equestrian career - what to choose

[evie.equine]

Project Pony | Project Pony

projectpony.co.uk

I know a couple of places that loan via RS type set ups. Expensive to maintain because you'd need all your insurances etc as well as hood quality ponies. At the higher level there's Project Ponies who loan out event ponies to talented kids. There's another place near me with decent jumping ponies and they seem to take those kids all over the country.

Personally I'd recommend you go for the genetics and keep your options open once you've got a post A level qualification

I wanted to be part of project pony but then reached their age limit and didn't have the experience they required

 

[evie.equine]

The market is flooded with dealers and sales livery yards, every Tom Dick and Harry do it now and its success depends very much on the economic state of the country and borrowing rates etc. I would go for something that will not be so affected by the ebs and flows of the economy - there’s big money in bloodstock agency, have you thought about something like that?

Or equine dentistry or saddle fitting.

The market is dead at the moment, prices have dropped significantly again and dealers are struggling to shift stock.

The whole bloodstock agency is a new thing to me, I'm not 100% sure what it is

 

[shortstuff99]

What route did you take?

(I did chemistry )(back in the day)

I did biology A-level, physics and drama (maths to AS). Then did under grad in Zoology, Masters in conservation and biodiversity and then a PhD in evolutionary genetics and biogeography. I also was a research scientist for Cambridge doing evolutionary genetics between my masters and PhD.

 

[Kaylum]

Also get yourself some work experience at a good stud and find out what actually goes on and how it all works. You will learn so much.

 

[TPO]

Same as thr advice you've been given already.

Your own business idea is a non starter [at this stage]. You would need a LOT of financial backing, never mind the experience and knowledge to run & keep a yard of horses/ponies fit and well, plus mentor/tutor the loaners. We've all been young and probably all had similar dreams, especially if time was spent at riding schools, but the reality is very different.

As others have said don't limit yourself with an equine degree. If genetics is your thing do that, or a biology/zoology, course at uni.

You don't have to make any decisions about jobs that are 4-5 years away. A lot will change in that time. Make the most of your time before applying to uni finding out about different course in your field of interest. Try and get work experience where they are doing what you want to do. All the studying is easier if it's something you are passionate about.

Don't narrow your field of choice at this age. There's plenty of time to diversify or specialise later on.

 

[Bobthecob15]

I run a course at a university, its a vocational health course so our students always get jobs at the end....I see a lot of students get into a lot of debt for pretty much non-vocational courses which is such a shame.

Personally I would suggest work experience at a stud or somewhere to see if you enjoy the bloodstock side of things, try a different route like an apprenticeship, or alternative qualifications so you earn as you learn...and much less debt. That is what I will be encouraging my daughter to do when the time comes. University is fun and yes its essential for some jobs, but in the grand scheme of life I don't think degrees are essential now, particularly in the equine world. And the debt is becoming unmanageable and unlikely to be paid off depending what you do. I did 2 degrees to get where I am now, took me best part of 25 years to pay it all off!

I would definitely get work experience before you apply for anything, we see students sign up for courses that they really have no idea what is involved and end up stuck having to either withdraw or carry on for the sake of it because of the costs. Sometimes you can switch courses but not always possible, so a 3 year course becomes 4 etc...