Careers in Breed Organizations, Rescue Organizations & Equine Publications? Help!

[de_Stille_een]

I'm a sixteen year old girl, and I'm considering studying Equestrian Sciences- however, I'm not interested in the traditional "horsey-careers"- running a stable, vet, farrier, competitive rider, etc., but would still like to work with horses.

I've been riding for about eight or nine years now, tried a lot of different things, and I'm decently knowledgeable in many areas of horsemanship (I've been trained in western and english pleasure, I've competed in dressage, hunters, and jumpers, worked with kids as a staff member at an equestrian camp and as a volunteer at a hippotherapy center, and I have a job as a rider for a clinician specializing in gaited horsemanship- I've ridden in clinics/demos, taught riders, and trained horses with gaiting-problems, vices, behavioral issues, and breaking colts), but I don't really enjoy jumping/dressage/competitive riding- I really enjoy training simple pleasure horses and trail riding. And I most definitely prefer riding my gaited horses to the trotters I've ridden over the years!

So my question is... what jobs are out there for someone like me? I mean, what kind of jobs are there, for example, in breed organizations? Youth organizations? Humane societies? Equine publications?

Any insight/ideas/advice you may have for me... greatly appreciated!

[Briony]

Hi, I was a bit like you when I went to college to do a degree in Equine Studies. Since I graduated I have worked for an equestrian wholesaler, a horse and rider insurance company and now for an on-line retailer. There are lots of jobs in the equine industry that are not hands on. The best thing you could do would be to get lots of office and/or telephone experience to back up your horse experience. I hope that helps!

[horseygal90]

Equine publications would suggest that you'd need some kind of media and/or english degree, or something like that. :)

[tally]

There is always thoroughbred breeding. You could spend your whole life breeding TB foals and breaking-in youngstock.

I think the best thing is get a good qualification first, becuase it will always stand you in good stead and then it is just going out and experiencing different things.

In the horse world there is always something new to learn and the older you get (ancient like me!) the more you realise that that's true. Every horse will teach you something and, particularly with horses, practice and just having lots of horses through your hands is the best way to learn. So it might mean that you have to have low wages for a bit, but working as a trainee in a large yard you will learn lots. Read up lots as well and see where it all leads.

You can always write to someone and ask if they take on youngesters as trainees. Have you read Monty Roberts/Mark Rashid/Tom Dorrance life stories? They will also teach you a lot.