the racetrack would be a lot less tense without handicappers, but it would also be a lot less fun. Handicappers work to ensure that horses competing against each other have similar chances of winning, and that makes for a close and exciting race. By analyzing records of the horsesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; workouts, past performances, age, sex, distances of races won, and winnings, handicappers assign handicap weights to entrants and decide which horses will run in a race. They meet with racetrack management individuals to schedule different types of races and determine the purse for each one. In addition to making these crucial decisions, handicappers also review applications for horses to train and race at the track, and they accept application and entrance fees from owners. They also record data regarding horses, such as racing results, persons financially tied to the horses, and changes in ownership. Handicappers supervise the work of employees performing various activities at the track, and review the racing information scheduled for publication in various media. They may also observe horses to assess their abilities and verify assignment of handicap weights and selection of entrants. This sounds like an awful lot for one person to do, and it is. In order to succeed at this job, handicappers must be extremely organized and meticulous in recording and accessing data, and they must have superior analytical skills to assimilate a great deal of information and make sound, informed decisions. Supervisory and communication skills also figure prominently in this role, as does a good deal of discretion in negotiating the various and competing interests of horse owners. Pros Daily contact with horses Direct influence in determining type, schedule, purse, entrants, and handicaps of races Cons High level of mandatory experience and expertise Need to cope with various and competing interests of owners www.horse-riding.com.au

Horse Breaker/Trainer If you’ re the first person to place a saddle onto the back of a horse that’s never worn anything but its birthday suit—and wants to keep it that way—you’d better know what you’re doing. Like people, horses are complex creatures that can be compliant, stubborn, gentle, rough, calm, and nervous, sometimes all in the same day. Their unpredictable moods are affected by many factors, including seasonal changes and weather conditions, just as ours are. These are just some of the reasons why horse breaking or training, also known as starting or gentling, is such a challenging career for horse lovers. Horse breakers prepare a horse for whatever activities its owner wants to be performed. At its most basic level, horse breaking turns wild foals into domesticated horses that are willing to wear saddles, carry people, and obey commands. Breakers also train horses for harness races, thoroughbred races, rodeo performances, work activities, sports competitions, and many other equine purposes. Although horse breakers usually work on young horses that have never been trained before, the flip side of this job involves re-training horses to correct undesirable or inappropriate behaviors. To succeed at these tasks, a horse breaker relies on traits that are important to any educator in a teaching context, including sensitivity, communicativeness, and patience. But there’s more to it than that, as horses can react to a trainer’s efforts by kicking or biting. Breakers must love the animals enough to act humanely even under the worst circumstances. Too many horses suffer at the hands of trainers who regard violence as the fast and easy way to control behavior, and the sale of items such as wire bits and barbed spurs is a sad reminder that cruel practices continue. If you invest the necessary time and effort into horse training, you will enjoy a productive working relationship with a happy, healthy horse. Your reward will be those times when you can almost hear the mental click as the horse realizes what it’s supposed to do and then does it. If you’re interested in building this strong bond with a horse, put yourself in as many learning situations as you can. Volunteer or apprentice at a training facility and utilize the available educational resources. Licensing and qualification requirements vary from place to place, but gain as much hands-on experience or formal credentials as you can, whether in the form of an academic degree from an equine school or certification from a training program. Attend clinics and courses sponsored by successful horse trainers, and use the experience not only for learning but also for networking with prominent people in the field. Most importantly, learn from the horses themselves. If you have the passion, patience, and persistence, horses will teach you what you need to know.

Horse Breeder (Breeder, Horse Manager) Ever since man first discovered that there was money to be made by racing horses against each other, the chief goal of the thoroughbred industry has been to build a stronger, swifter horse. Using the principles of genetics to manipulate the natural process of reproduction, the horse breeder mates certain horses with each other, based on desirable characteristics that he or she hopes to transfer to offspring. The horse breeder is concerned with all aspects of the horses’ care, maintenance, exercise, competition, and breeding and must routinely interact with veterinarians and nutritionists. Studying and keeping records of the bloodlines, performance features, and physical appearance of the horses, the breeder purchases selected bloodstock or semen, breeds or inseminates horses, and assists in foaling. Aside from these horse-related functions, the horse breeder is also responsible for the equipment, facilities, and staff, including the training of apprentice stablehands and jockeys. Administrative duties pertaining to the facility’s physical and financial resources also fall within the horse breeder’s area of responsibility. Requirements for this job include a keen interest in biology, a desire to work with horses, equestrian proficiency, strong organizational skills, and management abilities. Because the role of horse breeder encompasses administrative, interpersonal, and equine functions, applicants to this position should be equally comfortable dealing with paperwork, people, and horses.

