.:EQUUS:.

Well over the weekend just past I’ve been lining up work on a horse property where the owner will allow me one day a week off to stud. I’m due to start for the new year and have been seeking agistment in the same area.

Finding the perfect house to buy would have topped the weekend off and in the future being accepted into the course I’ve applied for would be the icing on the cake.

I’m sure I’ve already been one to push or advocate the idea of gaining a qualification while working, but I thought I’d run this one by those who might be interested in the idea of equine nursing. Perhaps you haven’t considered getting a qualification because you can’t afford to not be working.

The certificate III in equine nursing that I’ve applied for accepts applicants on the proviso that they are employed either in a veterinary practice that treats horses or a horse stud where a lot of the practical and theoretical knowledge can be put to the test.

I was interested in going into teaching full time next year but with a position not being available in the country town where I am moving to, stud work was all the more appealing when it became obvious that I could do further study alongside this and gain another piece of paper.

The second year of the 18 month course focuses on radiography or x-ray imaging as well as horses under anaesthetic which is an area I am interested in but have little knowledge of.

Currently doing temp work in a hospital and one day a week in a riding school, I needed to line up suitable work to be able to apply for the course.

As one who loves to write, it didn’t take much to put together a letter outlining my search for work and interest in studying one day a week for a particular horse course. Add a resume with relevant experience; send it off to suitable properties (my chosen recipients were based on location) and hope for a positive response.

A lot of the time in the horse industry it’s about who you know, not what you know. Don’t let that stop you from putting out feelers and asking though. Worst case scenario there’s no one that can cater to your request. Best case scenario – too many job offers!

Perhaps equine nursing isn’t your interest. Maybe instructing is. Consider achieving your Level 1 in instructing through the EFA or AHRC or perhaps a certificate III in coaching… alongside work. Most riding schools would be happy to take on someone who they can later use as an instructor.

Never mind teaching, I want to be a farrier! Sound familiar? Apprenticeships are a great way to achieve a qualification while also working and gaining practical experience. This is the common protocol for those wanting to work with horses’ feet.

There are a number or horse related jobs that offer training and qualifications alongside work. It’s just a question of finding out where, when and how.

“What the colt learns in youth he continues in old age.” - French Proverb

Tag:  Level 1, EFA, instructing, farriery, job, apprenticeship, certificate III, equine nursing, self education

***Know that you want a career with horses but not sure what exactly?  Check out the Vocation 100 page for a growing list of possible vocations with horses and relating posts.***

Working for Kentucky Equine Research in Australia, Brooke Charteris came out to speak to some of my students a couple of months back.  Obviously enthusiastic about her role of informing others with regards to the nutrition and welfare of their horses, her advice was great and definitely worth storing for future use.

Recently she’s been representing KER at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and shortly after was in New Zealand for work.  When she found some time to spare she kindly answered some questions regarding her career choice.

Have you always been interested in horses and when did you decide that the nutrition of these gorgeous animals was the area in which you wanted to focus? How did you pursue this interest?
Yes! I have loved horse since I was little. My parents had never been involved with horses, so they decided to send me to have riding lessons with I was 12. From then on I was addicted.

I became more interested in nutrition when I bought a TB, ex-racer, who had quite a few problems. I was in year 12, and after doing my own research, realised it was a fascinating area. I wanted to work with horses, but also knew getting a good sound education was important, so went to Melbourne Uni and studied Agricultural Science. I did work experience with Kentucky Equine Research, and never left! I completed my Honours thesis in Post Operative and Clinically Ill Equine Nutrition. This combined my love of horses, with my interest in science!

How much of your day/week is hands on with horses?
My day varies quite considerably! I always start the day early and work one of my horses, feed, change rugs and do all of those routine jobs! I then head into the office, check emails and go from there. Some days I’ll spend all day in an office, other days I’ll be traveling to visit stores and clients, consulting on farm, presenting lectures or assisting vets. There is no such thing as a normal day, or a boring one!!

