I Don't Believe I Am Contemplating This....! Need Opinions (Don't worry, not sad!)

I haven't read all the replies as MUST go to bed(!) But I'd say go for it.

I do think many people get to this point at our sort of age! Could you start something while still doing your main job? Get it started/do the training or whatever so you can get it all in place before taking the plunge? Use holidays etc to work on it. It just minimises the risks (althought it does take longer to get it going)

I had a good well paid job and was good at it, but got progressively less interested in it and started my own business with a friend (and yes we are still friends!)

Good luck whatever you decide!
 
thelwell_girl said:
Im seriously hoping that this post is a joke!
Click to expand...

Lol, hope not, I've just posted a long reply! :D

Someone who doesn't know the horse or me (or the other rider) and goes with what they they think they see.

Actually I'd like to see anyone try and hold Dizz in an outline... She'd soon let them know what she thought (because of course at that moment she'd decide she didn't want to do it! Flipping contrary mare :D).
 
0ldmare said:
I haven't read all the replies as MUST go to bed(!) But I'd say go for it.

I do think many people get to this point at our sort of age! Could you start something while still doing your main job? Get it started/do the training or whatever so you can get it all in place before taking the plunge? Use holidays etc to work on it. It just minimises the risks (althought it does take longer to get it going)

I had a good well paid job and was good at it, but got progressively less interested in it and started my own business with a friend (and yes we are still friends!)

Good luck whatever you decide!
Click to expand...

Thank you hun. Yes, it will have to be while I'm doing what I do now, for all sorts of reasons. It's good to know that others have done it and are doing well :D

I have started I suppose. We started the company four or five years ago, I'm losing track lol, and it's doing okay. A sort of halfway point between working for someone else and comletely going it alone. Hm. More thinking.
 
Haven't made it beyond Page 5 of the thread yet but just want to say MrsM I'd have a lesson with you anyday! So make sure you're a mobile instructor sometimes during the year and travel the entire country, thank you :D

I'm another 47 year old and doing the same...have to get a plan in place ahead of next year. Don't want another year like this where I limit myself and have no balls to go after what I really want. Or even try.
 
MochaDun said:
Haven't made it beyond Page 5 of the thread yet but just want to say MrsM I'd have a lesson with you anyday! So make sure you're a mobile instructor sometimes during the year and travel the entire country, thank you :D

I'm another 47 year old and doing the same...have to get a plan in place ahead of next year. Don't want another year like this where I limit myself and have no balls to go after what I really want. Or even try.
Click to expand...

Lol, so long as you don't mind me turning up with hot choccy and calling you hun :D. Sorry, that was childish. I apologise.

Go for it, but if you can face it, ask the question. There's been a lot of woffle on this thread (cannot believe how long it is!!), but there have been some very good points that I hadn't thought of, so well worth it in my opinion. Maybe it will help others who are contemplating changing careers :D
 
Wow, MrsMozart, I'd go for it if I were you. Dont understand where some people come from, you'd be better than most "instructors" i've come across. I teach stable management for pony camps for my friend. Really good idea to "be there" for people. I was at a show today, OMG you were needed. Some parents should be shot, roaring at their kids for having a pole down. My god, some people!! Dont understand it myself!!!!!!
 
I actually think Mrs M that you are not opposed to criticism at all, in fact I gave you an opposite view in one of your posts a while back, which you took with very good grace, and I still havent sent you photos I promised which I will do.

As for an instructor, there is a huge gap in the market for confidence boosting instructors. It is also a load of rubbish that a good instructor has to be a good rider, I can run off a string of very good instructors one has never sat on a horse in his life, yet his eye and instruction is amazing, the others have a good way of communicating which makes the pupil understand and grasp the concept of what is being said. I have also had lessons with some excellent top level riders and their teaching is very lacking as they know what they want you to achieve but cannot put it into words that can make you understand. So I dont think riding ability has anything to do with teaching what so ever.

You only have to pass Stage II of your BHS exams to be able to start teaching under BHS rules, however there is no rules to stop anyone setting up as a riding instructor there are a lot out there that have no qualifications and no insurance, even worse are teaching on their own horses. I have just refreshed my Stage IV as have let it lapse for quite a while, there are a lot of changes that you are not allowed to do anymore, riding without stirrups is one iffy area, round the world, half scissors you also need to be CRB checked for teaching children, and child welfare course (sorry late cant remember exact name).

