Going about working with horses?

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Spirit3106

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Hiya!
I've always wondered about working with horses and just thought I'd try and get some insights on it..
I'm 22, always loved horses and have ridden at several riding schools since I was a young teenager. I have my second part loan now and I'm really coming on leaps and bounds with him :) I'm a bit uncertain what I'd like to do with life in general atm (I'm also autistic if that's relevant to any of this lol). I'm thinking that I'd love to do something with horses right now, I'd love to learn more and get to work with them and ride more often.

The issue is, for all the years I've spent riding, I'm really not as advanced as you might think. In part it's because I've had to chop and change riding schools a lot, but I do think a lot of it is purely down to lack of confidence - I can be anxious and get setbacks in my confidence very easily. At my very best, I would say that I can walk, trot, canter, jump a small course (approx. 50-60cm), maybe gallop out on a hack - on a bombproof horse that I trust. So any jobs riding out hot racehorses or anything like that would be out of the question at this time 😳 Over the years I've done a good bit of volunteering at riding schools in my area, so I'm aware of the hard work that comes with working with horses too.

Just wondering if anyone has any tips or advice on where I could look if I wanted to progress a bit, maybe do some part time work with horses? I often check Donedeal/FB groups but there's not much in my area it seems (South East)? I'd love to gain some more experience but I'm just at an awkward age/position/level I feel to try and enter the world of working with horses!
 
Spirit3106 said:
Hiya!
I've always wondered about working with horses and just thought I'd try and get some insights on it..
I'm 22, always loved horses and have ridden at several riding schools since I was a young teenager. I have my second part loan now and I'm really coming on leaps and bounds with him :) I'm a bit uncertain what I'd like to do with life in general atm (I'm also autistic if that's relevant to any of this lol). I'm thinking that I'd love to do something with horses right now, I'd love to learn more and get to work with them and ride more often.

The issue is, for all the years I've spent riding, I'm really not as advanced as you might think. In part it's because I've had to chop and change riding schools a lot, but I do think a lot of it is purely down to lack of confidence - I can be anxious and get setbacks in my confidence very easily. At my very best, I would say that I can walk, trot, canter, jump a small course (approx. 50-60cm), maybe gallop out on a hack - on a bombproof horse that I trust. So any jobs riding out hot racehorses or anything like that would be out of the question at this time 😳 Over the years I've done a good bit of volunteering at riding schools in my area, so I'm aware of the hard work that comes with working with horses too.

Just wondering if anyone has any tips or advice on where I could look if I wanted to progress a bit, maybe do some part time work with horses? I often check Donedeal/FB groups but there's not much in my area it seems (South East)? I'd love to gain some more experience but I'm just at an awkward age/position/level I feel to try and enter the world of working with horses!
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Hi, I've never worked with horses but I noticed you didn't get replies, so this will ping it up the list!

What do you do at the moment? Do you have other transferable skills such as dealing with people or doing admin, for example?
 
Goldie's mum said:
Hi, I've never worked with horses but I noticed you didn't get replies, so this will ping it up the list!

What do you do at the moment? Do you have other transferable skills such as dealing with people or doing admin, for example?
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Thank you so much! I probably would've been better posting in a different board but I thought it'd be best to get some Irish perspectives lol

I've done 2 PLCS, one in Lab Skills and the other in General Studies (which had some administrative modules), and I'm just about to start a kitchen job next week - not a horsey job but it'll hopefully help me build up some other skills in the meantime
 
I don’t work with horses but my sisters friend is a saddler. I always thought that would be a nice and interesting job and it pays quite well too.

I think she did an apprenticeship to get started.

She’s in her early 30s now and runs her own business making and fitting saddles. Also does other leather work like dog collars etc.

I think it’s a nice way of working with horses and it’s a combination of being outdoors and indoors and physical without being back breaking.

You get to see lots of different horses but it doesn’t have the emotional cost of working somewhere like a rescue or a vets which I imagine could be quite upsetting at times.

Hope you find something you enjoy x
 
stormox said:
Personally, I think you should go to a yard that offers BHS qualifications, and take at least up to Stage 2. You would then find it much easier to get a position, and a lot of places require qualifications for insurance purposes.
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Do you mean as in a riding school or an equine course? I've heard of BHS qualifications but I never really knew much about them or going about getting them!
 
Spirit3106 said:
Do you mean as in a riding school or an equine course? I've heard of BHS qualifications but I never really knew much about them or going about getting them!
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There are plenty of places that prepare you for BHS exams. Most of the AIRE ones will run courses, or tell you who to get in contact with.
I know Clonshire and Brennanstown do. Or Kildalton College at Piltdown.
 
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