After all that, if I am home, I then ride another horse (only in daylight savings) or just feed and rug. If I’m away, my wonderful parents help out! I work very long days!

In this field is it possible for someone to be a full time professional, earning a livable income?
Yes, but you do it for the love! I make a good living, and am comfortable, but I also teach (am an EFA NCAS Intro coach, becoming a level one) to help supplement my horses! As I have recently moved into a brand new house and saving for my wedding, a supportive partner is essential! I am away from home frequently, and as we all know horses aren’t cheap! BUT, I wouldn’t have it any other way!

What are the general steps taken to be able to provide a nutritional service to others for their livestock?
I do a lot of my work with clients who have been seeking nutritional advice, especially those with ‘problem horses’. I will ask a range of questions, to get a feel for the horse, not only age, breed and weight, but about his general disposition and attitude.

From there I will ask what the owner would like to get out of this service (is it help with a problem, more cost effective, or some people just want to be sure they are doing the best for their horse!)

Any advice for those interested in pursuing this line of work?
Be passionate about horses and love talking to people. As my days can be long, you must love what you do! Have a solid background, and an interest in science is always helpful too. Make sure you have sound knowledge of all areas of horsemanship, as you will be required to assist getting young horses onto scales, and need to be hands on. Public speaking is handy also!

Is there anything else with horses you’d love to learn about or try?
I am currently completing my EFA NCAS level one at the moment. I read as much as I can, on all horse topics and am continually trying to improve myself as an instructor, equine nutrition advisor and rider. Working with horses, I learn new things all the time, and think I’ll always learn whilst I work with these amazing animals.

Favourite horse memory?
Oh, there are so many of them. My TB, Cal has given me a life time of memories, some good, some bad and some that make me laugh and cry at the same time!

I think my favourite memory with him would be coming second and sixth at a big dressage day. He had been so naughty leading up to it, and was one of the few times I actually got him on the float (we have since fixed that issue!), but on the day he was perfect and I was so proud of us! My new mare is just amazing too. She has giving me the most amazing rides. I am continually amazed how kind and forgiving she is, with time she will give me some super memories too!

Future goals?
Professionally, to keep doing what I’m doing! I love nutrition and lecturing, and I love being able to share my knowledge with people and help them to improve their horses health and in some cases welfare too, it can be very rewarding work! Long term however, I would like to establish my own teaching business. I would like to incorporate all I have learnt, regarding nutrition, physiology, behaviour and training principles to help others achieve their riding goals (however, I’m a long way off this!)

Personally, I would like to keep training and competing my horses well into old age! I am hoping to train and compete my mare at Grand Prix, but that too is a long term goal! Nothing ever happens quickly in the horse world! For now, I want to keep enjoying riding and training. I love having the time with my horses and can’t see myself without a horse!

Best thing about your sport/profession?
Working with the animal that I love! Not many people are as lucky as me and can turn their passion into a career. I enjoy meeting like-minded people, and assisting them to reach their next goal, fix a problem or just improve their horses diet.

“You know you love your horse when your mouth waters at the sight of a wagon-full of hay.”

Tag: equine education, horse health, equine nutrition, kentucky equine research, horse diet, equine management, horse studies, equine growth

Have a love for the racing industry and think that you’d be the sort of person to keep rules enforced and everyone playing fair?

Ensuring that the Rules of Racing are adhered to, stewards are responsible for the conducting of race meetings.  Duties surround those that help to control and regulate racing.

Within Australia, employment happens through the Principle Racing Authority of each State and all stewards start as a Cadet Steward.

In the US, whether it be for harness racing, the gallops or greyhound racing, to be a steward or racing official, you need to be accredited.  Both the University of Lousiville and Arizona have accreditation schools.  Alternatively, you can look at the Racing Officials Accreditation Program website.

