Horse-related jobs?

[toohorsemad]

I know that most horsey and animal related jobs are poorely paid but I really want work with horses but I will need a well paid job because of my weekly shopping! :D Anyway I really want a really good paid job so I can support myself! Does anyone know any jobs which pay well and are horse related? And courses for them in Ireland would help too!

[horseygal90]

Dunno... But when you find one, let me know, I'd love to find more about them! :D

[jUmPingIsLifE]

a lawyer who specailizes in Equine Law?

thats the only thing i can think of that has to do with horses yet could make you a good dollar. there really isn't a lot of money in horses unless you are VERY successful what whatever it is you do.

[horseygal90]

Good free lance instructors can fetch a pretty penny.

[shirley]

Why does money always have to be at the top of agenda for people and jobs. What ever happened to good old job satisfaction, doing it for the pleasure, helping, making a difference etc.
If you need a well paid job then do it, but horses will always keep you poor!!!
Other than yard manager, groom, instructor, what about saddler, harness maker, farrier, vet (they earn lots of money for lots of hard studying and long unsocial hours!!!), equine retail shops, feed merchants, web business, horse dealer, horse healer (one with complimentary therapies), horse whisper, horse trainer, lecturer in equine studies etc at colleges / universities.
Good luck and hope you do have the best of both worlds eventually.

[hel88]

frankly with that attitude steer clear of horses.

[Sallinello]

I think that's a bit unfair hel88. I have been around horses all my life and would love to work with them but unfortunately jobs in that industry don't pay well enough for me to be able to support myself even now, when I don't have mortgage/rent/bills/debts to pay so heaven knows what would happen when I do! I'm sure THM isn't just thinking about money, she obviously wants to work with horses but some people can't live on what most grooms etc get paid :)

[eventerbabe]

how about something like an equine nutritionist?? get a copy of horse and hound and have a look at the jobs section, that might give you a few more ideas :) grooms and instructors aren't paid well. one of my instructors quit to go into the oil industry and another only scrapes by, she can't even afford to own her own horse :(

[cvb]

One of the common elements of "well paid jobs" - whether or horsey or not - is that everyone wants them :D Another is that you normally have to prove yourself in some way (qualifications, experience) to get them - because of the competition.

So - taking freelance instructors as an example - yes some instructors will earn a decent wage - but they will have spent some years grafting away at getting qualifications and/or experience and/or a "name" on low wages and not great conditions.

I personally chose to separate the "well paid job" and the "horse" elements as it gave me more choice. So I am qualified as a BHSAI but its not my day job. The down side to that is that I don't get much spare time, want to spend it on my own horse, so don't get to teach these days.

Someone who did their BHSAI with me is now an II, been abroad, is now a "dressage rider" for someone - but still doesn't have his own house etc.... But its what he wanted to do so all the hassle etc was worth it for him.

[horseygal90]

;) Of course, theres the highest one (that I've found anyway) - Proffesional rider! With a repertoire including SJ, XC, Stressage, Vaulting, Driving etc.

[cvb]

horseygal - I think most of the "professional riders" are dependent on sponsorship deals ??

[horseygal90]

Ah... True. Do they get to keep the oney if they win or not, do you know?

[cvb]

I believe so - once the tax man has his share !

The sponsorship is effectively marketing for the sponsor...

But then only one person can "win" the big prize, out of all those top riders.

[horseygal90]

True. So maybe not then.

[Wally]

There's dentistry, go to the USA get the top qualification there come back to the UK and clean up! :cool:

[No_Angel]

An equine physiotherapist. You have to do human therapy first and train for equine after two years of practicing human therapy. Its very well paid and my vet was soo pleased when I told her thats what I wanted to do, she wouldnt shut up about it! Although im not doing that now as it takes years and I was fed up with writing! :D
Im now a groom and get paid an ok wage, but I love being around the horses!