Pros Close daily contact with horses Option of specializing in specific types of training

Pros Close daily contact with horses Opportunity to see biological/scientific theory used in practical application of horse- breeding methods Diversified work duties Work can lead to specialization in equitation (riding and horsemanship) or management of racing schools or breeding programs

Cons Dirty work Potential danger

Cons Demanding workload Long hours

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Horse Clothing and Accessory Designer If you think this sounds a bit bizarre, visit an affluent neighborhood on a wintry day and note how many pet dogs are sporting knit coats. People scoffed at the idea of those outfits too, but now there are thriving companies devoted to selling them. An Internet product search for horse clothes will demonstrate that horses are now wearing more than the traditional blanket and feedbag, and somebody has to make these items. That enterprising person could be you, if you’re someone who loves horses, sews well, and thinks creatively. Your talent and imagination will determine how far you go in this career, as there are a number of ways you can contribute to this industry. You can simply sew products to others’ specifications, serving as a seamstress for firms that sell horse clothes, or you can design your own line of products. You can target your goods to provide the bare necessities or specialize by addressing specific needs or demands. Your knowledge of horses and their needs, along with your personal goals, will play a big role in determining what kind of clothes and accessories you create. These can be traditional items such as rugs or halters, or they can be goods that serve a health-related purpose, such as masks to keep flies off horses’ faces or belly bibs to protect flea-ravaged skin. There are a number of different horse activities that require outfitting, so you can choose to make products for work horses, show horses, race horses, or recreation horses. Within any market there are a wide range of qualities to be explored, including color, material, style, and workmanship. Finding a new and better way to clothe or equip a horse can open up a whole new market for an inventive horse lover, as can a more attractive line of “designer” accessories that horse owners carry, such as bale bags. Customization is another area that’s become increasingly lucrative, offering potential customers the chance to have products tailor-made to their specifications or personalized with names or brands. If you’re interested in pursuing this career, either on a full-time basis or as a source of extra income, check out the competition. Horse clothing and accessories are sold at horse shows, auctions, or anywhere where horse owners gather, as well as online via the Internet. Think about ways of improving on your competitors’ items, and decide how and where you might sell them. Start on a small scale and continue to educate yourself as you go along through research, observation, and networking, so you can spot industry trends and adjust your marketing strategy accordingly. Many successful companies began as home-based cottage industries, so if you love horses and want them to look and feel their best, this could be a rewarding career. Pros Creative outlet with revenue-producing potential Flexibility of full-time or part-time approach Cons Investment of time, effort, and money Mandatory grasp of business marketing and finances www.horse-riding.com.au

Horse Hauler (Horse Transporter) If you like horses and driving (a vehicle), this may be the ideal job for you. Horse haulers work for companies that transport horses and they become temporary custodians of the animals while they are in transit. The hauler loads and unloads the horses and takes care of everything from watering, feeding, and administering medicine to tending injuries. Good driving skills and a clean driving record are essential, and as horses are usually transported in large tractor/trailer rigs, a license to operate commercial vehicles is often needed as well. Because of the direct involvement in the horses’ care and the potential for neglect or abuse, some transport companies may require their drivers to have previous experience with horses. Due to the nature of long-distance hauls, transporters may be on the road for extended periods of one to several weeks, and then off-duty for several days until the next haul. Haulers should be comfortable performing solitary work and driving steadily for many hours at a time. Pros Daily contact with horses Lack of direct supervision Cons Long hours for days at a stretch Irregular or unconventional sleep arrangements Mandatory commercial driver’s license www.horse-riding.com.au

Judge After every horse competition, someone’s going home a little happier than the rest. And someone else has to decide who that happy person will be. Judges come in all shapes and sizes, but they have certain characteristics in common. Chief among these are keen observational skills, subject expertise, sound judgment, and moral integrity. When a judge looks at a horse, there’s a lot going on behind that pair of eyes.

