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Holly B
27th May 2007, 10:12 AM
When I leave school next year I am planning to train as an equine sports masseuse. However, I would also like to do something else to ensure I get enough work. I am interested in equine nutrition, and doing visits to indiviual owners to dicuss feeding and diet for their horses (working for myself as I would be with the massage).

However, I'm slightly confused about how I would train for it! I have heard that some people do a degree in equine science, but that would be a lot of time and money for me to give up especially when I am wanting to train as a masseuse also. A lot of the science course is unrelated to nutrition also which is why it seems a little pointless... :confused:

Do you think taking a BTEC Higher National Diploma, but just the modules on health and nutrition, and the further module on nutrition would be enough, combined with a 3 day hands-on course on nutrition (Equinenergy/Writtle College)? I would gain a lot of knowledge about how the horse's body works through my massage course too.

There aren't currently any regulations about how you have to train to call yourself a nutritionist so I'm not tied to one particular course or college, and like I say I will be working for myself so don't need a specific qualification that, say, a feed company might look for. I just want plenty of knowledge to enusre I give horse owners a good service and need a qualification of some sort! There's no point in me doing the BTEC modules and 3 day course if I then don't feel I have nearly enough knowledge to give owners fair, honest and detailed advice. Any help would be greatly appreciated, efven if its just to say I should give up on the nutrition idea and focus on something else as the only way into it would be a long and expensive uni course. :)

puzzles
8th Jun 2007, 11:33 AM
ooh, i'm hoping to train as a freelance equine nutritionist too! i'm unsure as to where to go GCSEs-onwards, so have emailed Dengie, Blue Chip and Baileys horse feeds for more info as hey should be able to help!
magazines such as Your Horse and horse and rider for more help.
:-)