[hel88]

i didn't mean that she wouldn't be any good working with horses. but if you want to get rich. horses arent the best way of doing so. :)

[LORRI]

everyone seems to be thinking of really complicated jobs, take a horse physo, you need years of training where as with teaching you only need to pass 2 exams. i've been helping at my riding school for the past year, next year when im old enough im doing my stage 1 (BHS) and will start teaching there once i get my stage 2. I know people who work there full time, they get paid well and have money to spare. Its not going to get you rich but WILL put food on the table :D :) There's not much training so you won't be handing out money before you have started! :p

What part of Ireland are you in?

[hApPiNeSs]

so how much is an average instructers salary? Im taking an apprenticeship next year to do my AI, and then hopefully become a groom or instructer

im not expecting to be well paid - the job satisfaction will be enough

[No_Angel]

Becoming an instructor is a long process and the exams cost enough.
My boyfriend has just found found out that his stage 2 is going to cost £275! and the exams cost more as you go up the levels. I have been a guinea pig for AI exams and I have taught people myself-its not easy! The ones taking the exams have been teaching for a few years and they were nervouse and doing silly things wrong.

[toohorsemad]

Yeh I was thinking about becoming a equine therapist or nutritionist but I don't know! Anyway I know for a fact that professional riders DON'T get paid well! Cause I was talking to this lad I know and he does dressage for a living and you only get a share in the winings! I love riding but I don't think I could do it professional! Does anyone know if nutritionists and and therapists get paid ok in Ireland? And thoses who think I want to be rich, I don't! I just don't want to end up in debt and selling my horses! Anyway I am only in 3rd year! And I just want have some suggestions to want kind of jobs there are available to horse mad girls like myself!

[shirley]

If you have an idea of what you want to be doing, it would be a really good idea to get in touch with some of the feed companies and ask their nutritionalists what type of qualifications they needed and how they went about getting these qualifications and then ended up with their jobs. Also what type of equine therapist. I do know that if you want to do nutrionalist or physiotherapy you will need to study until you are 18 and then get a degree in relevent subjects, which are science based for each of these professions. So how good are your science subjects now. Both will need biology and chemistry, and physics would be good for physiotherapy. Perhaps also start looking on some of the university web sites or agricultural colleges web sites for suitable courses that may appeal to you. These will give you the type of qualifications you will need for specefic degrees and then give you an idea of what to take to higher level and beyond.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do. If you are determined enough, pesevere and are willing to work hard to acheive you aims and goals, then eventually you will attain them.

[toohorsemad]

I go through fazes of wanted to do things but I know I will always have a love for them! I love looking after them. Do grooms and livery yard get a profit or is it just enough to scrap by on?

[hApPiNeSs]

id personally rather 'scrap by' and spend my life with the animals i love than get a boring, stressful well-paid job and spending the days wishing i was with a horse

but i have a feeling im a bit strange - i dont mind, and sometimes, even enjoy mucking out :eek:

as long as i can afford a little flat or something and dont get into loads of debt ill be completely happy

i know you probably think thats quite strange but i really want to do this

[horseygal90]

Not strange... I think I'll go mad if I have to spend more than 3 hours a day in an office! I've only mucked out once (ahem) but did enjoy it... If it wasn't for the killing back!

I too would rather scrape by and spend my days with horses than stuck in some little office some where.

[hApPiNeSs]

ah good! someone with my type of brain!

[eventerbabe]

money isn't everything, but it helps you get to where you want to be. i know i will never be rich, but i want enough money to look after my horses, myself, buy a flat, pay the council tax, maintain my car......... i couldn't live off what my mums instructor earns as she barely scrapes by and struggles to pay the rent every month. it would cause me too much stress. i don't mean to sound partonising but for the younger amongst us, you will understand when you are older just how much the cost of living is, then a better paid job might sound more attractive!

[hApPiNeSs]

well ive looked at some jobs such as yard managers and the pay isnt THAT bad...

[hApPiNeSs]

and also if worked with horses u wouldnt need your own horses really, so thats some major costs down!

