Can Anyone Offer Me Some (Grownup!!) Career Advice?

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PercyMum

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Hi All

After a long time mulling it over, I think that I would like to leave my current career and perhaps work with horses. However, I am unsure of the options available to me and am seeking some ideas/guidance.

I have 11 years of higher level management experience and am qualified to City & Guilds Licentiateship in this. I also have teaching qualifications (not BHS-related) and some other degree-level qualifications as well as A-Levels and GCSEs. I have no formal equine related qualifications but have had horses all my life, worked on some yards etc and have 2 of my own horses that I have brought on a competed, and I would cautiously say I am pretty experienced (I don't want anyone to think I am being big-headed-Im really not!)

I thought perhaps about a yard manager or something similar that would utilise the management side of my CV? But what other opportunities might there be? Do I need formal equine qualifications to back up the experience?

Thoughts and advice much appreciated.
 
How about working at an equine college\university, i dont know if you will need to have an equine qualitifcation but may be worth looking into. Or a position in an equine related company, like feed manufacturers, vet hospitals etc. I would think you are far too highly qualified to be a groom:D

Before anyone shoots me down i am a groom!!!!
 
Well, I wondered if I could get some experience as a groom and if that would help? Perhaps a reference? I may be fortunately qualified but my career change is because I would like to do something moe 'hands-on'. I am currently a serving officer in the military but would really like to do something different. But thank you so much for your idea. More please!
 
You could do a corresondence course to get an equine qualification. Sounds as though you would be perfect as a lecturer at an equine college, maybe on the business side.
Why not do an Intelligent Horsemanship course as well, I think they are 5 day course.
 
Do the military not have a mounted force?

Have you put this query into the careers/jobs section on this forum?

I'm thinking about taking a course in stable management, I have an oppertunity to inherit a stable yard with land in a few years time so I'm also thinking of jacking the day job in for a more 'hands on' role.

Also, you could get in touch with the BHS and other equine bodies. Speak to them, tell them what your relevant experience is and what you would like to do and listen to their recommendations.

Good luck!!!!!
 
Hi
Yes, they do have a mounted section but I am unable to transfer to it as I am too senior (it sucks!!). I was thinking of approaching the BHS but I have heard they are fairly inflexible, ie, as in if its not the Stages you want to do, they are not really interested. Good luck with your yard though- I would love to have an opportunity like that!
 
To be honest the possibilities are endless, though why on earth you are thinking about a grooms job coming into the winter i do not know:D:D

If you want to do a grooms roll then have a think about what you enjoy about the horses, i.e

Going to shows as a groom,
Would you prefer SJ, Dressage, eventing (bloody hard work!!!) Hunting. Would you like to work with youngstock, broodmares.
Private livery yards.
Do you want to ride?
Would you like to teach?
Would you be able to do RDA work?
Are you interested in the veterinary side of things?

You could always come and help me out while i hibernate:D
 
I think perhaps voluteering as a groom would be great experience as to the 'Pro' side of horses, as I have worked on yards as a weekend girl and had my own horses but I suspect the professional side is somewhat different! I have worke with youngstock before so I am not bothered by that. Riding would be great, but not essential - I have my own to do that on! Teaching sounds great, and I am genuinely unconcerned by wet/cold (belive me, its better than the oven I have been working in on and off for the last ten years :cool:). I am really interested in equine behaviour and rehabilitation. Equally, I have to be sensible and be able to have enough pennies to pay for the horses/home/car etc!
 
kaylouise67 said:
Your kidding?!?!?! Can you get yourself demoted?! :D
Click to expand...

Nope! Only Officers and guys from a mounted unit can do that kind of role and I can't transfer into it as you have to kind of 'go up' through that route rather than come across at my stage. And I am not sure I want to be in the military anymore anyway. Although it has been very good to me, I have to say.
 
Echo Bravo said:
Please make sure you have a healthy bank balance to surport you, as the horse world is a precarious place to be working in
Click to expand...

Do you mean as in general, or groom work etc? I would hope to go to a salaried role which I would assume is more stable. Or am I being unrealistic? Don't feel you need to be kind - I need to hear the realities of 'life outside'!

OrangeHorse - Thats great - Thankyou very much. I will have a look into that.
 
Why not go to one of the colleges like Brackenhurst and do your stages? Or read the books and make sure you know the criteria your should be able to walk stages 1 & 2 if your as experienced as you say and just take the exams? Then do the stage 3 & the PTT .:)
 
I think you stand a very, very, VERY slim chance of getting a yard managers job or an instructors job. For those sorts of jobs they expect loads and loads of practical experience. In pretty much any other type of job transferable skills are fine, not for horsey jobs though :( I would also look very, very closely at the wages! I was an instructor for years and made a pittance. I did get perks such as full livery and accommodation on site, but my actual take home pay wasnt very much above minimum wage. And accomodation etc comes with ties like being called on at any time of the day or night! Grooms seem to get minimum wage as standard.

You also need to bear in mind, that if your working with horses c50 hours a week will you have time or inclination for your own? Alot of jobs will let you take one, but not 2, and TBH I lost interest in my own horse when all I did was deal with them day in day out :/ It took me a full 18 months or so after getting a 'proper job' to start looking for my own again!
 
Thanks Dexter. Thats quite interesting - I don't really know how much money instructors etc make. Mine is (was) paid £50 an hour!!! I think I would be looking more towards the equine business end - you are absolutely right that I think working with horses might make time with my own less fun.
 
Freelance you make way more, but you live on a knife edge of people cancelling etc. I really loved my time working with horses. I did a season as a stud groom, a season on a really top class showing yard, then about 5 years teaching. I genuinely loved it and miss teaching now tbh :( but once I hit 30 I had a mid life crisis, looked around me at people that were career 'horsey people' and ran like the wind :D Bizarrely the skills I learnt teaching etc are really valued by non horsey jobs! Doesnt work the other way though!

Horses as a job is an utterly fabulous way to spend your twenties when your young free and single with no commitments, you learn loads, can put up with dodgy accommodation and 70 hour weeks but as a grown up its hideous! I had the best of both worlds for a while, having a 'proper job' and teaching for 3 hours on a Saturday morning.

I've been out of the game for a while now, other than helping on an unpaid basis. I'm missing it though! and will prob fork out for freelance insurance shortly even though it will cost me what I earn :D
 
So do you think it is an unwise move (no, I'm not pinning my career aspirations on you - I'd really like to know your thoughts!). I am very lucky - I know that. I am well paid and have a secure job (well, as long as Fox isnt let loose again....grr) but I am somewhat unfulfilled!!!! I know that the grass isnt greener and I am not about to make some foolish leap into the unknown but I don't want to get to 40 and think 'I wish I had done XYZ'. Hence this post!
 
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