Jockey Valet A jockey valet is a sort of racetrack butler for the jockey. He assists a jockey before and after every race in which the rider is competing. Pre-race duties include helping the jockey dress, outfitting the horse with riding equipment, attaching the appropriate lead pads to the saddle, weighing the saddle before and after lead pads are added, affixing the horse’s entry number to the saddle, and collecting the suitably colored silks. After the race, the valet helps the jockey change, cleans the saddle and riding gear, washes and returns the silks, and shines the jockey’s boots. Because these tasks do not require much expertise or experience, this is an excellent job for someone just starting out in the professional horse world and eager to gain entry into the racing industry. Part of the admission criteria is a high standard of moral conduct, as jockey valets must conform to a code of ethics that prohibits them from accepting any gratuities or betting on any race during which they perform official duties. Valets are also expected to report any observed violations to the racing stewards.

Judges view horses with a much more analytical approach than that of the casual observer. Although the word “critical” is usually used in a negative sense, it literally means “to separate,” and judges do exactly that in their job, breaking up the various aspects of a rider’s or horse’s appearance or behavior into the good and bad, keeping a running tally in their heads to compare to what they see in other contestants. The factors they consider are the ones set forth officially by the governing body of the particular competition, and the guidelines are numerous and explicit. Judges need to familiarize themselves with these standards so they can recognize them, appraise them, and rule on them. To do this well, they need to have considerable experience with all facets of competition, and many judges are people who have competed themselves in similar events.It’s not enough, however, to know what they’re doing when judging. Judges have to have high ethical standards and a willingness to stick by them regardless of sentiment, influence, or anything else that might tempt them to cast a vote for the sake of profit or popularity rather than merit. Like umpires on a baseball field, judges need to have impeccable reputations for fairness and ethics, if they’re to be taken seriously. Anyone interested in a career as a judge needs to not only know the ins and outs of the horse competition but also gain experience in competing or judging. It’s a good idea to volunteer your judging services or attend horse shows and observe the judges as they observe the horses. The more you go, the more you will know.

Pros Close daily contact with horses Insider’s view of racetrack proceedings Good means of advancing to other positions

Pros Daily contact with horses Highly respected position that can open doors in other areas

Cons Repetitive tasks Low wages

Cons Physical fatigue of standing for hours in heat and sun High mandatory level of knowledge and experience regarding events

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Mounted Police Officer In the world of law enforcement, a horse and a human make a winning team. The most famous mounted police officer may be Dudley Do-Right, a cartoon Canadian Mountie featured on Rocky and Bullwinkle shows, but in real life there are police forces all over the globe that rely on horses to get the job done. Australia’s New South Wales Mounted Police is the oldest continuous mounted police force in the world, established back in the 1800’s and still riding today. Horses offer unique advantages to police work, such as an ability to go where vehicles can’t, and their sheer physical presence discourages many would-be criminals. If you’re a horse lover who’s interested in a career in law enforcement, consider a job as a mounted police officer, but remember that you’ll have to be patient. You must first become a police officer, and you’ll probably have to spend considerable time, perhaps years, on the regular force before you can apply for work as a mounted officer. Even highly urbanized areas such as New York City have mounted police forces, but horses and job vacancies may be limited. Because of the expenses involved in purchasing and maintaining horses, most police forces rely on donations of horses, so direct your police career toward a location with enough horses to support your goals. In the meantime, make sure that your riding skills are at their best. In mounted police work there is an emphasis on training for both the horse and the rider, and those with better equestrian ability will have an edge over the competition. The training program for police horses is generally more intensive than that for the police officers, as the animals must be desensitized to street life and its ever-changing physical obstacles, loud noises, and sudden movements. Once a horse and rider have been trained to perform police work together, the officer is usually responsible for taking care of both the animal and its equipment, so there is an added benefit of sharing a strong, consistent emotional attachment. If you’re a horse lover who respects law enforcement but doesn’t want to be an officer, remember that police forces need people to train the horses, as well as the officers who handle them. Find out if the police force near you uses in-house or outsourced trainers, and then volunteer your services or apply for a job as an apprentice to develop the necessary skills. Simply knowing how to ride isn’t enough to perform mounted police work or to train others for that work. You must also communicate well and have great patience, and that’s true whether you’re working with a horse or a human. Pros Close daily contact with horses Combined rewards of police work and rapport with horse Cons Time required on regular force before transferring to mounted force Limited availability of horses or assignments in some areas www.horse-riding.com.au

