Career Advice

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DressageStar

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1 March 2007
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Hi all,

I would like a little bit of advice if at all possible – I will tell you the situation!

I am 17 I left school about 6 months ago after doing my AS levels because I wasn’t enjoying school anymore and didn’t want to go to uni. I have good GCSE results and OK AS results. I then got a job that I still have but it’s a dead end job going into something that I do not want to do (secretarial work). My dream is to work with horses and this is what I have always wanted to do but just didn’t dare go for it straight from school. I have plenty of experience and knowledge and have been riding since I was born practically and had my own pony since I was 3, I now have 3 horses 2 in competition and one that has just been broken and is coming out at county level this year. I compete mainly in Dressage and Showing/WH but can also produce a mean jump off round if asked! The only thing I haven’t done is event, as cross-country doesn’t really interest me. I compete at BD at Elementary and Showing at local County level but am doing higher level Dressage and Showing this year (as now have the funding (thanks to the job!) to do it)
Now I have written this essay, the question I want to ask is what career in equestrianism do you think I should go for, and also how do I start with getting my qualifications – full time college isn’t going to be easy with three horses as the nearest college is too far to travel to every day so I would need to stay there during the week. So really need another option to full time education I would like to do some instructing maybe BHSAI, but I am really just interested in generally working with horses!


Thanks for reading this marathon essay, I would be really interested to know your thoughts.
 
with your experience you should easily get a yard job, and you should look for one that are willing to put you through some training, eg go to college one day a week and work on the yard the rest of the week, you can get NVQs like this and they are a well recognised equine qualification
 
I reckon you have a few choices;
1. Enrol on a National Diploma in Horse Management. These have a very practical focus, riding every day, and will also give you UCAS entry requirements to a Foundation Degree or an Honours Degree if you decide you want a 'graduate job' in the future.
2. Enrol on a BHS PI Prep course at college - funding is now available from the government for up to Stage 4 although few colleges get a sufficient cohort to run past St 3 and PTT. If you get your full BHS PI, then you will gain 105 UCAS tariff points, which allow entry to some Foundation Degrees.
3. Train in a yard job for BHS exams, or NVQs. You may/may not earn while you do so. I wouldn't recommend NVQs as they are a bit of a joke (IMO) in the industry - BHS exams are usually the recognised qualification.
4. Depending on how many AS levels you gained, you may already be able to enrol on a Foundation Degree in an equine related subject, incidentally.
Hope this helps
S
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Hi there,

It's really hard isn't it?? There seems to be quite an interesting course in Oxford known as 'OCEPT'. This is a one year course which allows you to become an 'equine manipulator' and the majority of the written work can be done at home and you only have to be in Oxford for one full weekend in every month.
Now i'm unsure as to exactly what an equine maipulator is. It's clearly not in any way the same as a chiro/osteo/physio but I think it would be a very interesting course and there could be some career potential
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The OCEPT course is a Diploma in Animal Manipulation, but wouldn't be suitable for the OP as it requires entrants to have a ES degree, or significant equivalent life experience.
Qualified practitioners treat horses after injury, back problems etc using a range of physical manipulation techniques, stretches etc.
Equine rehabilitation and therapy is somewhat oversubscribed at the moment - and there are two specific problems with a career using OCEPT Animal Manipulation. The first problem is that it is illegal to treat animals without a veterinary referral. The second is the recent refusal of insurance companies to fund rehabilitation and therapy treatments.
Combined, they cause business problems for therapists.
S
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Hi,
I left school at 15 and wanted to go into horses, but was pushed to work in an office, which I did for 10 years and hated it - I really wish I had gone straight into horses from school.
I did my BHS exams a couple of years ago, through distance learning with equistudy (Warwickshire College) as well as attending study weeks at a local riding school, alongside working part time in an office (Unlike you I didn't have a horse to juggle as well, but I'm sure it could be done).
I am now doing equine behaviour with The Open College of Equine Studies, and can highly recommend them - the courses are really thorough and you can attend study weeks at the college (www.equinestudies.co.uk for details).
Good Luck with whatever you choose.
Beth x
 
[ QUOTE ]
Oh, perhaps not such a hot idea then
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I know for sure I would never make it as a 'Careers Advisor"
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[/ QUOTE ]

It's just possible, that I have worked in equine education....
S
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