[H & Bailey]

How about a farrier or equine dentist.It always seems hard getting a good blacksmith and have been told they can pick and choose who they do!
I personally wouldnt recomend the teaching side of things as lot of establishments are closing down due to insurance etc.If you do want to do this though make sure you have some sort of insurance to back you up and the exams are expensive.i am also an BHS AI and luckily got my qualifications while on an ES scheme so didnt have to pay out for them but had to work for 2 years on £29.50 a week!working 8 am - 6pm and 3 extra hours on a tuesday and thursday,plus weekends!
Like alot of others have said the money is pants so ended up getting a job in retail where you can work less hours for more money in comparison so had time for the horse!if i had stayed in the horsey industry i wouldnt have had the time or energy for my own horse.
I have been asked to give lessons but i dont teach now as my spare time is used to spend time on my own horses.
good luck.

[hApPiNeSs]

what is the salary like for

head groom
yard manager

etc - still hands on but with more responsibility?

[eventerbabe]

salaries for head groom seem to vary. jobs i've seen advertise £100-200 p/w. yard manager about £200-300 p/w (this was head trainer at a racing yard). to be honest, thats pretty pants once you have tax and NI taken off. i was earning £300+ p/w after tax and NI for a graduate lab job which was pretty easy going.

some jobs don't offer free accomodation so you need to think about how to pay for that aswell. it soon adds up!

[hApPiNeSs]

true...

but if i got a 'normal' job i would get my own horse and be poor anyway lol :o

im going to go for it anyway. i dont have another career in mind at all.

i must be mad... :cool:

[cvb]

Happiness

Is "own horse" important to you ? Cos if you work in a yard and have your own horse there, the cost may be less, but it still comes out of your wages :eek: And there's still the purchase, insurance, shoeing, vaccinations etc....

[shirley]

If you want to know how much each of job earns, why not go on the Horse and Hound website, they have loads of jobs advertised and give salaries, as well as other sorts of perks such as accomodation, training etc.

[hApPiNeSs]

no, i meant i wouldnt have my own horse at all

[toohorsemad]

Hey I'm really confused wheither I should work with horses or not! I will have a few honours subject next year for leaving cert like maths! But everyone I ask says that if I get loads of point I should aim for something higher! Then I when for my careers appiontment she said I was lucky that I could do anything because of my attitude towards work! Not what I wanted to hear! :o It's just I love horses but I've never actually worked with them before! I have done 4 camp with horses and I tack up and stuff but I haven't worked there and some of the girls there say its VERY hard work! I'm half considering to have my own riding centre and half want to do something fresh and different! I wish someone would just tell me look you have to work in so and so,then I would be sorted! :D

[eventerbabe]

working with horses is bl**dy hard work!! i worked for free for our YO one summer (silly me :rolleyes: ) and it was knackering. what sort of things (apart from horses!) are you interested in? what subjects are you good at? i always excelled at sciences, hence i did a degree in chemistry, which is now linked with biology coz i'm researching biomaterials. but i was also excellent at english and french, and got offered a place to study law. i'm guessing you are still at school. have you any plans to go to uni or would it be straight into work?

[hApPiNeSs]

me too, am confused

i am getting good a-level results and could get a decent job. however the choices are:

1. work for peanuts at a riding school or something, never being able to afford my own house or horse, not having enough money to be able to ride regulary. however, i would probably like my job

2. get a well paid job, that i dont particulary like but have enough money to afford decent house and own horses, that i could do what i like with, compete, and take the credit for! also may able to set up exmoor pony breeding in the future!

am leaning towards option 2 at the minute...

[cvb]

toohorsemad you say Anyway I am only in 3rd year! - I take thats at school ?

If so, I think there is an unrealistic expectation that folk your age will have the rest of their lives mapped out :rolleyes: I personally did not have a clue what I wanted to do - other than that I wanted a reasonable income.

