.:EQUUS:.

uShip is an online marketplace that connects horse transportation providers with customers who need their horses transported. uShip makes it easy for service providers to find profitable loads and gives customers access to affordable and reliable shipping options. The uShip marketplace is built on user feedback which helps both service providers and customers. Here’s how it works:

- A customer needs a horse moved across the country, so they list it on uShip.
- A service provider who services the necessary route and has some extra cargo space finds this shipment and places a bid.
- The customer reviews the bid and feedback left by the service provider’s past customers.
- The customer accepts the bid, contact information is exchanged, and the service provider services the shipment.
- Upon completion of the transaction, both parties leave feedback to help future users.
- Now the horse is at its destination, the customer has saved a little money, and the service provider was able to fill empty cargo space and make some extra money on a trip they were already making anyway.

uShip is always seeking to improve its services with new technology and features to make horse transportation as easy as possible. Christine Nguyen of uShip.com took the time to answer some questions regarding this online service.

When did uship.com start?
uShip.com launched in January of 2003 and since then, has been leading the online shipping revolution. Our mission is to create the most efficient marketplace for shipping that has ever existed by reducing shipping costs for customers and giving Transportation Service Providers the marketing scale, technology, and credibility they need to grow their business.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
Most of my day is related to horses. We are trying to reach out to horse owners and lovers who cannot transport their horse cross-country to find an affordable and reliable transportation service provider who can do it for them. In addition, we try to help horse carriers and transporters earn money (especially with the rising cost of gas) by making it easy to find these readily available jobs through our online marketplace.

In this field of providing a place online where people can search for transport for their horses, how is an income made by the provider? Is it the sort of income that could be considered livable?
Service providers generate income by placing winning bids and completing transportation jobs. Some service providers get a large portion of their business through uShip, while others may simply supplement their already substantial business with occasional loads from our marketplace. The great part is, this works for both of these functions.

What are the general steps taken to be able to provide this service to others for their livestock?
First of all, the service providers need to have a USDOT and MC number which ensures that they are a legitimate transporter. They also need to have a license to transport live animals. Finally, they would need to have good knowledge of interstate and intrastate transportation laws, as these laws differ from state to state.

Any advice for those interested in providing a similar service by means of the internet?
If you are looking to get into horse transportation – or any type of transportation service – the internet now offers a wealth of resources and tools, and uShip is a great place to get started. Make sure you know exactly what this job entails and that you can handle the often demanding schedule. The best way to do this is by talking to others who have been doing this for a while. They can give you a better idea of what life as a horse transporter will be like. uShip’s Community forums actually provide a great place for you to connect with other horse transporters.

Future goals?
We would like to expand awareness of the affordable, reliable horse transportation services available on uShip. As riding is becoming more popular, horses have become an important part of many peoples’ lives and are bought, sold, and transported more than ever. We want to be a resource to help service providers pursue a career in horse transportation and make a living being around horses.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
The best thing is helping to rescue horses. Many times unwanted horses are sent to slaughter houses and taken down by their owners. There are many horse lovers and enthusiasts who want to help, but cannot afford the expensive costs of getting these horses shipped from across the country. With the uShip marketplace, we are able to help people avoid the high costs and get horses hauled home at a reasonable and affordable price.

“We gaze upon their quiet beauty, their natural elegance, and we are captivated. They see us softly, in gentle light… rewarding human companionship with strength, grace and intelligence. As they run through arenas and open fields, past mountains and seas, moving like the wind toward heaven, we travel with them, if only in our hearts.”

tag: horse transport, shipping horses, transport services, auction, online horse business, driving license

Ministry/Ministration - ‘The act or process of serving or aiding.’

When I have the 400 acres I am continually dreaming about, my main goal in life is to run an Equine Ministry. I see this as being a place that looks after the well being of these gorgeous animals and through them, reaches out to people. There are a lot around, many of which make a small profit or none requiring volunteers and whatever the case, all seem to be for a great cause.

Having been a volunteer for a branch of Riding For the Disabled, Australia I see RDA as a well known equine ministry that makes a huge impact on the riders and those volunteering their time and services.

Other Equine Ministries:
HopeWell Ranch - “To provide free, Christ-based equine therapy for children, adults and their families who are challenged mentally, physically and emotionally.”

Horse Haven Ranch Ministries Giving Girls Purpose - A non-denominational, multi-ethnic, Christian Ministry

Miracle Mountain Ranch Missions - The whole setup of the summer camp looks very appealing and Sermon on the Mount completely appealed!

Wild Horse Ministries - As the ministry listed above, this also seems to relate working with and educating a horse to scripture and our growth in life.

Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch - Where it all started for me. Mum heard Kim Meeder being interviewed and her book Hope Rising talked about on LightFM and immediately sought out the book as she felt it’d interest me. I now await the day where I’m able to set up a ministry and reach out to people like Kim and her husband Troy do.

I’m sure there are many more equine ministries around, all different in their own respect but still offering services to those in need and making use of the beautiful animal that is the horse. Perhaps there’s one nearby that you can help out at, volunteer, become employed or become a part of making a difference in someone else’s life. Or perhaps you need a place like this to make a difference in your life. They seem to me a very worthwhile ministry.

“An instructor does not criticize you, but what you have been taught.”

tag: equine ministry, horse goals, Hope Rising, Kim Meeder, riding for the disabled

Now, I’m not referring to the equine birthday that for the Southern Hemisphere I know to be the first of August and for the Northern Hemisphere to be January first but rather for the birth of this website which was April 6th, 2006. The blog has had nearly 7,000 visitors over this time and thanks to all who keep coming back and leaving comments on possible improvements, suggestions or just how you can relate to a post!

