Change of career, WWYD??

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apydays

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25 February 2014
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So I left school at 17yrs old, with a good set of GCSE's, started my A Levels but horses where far more important to me so I never continued with them. Then my parent got on my back as they said I needed to have a proper job, (at the time I was waitressing) applied for a job and completed NVQs in customer care and business admin. The office job was awefull! So left it, moved away and worked on a polo yard for 6 months, great fun I had sole charge of 6 ponies. When I came home I went self employed riding and looking after various different peoples horses, a local trekking stable wanted help so I started working there 3 days a week as during my PC days I had achieved my B test. Whilst working there I passed my PTT.
My parents farm and we had the opportunity to start our own trekking stables, which we have done and its gone really really well. I run the stables take most rides out with the occasional help from my mum and a part time worker. However, the national parks (from the start) have restricted how many rides we can take out due to their worry of erosion! This along with the fact that we have no turnout throughout the winter, not enough stables so some are turned out in the yard. The business is just not covering its costs!
At the end of the summer the stables will cease, but if you were in my situation what would do for work? I am very fortunate that I could train for something else and work on the farm. Any suggestions would be great!
 
Most people I know who'd had horses as their living end up not having enought time/ motivation for their own and end up quitting horses altogether. A horsey job is OK when your young and fit but as you get older or if you get an injury it's much more difficult.

Personally I love the balance an office job and horses for fun gives me.
 
I worked with horses when I was younger, now I have a non horsey job so I've also looked into this.
Have you thought about equine related sales such as working for a feed company or saddlery/clothing companies?
Or you could train for something like equine dentistry or sports massage?
 
I did a business degree in my 50's and then started my own accounting/bookkeeping for small businesses preferably those that were equine related. Unfortunately I never got enough customers so at times had to go and work for someone else. There are plenty of office jobs in the equestrian businesses.

In my early years of working I would alternate between horse work and drawing office work - that paid for my horses and their keep and competitions.

It is really advisable to get some good form of qualification to fall back on should you not be able to work with horses any more.

In the meantime - do what you enjoy most, life is short
 
I used to work with horses when I was younger but due to the low wages had to work in an office. I worked for the BHS for a while and that was great as it was still horsey related and they were a great bunch of people to work with. The wages weren't great though but better than the pay when working with horses.
 
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