.:EQUUS:.

Being rather a fan of computers/office work and horses, it seems a surprise I didn’t consider merging the two and taking on the likes of a racing secretarial role.

There are places that have staff that tend to help out with the morning work - exercising horses or perhaps vet work and mucking out boxes and then they settle in the office for the rest of the day.  Or perhaps a sleep in is appealing and you’d prefer to work in the office from say, 9 in the morning and help with the afternoon feed run?

If your interest lies in horses and you’re strong with regards to office skills - typing, word processing, use of the Internet, payroll and tax - as well as knowledge in entering horses into races and sales, vet records and phone skills, your boss may just consider you heaven sent!

Need more information?  RacingAcademy.ie provides a good description of this role within Ireland as well as other roles in the racing industry - http://www.racingacademy.ie/content.asp?id=45

The article Life as a Racing Secretary would also be worth a look - http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/careers/article.php?aid=112367

The British Racing School offers a short course - http://www.brs.org.uk/Courses/Other_Courses/Racing_Secretaries/ as well as a general eye opener with regards to the racing industry - http://www.brs.org.uk/Courses/TRIC_-_THE_Racing_Industry_Course/.  Either could be of interest to those interested in working in an office on an equine property.

“My other car is a horse.”

Tags: administration skills, equine career, horse racing, office course, equine office job

The Racing Academy and Centre of Education seems to me, to be the place to go in Ireland if your passion is for being trained and employed in the horse racing industry.

RACE offers training and qualifications relating to:
- trainee jockeys
- racing grooms
- trainers
- the breeding industry
- stable staff
- farriery
- equine transport

They also offer career planning within the equine industry in the form of a four week course and adult education is on offer as night classes.

The page that really took my eye relates to an Equine Transport License - http://www.racingacademy.ie/content.asp?ID=73 - I had no idea you could have a piece of paper relating to such a job!

On the site - http://www.racingacademy.ie/ - you will find informaiton regarding the structure of the courses, background and entry requirements.  There is also an IT sector to keep the hands on workers of this industry tech savvy which could come in handy for such a job as a stud or trainer’s secretary.  A list of possible careers within the industry can be found at http://www.racingacademy.ie/content.asp?id=45.

If you live in this gorgeous green country and love racing or want to work with horses, consider the industry that truly is flourishing, upgrading it’s workers and offering better rates of pay than other hands on equine jobs.

“A career in racing will never be dull – it is as much a way of life as a job!”

Tags: horse studies, equine career, horse racing, horse course, horse education, racing academy

As a student I didn’t realise the work that went into organising a class to make it interesting and informative for students.  Now having been in charge of a class and looking to teach again next term, I’m more aware of teachers I’ve had that have taught ‘at’ me, and others that have actually helped to educate me and make me think.

My boss while teaching seems to always be striving to find videos/dvds/books that are up to date, interesting and interactive for her horse students and it has made me aware of the market out there for educational items.

There have been some interesting videos made up by some obviously talented multimedia people that know their horses.

One that has recently caught my eye although I haven’t seen the CDs as yet is found through the Glass Horse - http://www.3dglasshorse.com/.  Shown on the site are some example pictures from two CDs relating to Equine Colic and Elements of the Equine Distal Limb.

Both look to be with great information and images to help others learn about the inner workings of the horse.

Perhaps your interest is in educating others with regards to a particular area of horses but your passion isn’t to teach a class, perhaps it’s in the design of a CD or DVD that can be sold and viewed by many around the world.

If your skill lies in this area, check out what is on offer through other companies, what topics are covered and see if your topic/s of interest are yet to be covered or covered in more detail, you never know, you may just find a niche.

“Life is short! Hug your horse!”

Tags: equine novel, equine CD, horse DVD, equine media, horse education

If you answered yes to that question and are looking to study horses, specifically in the racing industry, then perhaps AFASEC may be for you.

While working at one of the riding school’s last year, I was chatting with the mother of one of our clients - a girl in her mid teens - who happened to be fluent in English and French on account of her dad living in France and mother in Australia.

Mad keen about horses, she was eyeing off a course at this horse related school in France.  Ever curious about different education facilities, I asked for the site of the school and took a look.  My French is very limited and I’m sure that if it weren’t, I’d be applying to study at such a place!  (A prerequisite is a thorough understanding of the French language).

AFASEC provides education and training in areas relating to driving/stable hand work, becoming a jockey on the flat or over jumps, head lad and assistant trainer.  They help you to establish a professional career within the industry and based on the photos on the site, seem to have wonderful facilities!

Students as young as 14 years of age are taken into their 5 establishments in France that provide intensive daily practical work as well as theoretical.

The school works in close cooperation with flat and harness trainers, giving the students permanent contact with professionals in the industry.

Perhaps a trip to Europe to study is suddenly looking appealing?  For those of you in school mad about horses, don’t underestimate the value of learning another language and then gaining experience with horses in another country.

“Once a horse is born, someone will be found to ride it.” - Hebrew Proverb

Tags: equine education, france, study, horse course, travel, horseriding

I’ve been at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sales for the past 9 days with work; reminding myself once again that I am not a big fan of yearlings and the long sale days involved!

One of the young women helping out at the sales is partaking in a horse course through TAFE and had to do a certain amount of hours for her placement and an assignment to match.  Being a sale, a lot of advertising material is often available for those with regards to stallions and service fees, agistment, foaling services and whatever else studs offer to clients.

There are quite a lot of equine education facilities that also encourage excursions for students to attend the sales and learn more about the industry.  Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE in Epping prepare their own yearlings for the sale with their students gaining industry experience this way.

The student with us gathered a lot of advertising materials and came back with some information regarding NMIT’s campus and courses on offer.  I couldn’t help myself and had to have a look and discovered the Bachelor of Equine Studies - http://www.nmit.vic.edu.au/courses/bachelor_of_equine_studies.

I hadn’t realised that a TAFE facility offered a bachelor, nevermind one with horses!  Someone else at work has done a Bachelor of Equine Science through Charles Sturt University - http://www.csu.edu.au/courses/undergraduate/equine_studies_science/ - and is now doing her Masters.

I’ve only completed up to Diploma level but love the theory based work and the science/vet side of things so am suddenly entertaining the idea of carrying out a Bachelor study, part time.  The course full time is 3 years and through NMIT, you’re looking at about $12,000 a year.

I did balk at that fee but have since been chatting with friends who studied at Uni and have made use of HECS and believe this may be the way to go to carry out such a course and be able to afford it.

It’s wonderful to know that the study of horses is now such that you can gain a qualification at a Bachelor level and go on to do your Masters as well as gain practical experience and business skills to help with managing a horse property or setting up your own.  I love that I’m working with horses in such a time as this.

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

Tag: equine studies, equine science, masters, bachelor study