helo me think of a whole new life/career - pref horsey... :)

Bowen4Horses

Bowen4Horses

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www.poppywebber.co.uk
hey all

so... i have just found out that with new government etc, my lovely safe, secure job that i've done for the last 11 years will go... and i'll be made redundant in April 2011.

as i always try to see the silver lining... i'd like to try and make this hellish situation into something positive. and i'm thinking i should take the opportunity to train as/start doing something i enjoy.

but... i don't know what.

can anyone think of a job for me?

essentials:
flexible working
pays at least 30k (or will do after training) - actually, thinking about it, this is negotiable if it's a job i LOVE we could find a way of working out the money/mortgage, so 30k isn't essential...


preferred:
work from home or start own business

me:
32yrs old (ancient, i know)
good psychology degree
masters in boring stuff (community development snore snore)
quite bright/intelligent
good sales person
good communicator
exceptionally determined. if i find something i want to do, i'll put EVERYTHING into it.
30 years of experience with horses, but not confident in handling/riding difficult ones due to having a break from them- although i'm getting much better!
world's worst manager (well liked but useless at delegating...)
no horsey qualifications, but happy to retrain/undertake exams etc (hoping to get redundancy pay to fund retraining...)
totally hilarious. no, really i am. :D


my fave ideas:
saddle fitter (but is there a big financial outlay to buy saddles at start?)
horsey tv presenter... okay, i can dream
stunt rider... okay, i'm too useless for that, but it'd be such fun.

um... anyone have any ideas? :confused:

ovaltine and after eights for getting to the end (oh yes, i know how to spend my saturday nights!!) :D :D

p.s. sorry this isn't in careers... i thought i'd get more fabby ideas from you guys.
 
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O no. But like you say, could be a fantastic opportunity. Saddler sounds nice actually. I'd always thought farrier if I trained as something horsey but that would be so much nicer and less rough and tumble.

Good luck with whatever you chose though.
 
Ok, honest opinion is that you'll struggle to find a job that's going to pay you £30k, with the skills you've outlined and especially I'd say with horses. Just to get an idea, what job are you doing at the moment?
 
PoppyAnderson said:
Ok, honest opinion is that you'll struggle to find a job that's going to pay you £30k, with the skills you've outlined and especially I'd say with horses. Just to get an idea, what job are you doing at the moment?
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manager in local government. do stuff around children's rights/child protection etc etc.

i know it's a hard ask... :( what can i doooooooo...?

ooh, i forgot to say, i'm good at writing too. i've had research published... and have been offered a publishing deal but it's to do with the work stuff i'm currently doing... and i want to get away from that work... :(

how about equine journalist? could i write to some horsey mags? could i offer myself as unpaid work experience for a fortnight? could i just send in articles? bombard them until they give me a job?

:D
 
Well there's lots of things you COULD do! Seems you're prepared to give lots of stuff a go! Sometimes that makes it harder to focus in on something in particular though. Good sales people can often make decent money but that kind of work isn't usually based from home. I'm sure lots of people have made/do make good money selling on line (ebay/own on-line business).
 
saddle fitter definitely, i'd like a good one 1 mile away please!
what about a NLP/Sports Psychologist especially for riders?
i have another idea, long story, not for publication on here as it's a bit top-secret at the moment (it's a friend's business, horse-diagnosis orientated), we'll have a chat about it if you want.
 
kerilli said:
what about a NLP/Sports Psychologist especially for riders?
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have considered this... esp as i'm also qualified as a life coach/NLP stuff... but thought the market already seems to be flooded and also i'm not sure of the longevity of NLP (not saying it's rubbish, but is very 'trendy' which inevitably means it'll have a shelf life)... and i'd have to brush up on things. having babies is not good for brains. but yes, i'm going to look into this.

i have another idea, long story, not for publication on here as it's a bit top-secret at the moment (it's a friend's business, horse-diagnosis orientated), we'll have a chat about it if you want.
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oooh... sounds interesting... do spill... over coffee in the week? :D
 
Saddle fitter always fancied that myself but theres linited training etc so essentially youd be starting out as a retailer, as you say large outlay, ebay! meaning the world and his wife is selling horse stuff.

Horsey physio? retraining obviously would be needed

Not sure any of those would bring in over 30k wage cant think of anything else at the min
 
What about retraining in Bowen Therapy (for humans) and EMRT (Equine Muscle Release Therapy) for horses? I know someone who changed from being a highly stressed solicitor and retrained in this and now she's really happy in her work! :)
Kate x
 
Saddle maker? Barefoot trimmer (not saying I agree with them, but the one at my yard charged about £2 billion a hoof so theres money in it!) EDT? (we rock :D)
 
If you're thinking of saddler fitter call in at French's on Huntingdon road and see how Karen is getting on as when I saw her last summer she was looking to pass the whole business onto someone esle as she is not well.....

Will have a think for you and see what I can come up with :)
 
Saddle Fitter, Equine Physio/Back Lady, how about farrier?! Physically demanding but you could perhaps start doing work experience evenings and weekends as of now, shadowing someone?
I think volunteering/shadowing could be a vital necessity to gain physical experience, and as we all know word of mouth is better than any form of advertising so if you get your name out there and people realise how determined you are, they'll more than likely offer you additional avenues to explore.
 
what about a sales rep for a horse company - either feed or clothing or equipment? am sure you could sell sand to the arabs..... :D:D

Or non-horsey, stylist? personal shopper? wedding planner? Not sure what demand is for those in the UK but you'd be awesome :D
 
JoG said:
what about a sales rep for a horse company - either feed or clothing or equipment? am sure you could sell sand to the arabs..... :D:D

Or non-horsey, stylist? personal shopper? wedding planner? Not sure what demand is for those in the UK but you'd be awesome :D
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ha! thankies. :D

i used to want to be a wedding planner... until i planned my own wedding... x
 
Is there a local (ish, doesnt have to be down the road) saddle maker locally. If you fit their brand there would be no outlay on stock, so the only outlay would be for training. Once you have made a name for yourself as a saddle fitter you could go it alone

Or as a rep for a Horsey company? Lots and lots of driving, but reasonable flexibility/freedom/money

Or something I considered doing is a service to check saddle fit using the new this new pressure sensor technology. A bit like:

http://www.equi-therapy.net/equi-therapy/saddlery/computerised-saddle-fitting.shtml

There are several systems around now, cost about £10-£14K for the kit I think. I didnt do it as my own company is so time consuming I just wouldnt have time
 
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