Pony Girl or Boy If you’ve got a knack for hairdressing, try your hand at prettying up the manes and tails of ponies and horses with braiding, banding, and other ornamental embellishments. Don’t let the name scare you off, as pony girls or boys can be mature horse lovers as well as younger ones. The main requirements are manual dexterity and a desire to ensure that an animal’s crowning glory is truly glorious. For ponies and horses that serve recreational purposes, hair treatments can add beauty or whimsy, accentuating a well-proportioned body or adding interest with multi-colored ribbons. If a horse’s neck is shorter than it should be, a little corrective hairstyling can make it appear longer, thanks to a braiding technique that creates the illusion of length. In the competitive sports arena, these same equine hairdo tricks can give animals an edge over the other contenders. Braids (also called plaits or plats) can keep a racehorse’s unruly mane from obscuring its vision, and they can enhance the less-than-perfect conformation of a show horse during an event. To perform these coifing tricks professionally, you’ll need to learn not only the hair techniques but also the rules governing the appearance of animals for each specific activity. There are clearly defined parameters that must be followed, depending upon the breed and discipline, so there’s an emphasis on correctness as well as creativity. To learn the different methods of hair arrangement, attend classes or clinics and practice as much as you can. The Internet is a good source for instructional information, but even the best braiding tips won’t mean much without hands-on experience. If you don’t have steady access to a horse, practice on a long wig to keep your fingers nimble, but remember that stationary wigs are much easier to handle than restless horses. This job can be done on a full-time or part-time basis, depending on your situation and the availability of potential clients. Dressing the manes of several horses before a weekend event can provide a nice supplemental income, but you’ll probably have to start out small, building a reputation and a following— just as those who dress people’s hair must do. You could also consider work as an employee of a company that provides pony girls and boys to clients, as these facilities may have on-the-job training opportunities. Pros Close daily contact with horses Option of self-employment or staff employment Cons Mandatory familiarity with rules governing specific breeds and disciplines Work may be seasonal or sporadic www.horse-riding.com.au

Show Horse Trainer When you’re watching show horses compete in an event, it’s easy to forget that they are wild animals. That’s because the show horse trainers have done such an excellent job of teaching these creatures to move, behave, and even think in a desired manner. It takes a lot of skill, experience, time, and patience to train horses, as well as a willingness to endure the occasional kick, bite, or shove. You must truly love horses to be a show horse trainer, as the hours are long, the work is dirty, and the horses are dangerous. Even experienced riders need to learn the art of training from a professional, as it involves techniques that go beyond those of basic horsemanship. There are several places wouldbe trainers can learn the trade, including equine colleges, professional horse training schools, and business facilities that train apprentices. Horse training schools offer certification programs or courses in equestrian skills, while equine colleges provide both an equestrian education and an academic degree. Choose an institution that has a good job placement service for its graduates, as there is a lot of competition for jobs in show horse training. An apprenticeship as an assistant to an experienced trainer will give you invaluable hands-on experience, but you will first have to perform tasks such as grooming, exercising, and saddling horses to hone your equine skills before you can progress to the training of horses. Whichever educational route you choose, be sure to immerse yourself in the world of horses. Study equine anatomy, physiology, psychology, and health issues. Spend as much time as you can with horses, as there will always be something else to learn about them, and compete in as many events as you can. Once you begin your career, you will have a better chance of attracting clients for your services as a show horse trainer if you’ve first built up a reputation for yourself as a serious, accomplished show horse rider. If you love horses, your efforts will be more than offset by the tremendous satisfaction of working closely with horses and experiencing, along with kicks and bites, those magical moments of clarity - the times when something the horse does makes you remember why you started working with these animals in the first place.