My advise would be to keep doors open if you can. So if you are capable of doing well in certain subjects, and enjoy them , take them forward. Don't sell yourself short at this stage as that may close doors for you in the future...

but also don't get overly stressed about deciding on the next 40 years of you life in the next few months :eek: :D

[eventerbabe]

why do you presume you would hate a job away from horses??? not all jobs are bad!!!! it entirely depends what sort of job you are aiming for. when i was in 3rd year at secondary school i must admit i'd already narrowed down what i wanted to do but i'm just that kind of person, organised and determined (and the uni courses i wanted to do required specific courses i had to select at the end of my 2nd year). are you a science person? or more arts (english, languages, history)? this may help you narrow things down a bit, but i wouldn't be stressing too much about it :)

[cvb]

just as an example - I did sciences and languages at O level, and science and maths (physics and electronics, chem, maths) at A. Got this crazy idea I wanted to do sound engineering (despite not having done any music :rolleyes: ) and did an engineering degree. Then went into management accounting, from there into IT and Project Management - which is where I am now. But along the way also did my BHSAI.

What I like is business management - but didn't even know such a thing existed when I was at school :eek:

[eventerbabe]

my mum did a degree in english, spent 20 years as a housewife then became a dental nurse!!!!!! you never know what life is gonna throw at you and how things will turn out!

[hApPiNeSs]

yeh i suppose thats true...

im just totally confused at the moment :)

[toohorsemad]

I think :rolleyes: that I'm not going to work with horses! Even though they will be a big part of my life! :D Well thats what I think at the moment anyway :D ! Somebody told me that there is a course for owning your own horse in the UK! Is that right? If there is can you tell me is there one in Ireland which a 15 year can take? Because I getting my first own pony in May :D ! I can't wait! I want to be able to look after it the best I can! Although I'm sharing with my little sister I don't mind because when I grow out of it we can still keep it and I know she will try her best to look after the best she can!

[No_Angel]

I acyually quit my job working with horses yesterday. It is very hard work, hurt my back quite badly and my leg got quite badly hurt when a horse kicked me, and there are other things that put you off, like on of the horses frequently tried to kill me, a colt kept biting me, the horses were quite silly on busy roads, I know it doesnt seem much but it soon adds up and you start to realise that you could quite easily die! It might sound selfish but im not willing to give up my life or injure myself for someone else!
I still would like to do something around horses, as I love them and went to college for 2 years to study them. The thing im thankfull for is that im still young enough to go and do that equine science degree the were pushing me for at college, if I can remember how to write!

[hApPiNeSs]

what i *think* im going to do is instead of taking a gap year ater college (dont see the point) im going to do a one year course at a colege to do my stages 1 + 2 - then i can decide if i really want to work with them

i also thought that you dont have to work with horses to have a horsy job - theres tack shops, catalogues, etc etc :)

[hApPiNeSs]

my tutor advised my to do a foundation degree in either equine behaviour and training or equine sports performance - i think they are sciency (a bit) - is that what you were thinking about?

[toohorsemad]

I don't think I could do all that sciense related horse stuff! :rolleyes: I'm not very good at science even though I got 60% in honours sciences for my mocks! Is there any courses for looking after horses in Britian and Ireland cause I'd really like to do one!

[hel88]

the horse ownership certificate is available at the www.bhs.org.uk. i dont no if you can take it in ireland - sorry!

[toohorsemad]

Thanks! I don't think I can do in in Ireland though :(

[TT11]

I did a degree in Equine studies as I decided that to do a degree in something I wasn't really interested in would be a nightmare.
Since I graduated I have worked as an account manager for an equestrian wholesaler, as a claims manager for a horse and rider insurance company and am now involved in setting up a new on-line and mail order equestrian retail company.
You don't have to work on a yard to work in the equine industry!

[toohorsemad]

Yes I know but I don't know what I want to do!

[hApPiNeSs]

what about an equine college lectuer? they can earn up to 30,000 a year :D

[eventerbabe]

what about an equine college lectuer? they can earn up to 30,000 a year :D

yes, when you get to a senior position. a general lecturer will be lucky to get £20k, i've seen positions advertised for a lot less. how about teaching?? it really does depend on where your interests lie and what subjects you are good at.