Where to start?  Perhaps at one of the top racecourses:
- Flemington Racecourse, Australia.  Home of ‘the race that stops the nation’, the Melbourne Cup.
- Caulfield Racecourse, Australia.  Home of the Caulfield Cup.
Both found through Racing Victoria Limited.
- Longchamps, France.  Home of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.  Found through France Galop; French and English versions available.
- Tokyo Racecourse, Japan.  Home of the Japan Cup.  Found through Japan Racing; Japanese, French and English versions available.
- Aintree Racecourse, United Kingdom.  Home of the Grand National.  Found through http://www.aintree.co.uk/
- Churchill Downs, USA.  Home of the Kentucky Derby.
- Pimlico Racecourse, USA.  Home of the Preakness Stakes.
- Belmont Park, USA.  Home of the Belmont Stakes.
- The Curragh, Ireland.  Home of the Irish Triple Crown, the Irish 2000 Guineas, the Irish Derby and the Irish St. Leger. http://www.curragh.ie/

Of interest:
Article, Female Steward Will Make History.
Article, Experienced NSW Steward Joins NZ Racing.

“Ascot is so exclusive that it is the only racecourse in the world where the horses own the people.” - Art Buchwald

tag: horse racing, racing course, racing marshall, racing steward, cadet steward, racing official

I think the idea of working and gaining a qualification will forever be appealing to me.

For those interested in ministering to others that are as passionate about horses as their faith, perhaps the likes of Attunga Youth Ministries Pty Ltd - a not for profit Christian outreach camp - would be of interest to you.

The aboriginal word for High Place, ‘Attunga’ is located in New South Wales, Australia above the Wingecarribee and Wollondilly rivers.

Attunga offer an Internship which at the end you will have achieved your Certificate IV in Christian Ministry while serving through the area of horse riding, worship/music, activities, kitchen/catering or site development/maintenance.

Running from February to December each year, you can apply for the internship up to two years in advance and must be within the 18-30 years bracket.

Want to see some native Australian animals?

Maybe the place where kangaroos, wombats, koalas and rosellas hang out might be worth a visit.

Being a camp, it is possible to visit Attunga without taking up an internship or employment.

As someone who plans on reaching out to people through the horse property she owns in the (hopefully not too distant) future, this place like many others, has a lot of appeal.

“What the horse does under compulsion…is done without understanding…and there is no beauty in it.” - Xenophon

tag: equine ministry, horse goals, equine internship, christian ministry, certificate IV

I’m rather becoming fond of working part time as a clerk in a hospital and seem to be finding out more about horse related careers than I do when on the stud!  The latest is Hippotherapy which combines horse riding (generally with the help of the ingenious setup that is Riding for the Disabled) and the likes of a trained therapist (occupation, physical and speech).

The particular fact sheet provided to me was put together in conjunction with Pegasus, Riding for the Disabled of ACT.  Hippotherapy works to improve the client’s balance, function, posture and mobility through the use of a horse’s movement.  The movement of the horse is used to influence the client rather than the other way around.

“In the beginning we were woefully ignorant of the implications of the rider’s disabilities – we just had to ‘suck it and see’”.

However, on the first afternoon at Forrest Park, she recalls that a young girl who was usually wheelchair bound, rode under a tree and reached up to touch the leaves.

Suddenly the girl shouted “I can touch them! They are so soft!”

As joy and tears transformed the girl’s face, Bid was hooked forever and riding for the disabled was born in Canberra.

Want to know more?  Take a look at Pegasus’ Hippotherapy Fact Sheet.

A high proportion of clients have Cerebral Palsy while others have Multiple Sclerosis, a traumatic brain injury, cerebral vascular accident or functional spinal curvature such as scoliosis, kyphosis or lordosis.

For those interested in pursuing this rewarding work, take a look at the American Hippotherapy Association’s education page and related curriculum.

Links of interest:
Hippotherapy at Wikipedia.
Hippotherapy in Western Australia.
http://www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org/ - the American Hippotherapy Association.
Volunteer at Pegasus ACT - minimum age 14 years.
Hippotherapy at YouTube.

“Riding Develops Abilities.”

tag: hippotherapy, physical therapy, equine therapy, riding for the disabled, volunteer with horses