Trail Guide There are diverse possibilities hidden within this broad term of employment. Trail guides work for dude ranches, riding stables, or any facility that offers horseback riding to non-professionals, but their duties vary widely from place to place. In its most basic form, the position requires mounted guides to lead riders over a country trail, and the guides need no more than rudimentary riding skills and a familiarity with the terrain. Other trail guide jobs may have additional requirements, such as experience with team riding, horseshoeing, backcountry outfitting, navigating of difficult rural terrain, and survival techniques. On longer trips, especially those involving overnight camping, guides may even have to entertain campers by singing or playing an instrument. The position of trail guide sounds simple but actually involves a great deal of responsibility, as these employers must oversee the safety of inexperienced, often first-time riders without any control over the quality of horses or equipment. In addition to riding skills at a level suited to the job, trail guides need good communication and leadership skills, knowledge of the geographical area, a bright and encouraging personality, and a desire to work with horses in an outdoor environment.

Pros Close daily contact with horses Rewards of close rapport and learning experience with horses

Pros Close daily contact with horses Outdoor work environment Opportunity for employment at all levels of riding skill

Cons Competitive field Dangerous work

Cons Work may be seasonal Potential danger

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Travel Agent If your idea of a dream vacation features horses, then your dream job may be working as a travel agent. Love of travel and the advantage of industry discounts are the main reasons why people enter the travel business. As a horse lover, you have another incentive for becoming a travel agent, as you can specialize in trips or organizations that relate to horses. Although you won’t have daily contact with horses, you will have the chance to familiarize yourself with horse-related vacations, as you arrange these getaways for clients. When it’s time for your own vacation, you can put that knowledge to work in planning your own trip and enjoying the perks of reduced rates.

Is My Place in the Herd? “A horse is worth more than riches.” Spanish proverb

This kind of specialization is becoming increasingly important in the travel industry, so now is the perfect time for horse lovers to enter this field. The Internet has made enormous amounts of information available to virtually everyone, making it faster and easier for travelers to book their own flights and reservations. Vacationers who seek professional travel assistance now expect agents to offer something above and beyond what is readily available in cyberspace. The most sought-after assets in the travel agency world are expert knowledge in a specialized area and a thorough understanding of the computer systems used in the business.

Now that you’ve spent some time learning about various potential careers and thinking them over, weigh the pros and cons mentioned in the career profiles, as well as those that you identified as you considered the factors included in I LOVE THE HORSES. For each job you are seriously considering, decide if that potential career path is right for you at this time. Will it bring you satisfaction or provide you with a means of working toward ultimate fulfillment? You can never know for sure what the future might hold, but let your instinct, experience, and self-knowledge guide you to whatever seems most likely to lead to your dream job with horses.

Although the reduced demand for travel agents will likely result in a decrease of available jobs in that field, applicants who are well-versed in computer technology, geography, specialized forms of travel, and interpersonal communication will have a distinct advantage. Because of this need for diverse skill sets, people with some sort of post-secondary credential such as a bachelor’s degree or completion of a college program for travel agents will be considered more qualified than those with only a high school diploma. In the United States in 2004, the median annual salary for travel agents was $27,640, with the middle fifty percent earning $21,600-$35,070 and the top ten percent earning more than $44,090.

Once you start a career in the equine world, do your best to optimize your chances of achieving your goals, but don’t be surprised if you encounter some interesting surprises along the way. Your career journey will no doubt include some roadblocks, detours, or wrong turns, thanks to shifting life circumstances, industry fluctuations, and our human tendency to grow and change over time. Just remember that any knowledge we gain in life is an enormous advantage, and even those experiences that we count among our worst generally teach us something valuable about ourselves that we probably wouldn’t have learned under more favorable circumstances.

Pros Industry discounts for personal travel Inside information about travel deals Option of at-home self-employment or office staff employment Cons More demand for post-secondary training due to industry changes If self-employed, considerable time needed to build up client base www.horse-riding.com.au

Nothing in life is certain, except perhaps that horses will continue to be a source of strength, wonder, and joy for as long as we have the good sense to appreciate these remarkable animals. Open your heart to horses and they will return the favor many times over. Good luck in finding your place in the herd. May want to indicate some ways in which the horse has served humankind Insert some useful website links and other resources such as magazines, etc. Insert links to volunteer opportunities via national organizations such as 4-H in the US/Canada www.horse-riding.com.au