[hel88]

in racing? jockey, stable lad/lass, trainer, etc??

[toohorsemad]

I don't know! I think I'll forget about it for a while! Its racking my head! :(

[Sharon & Willow]

I'm facing into my Leaving Cert this June. How fun. :o I could get 500 points without much effort and if I worked I could get enough points to become a dentist (555), lawyer (510) physiotherapist (535) or a vet (560) if I wanted. But instead I want to work with horses which people always say is a waste of my intelligence. Do I care? No. :p

I'm going doing an arts degree at univeristy, 4 years long just so that I have something to fall back on should anything ever go wrong with my horse career. But really I intend on becoming a professional show-jumper. It's going to take years before I'm make it up to that level, but production of my own stables & arena are even beginning within the next year or so. I know I won't be rich and it will be hard work but it's what I want to do more than anything and I do think I won't be too badly off for money- I have it pretty well planned out.

Good luck with figuring out what you want to do! :)

[toohorsemad]

Im either going into the catering business or becoming a vet! I can't decide! Plus I dont think I will have enough points to become a vet! :(

[bexj]

You just said before, that you were no good at science, which rules out being a vet. If you do your BHS Stages in your Gap year, then go to uni and do a general business course, then you have both options to fall back on when you are ready to really decide what you want to do. Or you could combine and work in the equine industry but not necessarily doing the mucking out type jobs.

Keep your options open though - you're young - enjoy life - there's plenty of time to choose

[toohorsemad]

Thanks! I like the sound of becoming a vet only I don't know if I could do something that doesn't leave time for my love of horses!

[Sharon & Willow]

I've gone on work experience at a vet and this job is very tough physically for a girl. I'm not trying to put you off it but just telling you. The hours are long & hard too, you could be called at any hour of the night & you have to go. It's a rewarding job, it's not the job for me- if I didn't want to be a show-jumper so badly I'd go for it though, but you have to really like it to do it.

The points are desperate high also- 560. As someone who is doing there leaving cert at the moment I'm telling you it would be VERY tough going to get those points. You'd have to get at least 2 A1's & 4 A2s at higher level and you wouldn't be even guaranteed a place in UCD at that, I'd go for 3 A1's & 3 A2's to be safe which takes unbelievable hard work & brains. The people I know going for that are intelligent, brilliant at Chemistry and/or Biology and spend hours studying a day. The Leaving Cert Chemistry course is deadly, just to warn you, lol, I'm doing it myself at the moment and I find it more difficult than honours Leaving Cert maths.

Not trying to put you off it but it's best you hear all this now. Good luck to you if you decide to go for it. :)

I'm facing into my Irish and French orals next month (the 14th and the 18th- ahhh!) and haven't much study done at all for them. Have nothing done though in anything aside from oral work. Come April though, when I have just over 2 months to go I hope to go into a studying craze.

[godleystud]

Someone has probably already said this but I though being a vet was quite good money. Please correct me if I am wrong :confused:

[ponylover88]

whoa people, if equine physio is the route you want to take, you dont technically have to study human physio first.
my route is equine sports degree or something to that effect in which it is basically a horse physio and you can charge the £30-50 per hr and be rich!!! yay!! :)

[SJstar]

whoa people, if equine physio is the route you want to take, you dont technically have to study human physio first.
my route is equine sports degree or something to that effect in which it is basically a horse physio and you can charge the £30-50 per hr and be rich!!! yay!! :)

you do have to do human physio first.

[hApPiNeSs]

do you? that sounds odd. a horse is completely different to a human :o

[SJstar]

"It is a common myth that students can move straight from an equine studies degree to a career in horse physiotherapy, for example. You can't. To become an equine physiotherapist a student must spend three or four years working to qualify as a human physiotherapist, then undertake two years working on people before beginning postgraduate training in animal therapy. "

from: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/best/article.php?aid=61426&cid=399

[hApPiNeSs]

oh i see. thats a bit like joining the mounted police. you have to be a policeman for 2 years before you can join.

well its not the same really is it? im sure you know what i mean ;)

[ponylover88]

...