I’m still working to cover at least 100 different vocations in posts on this site and will shortly have the Vocation 100 page up and running. If there’s a discipline or possibility of working with horses that you feel should be on here but isn’t as yet, let me know. I’d also love to hear if there’s a particular ‘equine personality’ that you feel should be featured on Profile On :D.

Horses are such a gorgeous animal and I’m convinced it’s possible to make a career and lifetime full of experiences from them. Some of the things I’ve seen on account of traveling for and because of horses are pictured in this post. Top right is my gelding Pride while I was living at Larneuk Stud during the 2007 breeding season; second is a picture of one of the many gorgeous horse pieces positioned all around the Living Horse Museum (Musee Vivant du Cheval) planted beside Chantilly Racecourse in France and above left is one of the many stallions I saw while touring a number of horse studs in Ireland as part of the Irish National Stud Course.

Right is the outdoor menage at the Living Horse Museum, used (weather permitting) for dressage performances and training sessions as demonstrations to the large number of tourists that go through the premises each year.

Following this is a set of paintings of the Byerley Turk, Goldolphin Arabian and Darley Arabian as well as some Thoroughbred greats. The museum was definitely one highlight for me while in France and I’d suggest for the horse enthusiast if you’re in the area to check it out.

“Horse person’s glossary… Pinto: Green coat pattern found on a freshly washed gray horse left unattended in the stall for 10 minutes.”

tag: ireland, national stud, thoroughbred stud season, chantilly, france, travel, thoroughbreds, foundation arabian

I was surprised to find chatting with a young girl at the riding school where I teach the other day that she wants to become a jockey. But why should this surprise me? A riding school would be the perfect place to start out learning how to ride a horse at a young age.

If you have a desire to one day be involved with racing horses - be it thoroughbreds, quarter horses, arabs or perhaps standardbreds - then the best place to start would be at a young age getting hours in the saddle and around horses, learning about how they move, their temperaments and general health. Gaining experience in the saddle at a young age will make it easier I believe to pursue track work at training properties in the future.

Research your possibilities - it’s great to get experience but make sure you’re learning where you’re working, that you’re not being given horses past your capability as you start out but that you’re also being given opportunities to prove yourself.

Also consider taking up a job as a track rider or an apprenticeship if offered to you and be willing to travel - the best races across the world or even one country will be found in different states/regions. You’ll need to travel to take part in these race meetings.

Take a look at http://www.jockeysroom.com/msg4.htm -this page answers many questions about becoming a flatwork jockey and provides links to relevant sites as well as some information about being a jumps jockey.

http://www.northernracingcollege.co.uk/ - offering courses and apprenticeships on a range of horse related vocations but especially becoming a jockey.

The Australian Thoroughbred Racing Employment Centre site lists positions across Australia in relation to track work.

http://www.jagb.co.uk/wanttobeajockey.aspx - Professional Jockeys Association

http://www.brs.org.uk/ - the British Racing School

“There is nothing wrong with being an intelligent rider” - Mike Smith.

tag: horseriding, training, education, united kingdom, apprenticeship, racing, travel, racehorses, thoroughbreds, jockey, exercise rider

With her race mare Ethereal, Sheila Laxon became the first female trainer to win the Melbourne Cup in 2001. John Symons and Shelia Laxon run JSL Racing located in Seymour, Victoria, Australia. Sheila kindly took the time to answer some questions about her profession.

Have you always been interested in horses and when did you start out training racehorses?
We spelled beach ponies at our farm from when I was about three so was riding before I can remember! Was involved in training racehorses from 12 years old when my sister and I went to the local racing stable to groom them and ride them out. Actually had a Trainer’s Licence in 1997 but started training a bigger team in 1999.

How much of your day/week is hands on with horses?
You could say 24/7! Never stops (see what time it is now! 6.30am)

In this field is it possible for someone to be a full time professional, earning a livable income?
Yes, the job is what you make it and I do believe that the more you put in to it, the more you get out of it. There is a lot of luck involved in getting the horse that can run, but there are plenty around if you can spend the time in developing them into wanting to be a racehorse. And certainly the prize money is huge if you can get the right horse.

What are the general steps taken to become a qualified trainer?
If you are horse orientated from a young age (i.e. show jumping / eventing etc) I think you gravitate into the racing game because it’s the most financially rewarding aspect to be involved in. You can be involved in breaking in, spelling, pretraining, re-educating rogue horses and get the chance to continue training them to get to the races.

Any advice for those interested in pursuing this discipline?
I am not sure that the courses available are the best way to pursue getting into training as I do believe the hands on experience you can have developing horses that other people have given up on, gives you the edge on the trainer next door. I would suggest someone who is keen to have a go at being involved with training horses should go to work for a trainer they admire and learn as much as they can about why that trainer has the success he/she has.

Is there anything else with horses you’d love to learn about or try?
I think you can learn something new about horses every day. I’d love to go back to show jumping, which was my initial involvement in the competition world, but it is a very full time pursuit for little financial reward and, in this day and age, you have to consider the time input ratio into whatever path you wish to follow.

Favourite horse memory?
Ethereal getting to the winning post first in the Melbourne Cup!

Future goals?
Doing it again to prove it wasn’t a fluke!!

Best thing about your sport/profession?
Earning your livelihood out of your favourite pastime, meeting so many people, traveling so much, spending a lot of time outdoors.

“To get in shape to own a horse… drop a heavy steel object on your foot. Don’t pick it up right away. Shout: ‘Get off, Stupid! Get off!’”

tag: training, australia, showjumping, thoroughbreds, racehorses, melbourne cup