[SJstar]

as you can see in my post above it is. if you want to be qualified.

[eventerbabe]

http://www.completeequinephysio.co.uk/path.htm

ponylover88, this link explains the qualification process. sports science is not mentioned.

[cvb]

just wondering if the difference between the two answers is about whether or not you can belong to a professional body such as ACPAT ?

Be wary (very very wary) of a route that does NOT allow you to be a member of the appropriate professional body. For a start off, folk look for these "letters" when they are looking for a person. And secondly, insurance and public liability etc will be closely tied in to professional body qualification and membership - and it'll cost a darn sight more if you are "independent" :eek:

[Just.Jump]

Well this thing is like what, 5 pages long already? I don't particularly have any other ideas that haven't been mentioned, but like alot of people, I don't need to be rich, but in whatever I do, I am determined to have enough money to buy my own land, stables, and horses without debt- if I have to "suffer" in an office job for 5-10 years, fine, but I don't want to be one of those grooms, who while they do LOVE their work, they can't afford to keep their own horse, buy a house/apartment, or car etc.

Ideally, I would become a professional rider in either show jumping, or eventing, but even if thats destined to come true it will take me years upon years of riding. In that time, I need to go to college and get a job to fund buying a horse, and showing fees. I could work with horses (physio) or I could use my best assets -math, science, and english- and get a great job. A job that I would enjoy enough to get out of bed every morning, but one in which I can trust in to get me where I want to be. For me to get my dream of a farm producing quality sport horses, and teaching up and coming riders, I need to plan out my life. I need to work hard, have a back up, and be able to support myself on my own. I don't come from a wealthy family at all so it's not going to be handed to me on a platter.



The only advice I can give any of you trying to decide: pick what you want to do judging on your goals. If all you want to do is be with horses every day, consider being a groom, or a trainer etc. But if you want to own your own horses, you should invest in a good job you can stand until you get there (unless as a 17/18 year old you magically have the skill to compete in grand prix show rings and win)

[hApPiNeSs]

I don't need to be rich, but in whatever I do, I am determined to have enough money to buy my own land, stables, and horses without debt

id call that extremly rich - have you seen the prices of house with LAND??? :eek:

[cvb]

aw shucks, just posted a reply to this and it got eaten :(

Anyway

Yard for sale south of Edinburgh for "offers over" £400k. So it will actually go for something like £425,000. Has small house, land, stables, outbuildings, round pen - but from what I can tell, not much in the way of hacking.

Now - that means a deposit of at least 10% = £42,500
And an income of at least £100k per annum to support the mortgage for the rest.

On top of that you need money to buy tractor and grader, harrow etc etc to maintain the property.

Now the only job I had that earnt anything close to that was pretty much a "sold your soul to the business" type of job - which means travel and long hours.

So when would I get to enjoy these facilities ??! :eek:

[stevielee]

Is it hard to become a pro rider do you have to have your own horse at the age of 14 ( im 14) When i get into yr 10 at school I am doing a BTEC at myrescough college in horse care. (Can't wait a full friday Not in school riding and looking after horses). I am looking to do more courses at myrescough when I leave. Is it good pay?
*stevie*

[wanabe]

This thread is interesting! It's really giving me an insight into young women today. You are all very independent. There hasn't been ONE mention of marrying a man who makes enough money to give you the "horsey" life you want! :)

[SJstar]

There hasn't been ONE mention of marrying a man who makes enough money to give you the "horsey" life you want! :)

HAHA! that was actually my plan!! :P

[wanabe]

Yeah, instead of becoming a vet, MARRY one! Then you don't have to do all that studying! :D

[Just.Jump]

id call that extremly rich - have you seen the prices of house with LAND??? :eek:

I'll admit, I haven't bothered to start looking for the land I'd like to one day buy. Any chance it's cheaper to simply buy the land and build up from there? I'm in no rush here, I don't intend to plough into a huge operation (or the 'hugest' I can achieve) right away as soon as I'm done being educated or anything so the time it would take to find proper builders and get up a barn, a house, and fences wouldn't really be my concern. If it took me five years I would still be just as pleased at the end to know that I have my own land.
That or simply going out to a relatively un-used section of land, buying enough to build a stable on, and move up from there, buying the surrounding land bit by bit.

However, the one thing I just couldn't do would go off and become a vet, or a docter (aka something that can make the money I need relatively fast) and wither away in school for 8 years with no time for anything else. Just work work work and studying up to my ears.

Whether I end up having only a couple of average horses, being the occaisional shower or having a large barn full of competition horses it doesn't matter all too much to me. Right now, I don't have the funds to buy a horse. I don't even have the transportation to get to a barn if I *Did* have the funds. All I want to garantee for myself is that by the time I'm making my own living, I need to have my own horse.



Possible Careers:
Theraputic/disabled riding coach (children/adults)
Geneticist
Animal Nutritionist
College Professor
Pedigree Analyst
Clinician
Artificial Inseminator
Veterinary Technician / Horse Show Veterinarian / Track Veterinarian
Trainer
Stable Manager/Foreman
Breeder
Auctioneer
Foaling Crewman
Agricultural Engineer
Laboratory Technician
Horse Show Manager
Drug Inspector
Judge
Steward
Course Designer/Jump Designer
Racing Chemist
Track Manager
Exercise Rider
Jockey
Outrider

[eventerbabe]

i'd strike lab tech off that list. i worked as a lab tech for 3 months and it nearly broke me. starting at 7am in the morning and not finishing til 4pm, getting paid less than an unskilled job (position i had was a graduate position), being too tired to ride, having to do overtime at weekends. it was hell. i don't reccomend it!!

[hApPiNeSs]

how difficult do you think it would be to raise capital to open a tack shop? this is another idea i am tinkering with for the future... ;)

[wanabe]

That could be very hard. Most small business enterprises go bankrupt within 5 years. Why would a bank want to take a chance on *that*.

I don't know what is so hard working 7-4, unless you mean 7 days a week. Something along those lines is what most of us do for 45 years!

How about office worker at a racetrack or "The Jockey Club" (I'm taking **** Francis' word for it that there *is* such a thing as The Jockey Club in England!) Entry level jobs shouldn't be hard to get and you can gradually work your way up to office manager if you're intelligent. Even if you don't and couldn't afford to buy horses at least you would be around people who were talking about them and might see some at the race track job.

[wanabe]

I guess I should have referred to him as "Richard" Francis. :D

[cvb]

tried to post this earlier but our internet access was down :(

Stevielee - depends what you mean by a "pro rider". if you mean one of the "stars" - yes its hard work, there's a lot of people trying to be a star and only a very few make it. if you mean someone who works and rides horses for many - less hard, but less good income ;)

I have a friend who did his BHSAI the same time as me (1990). He's since worked his b-side off doing his II, working in Europe, and is now back in UK as a dressage rider at a stud. And then his main ride got a knee injury :eek: So although he'd quailified for finals etc, he's not been able to carry on and get the competitions etc to help with his career.

Any chance it's cheaper to simply buy the land and build up from there?

"simpler" - not really as you then have all the design, planning permission, project management and funding to do :eek: BUT - you do end up with what you want ;)
"cheaper" - debateable. people normally phase the development over a much longer time, which helps with the finance as you can use the "rent" from existing assets to fund the next phase. The other thing that makes it "cheaper" in terms of hard cash is doing the work yourself. But then anytime you spend on building is time you are not earning money teaching, riding, training etc.

Plus there is the shear rarity of decent plots to build on. I just want to build a house - nothing fancy. In the local area, a plot with planning permission and services is going to cost upwards of £100,000. Thats with NO land. You can then get estimates of much it will cost per sq.m of building to build a house.

But to give you an example from Sweden - my plot there was much cheaper (about £25k) but needed services putting in and trees removing. I built a 3 bedroom (actually 2 plus office) house, 1.5 floors (i.e. top floor is in the roof area) and 138 sq.m. The building (exc. plot, but including kitchen, bathroom, double garage, and the ubiquitous sauna (!) ) was 150k, i.e. total cost was somewhere around 180-200k (translating currency so its not exact) (the garden and decks cost extra). Plot size is around 1000sqm, which is not enormous.

The market value of the house is pretty much what I paid to build it.

If you watch Grand Designs at all - the guy last night had a plot given to him, and the house cost around £120,000 to build BUT he did most of the work himself. The missing labour cost will be significant, and there was no landscaping done at that stage either.

yes its possible - but you do need to know what you're doing

how difficult do you think it would be to raise capital to open a tack shop?

well you're going to need a good credit history, a deposit, and a business plan which shows how you intend to NOT go bust in five years ;)

So anything you can do to start building evidence that you know how to run a business, etc etc would help with that.

[stevielee]

Thanks :D Not sure of what i want to be but it has to be with horses lol
*stevie*

[hApPiNeSs]

thanks guys. i love working part time in my local tackshop, so it was just an idea, for when i am in a better position to risk all that money!!! :eek:

[ponylover88]

how do you have the money BUT work with horses??
grooms arent very well paid so thats off my list because, when im in full time work, i wont be able to afford a horse if i dont afford enought too! :(

[Just.Jump]

Well I live in Alberta at the moment, so if I don't move to either Ontario/New England States/New York (state, NOT the city), I don't think I'll have too much of a problem finding a suitable amount of land. Since it's the prairie, justabout everything is flat, so reworking ground level won't be an issue. But anyways, that's not going to happen for ages so no worries just yet.

[cvb]

ponylover88

sadly I think wanabe has already said it :(

This thread is interesting! It's really giving me an insight into young women today. You are all very independent. There hasn't been ONE mention of marrying a man who makes enough money to give you the "horsey" life you want! :)

i.e. you are born or marry into it ! You CAN make your own, but it takes time and efffort - so you have to go for the long view not the short term.

My folks now have a 2 bed cottage with 3 stables+tack room, 7 acres, an outdoor arena.... but they are retired...

Lucky ol' me gets to use these faciilities. BUT - I could not afford to buy it off them :eek:

My "long term plan" would be to buy a share of what is there (the land bit) and add facilities, like flood lights for the school etc. But sadly the liklihood of getting planning permission for another house is a big fat ZERO :( (already checked it out).

Still - the first step is actually to have a house nearby - which IS possible :)

My "lottery win" plan would be to buy our next door neighbours house - but it'd take a big chunk of money cos he likes his house and wouldn't want to move !

[mustang fan]

well I know a girl that trains horses, and makes really good money. But on the other hand she is a really good trainer. You could also get a job in equine law work, but like any other job you have to work your way up! farriers make pretty good money dont they? well I dont know!! hope it helps! :)

[hannah:)]

Sorry didn't have the energy to read all 5 pages of this thread, so excuse me if I repeat anyone! Also excuse the length of this post :o

Most jobs with horses will make money depending on how hard you are prepared to work. Like someone suggested that a top instructor makes good money - but to get to the top that top instructor had to work bloody hard for years to gain the experience and the reputation that they need. NO career begins with a fab salary, in or out of the horse world.

Personally my plan is to do equine physio - but it's going to be a hard slog, involving a second degree for me, then a masters. I'm going to have to move in with my parents again, probably for the next four years, and it will be years before I get to treat a horse. I'm not saying I'm some kind of paragon of dedication or anything - that's just the reality of my situation!

There are hundreds of horsey jobs out there. My advice is to wait until you find the one you want - don't make my mistake and go off to get a degree (or whatever qualification) for the sake of it, your dream job might well involve even more training afterwards. I went straight to uni after school to do italian cos I didn't know what I wanted to do but I thought any degree would do - now look at the mess I'm in! :rolleyes:

Good luck in finding your ideal job - it's out there somewhere you know! :)