If you have your own arena you can teach in, you only need insurance to cover you which is more expensive if you are not qualified but anyone can take it out. If you teach anyone on your own horse you need to have a riding school licence. You also need to ensure that if you charge money you are paying business rates to the council for using your arena, nothing is difficult but a lot of people just take insurance ignore the rest, and then invalidate their insurance by not doing the other requirements.

You can do your stage one and two at night school over a year or so.

Best of luck, good instructors are very hard to find and teaching beginners is far more demanding than teaching competant riders, a fact that is very often overlooked by instructors hence the huge gap in the market for these type of instructors.
 
fitzaud2 said:
Wow, MrsMozart, I'd go for it if I were you. Dont understand where some people come from, you'd be better than most "instructors" i've come across. I teach stable management for pony camps for my friend. Really good idea to "be there" for people. I was at a show today, OMG you were needed. Some parents should be shot, roaring at their kids for having a pole down. My god, some people!! Dont understand it myself!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Thank you :). That's another area to consider :). I've taught a few people, mainly friends of daughters, some of the basics and quite enjoyed it. Another one for The Game Plan, though as I promised to send it to someone by midnight, I'll have to put it in version two :D
 
scally said:
I actually think Mrs M that you are not opposed to criticism at all, in fact I gave you an opposite view in one of your posts a while back, which you took with very good grace, and I still havent sent you photos I promised which I will do.

As for an instructor, there is a huge gap in the market for confidence boosting instructors. It is also a load of rubbish that a good instructor has to be a good rider, I can run off a string of very good instructors one has never sat on a horse in his life, yet his eye and instruction is amazing, the others have a good way of communicating which makes the pupil understand and grasp the concept of what is being said. I have also had lessons with some excellent top level riders and their teaching is very lacking as they know what they want you to achieve but cannot put it into words that can make you understand. So I dont think riding ability has anything to do with teaching what so ever.

You only have to pass Stage II of your BHS exams to be able to start teaching under BHS rules, however there is no rules to stop anyone setting up as a riding instructor there are a lot out there that have no qualifications and no insurance, even worse are teaching on their own horses. I have just refreshed my Stage IV as have let it lapse for quite a while, there are a lot of changes that you are not allowed to do anymore, riding without stirrups is one iffy area, round the world, half scissors you also need to be CRB checked for teaching children, and child welfare course (sorry late cant remember exact name).

If you have your own arena you can teach in, you only need insurance to cover you which is more expensive if you are not qualified but anyone can take it out. If you teach anyone on your own horse you need to have a riding school licence. You also need to ensure that if you charge money you are paying business rates to the council for using your arena, nothing is difficult but a lot of people just take insurance ignore the rest, and then invalidate their insurance by not doing the other requirements.

You can do your stage one and two at night school over a year or so.

Best of luck, good instructors are very hard to find and teaching beginners is far more demanding than teaching competant riders, a fact that is very often overlooked by instructors hence the huge gap in the market for these type of instructors.
Click to expand...

Thank you for all that! Excellent information. Will add it to The Game Plan, and Risk Register re. own horses, though I don't suppose many folks would want a lesson on the Dizz.... unless they particularly wanted to work on nappy obstreperous(sp!) mare syndrome lol. I shouldn't be rude about her, she is getting better, just young and a bit stroppy :).

I'm interested in the Stage I and II even if I decide not to teach. There's always so much to learn... It's an interesting comment re. the teaching of the lower levels. I like it when someone Gets It, sitting trot for example - now to many that might seem so basic as to be of no worth, but from it comes so many other things. I wonder if I'd get as much excitement teaching a movement at a much higher level... I guess I would, but as I'm not at that higher level that's academic, for now anyway :D
 
Spudlet said:
I call people hun (and recently, wench - rediscovered that word, love it:p) on here; doesn't mean I behave that way on professional occasions. So not sure that you can judge someone's potential levels of professionalism based on that...:confused:
Click to expand...

Lol, just seen this. Wench always reminds me of buxom ladies in smock dresses...

Was watching a rather top notch instructor the other week, he calls eveyone love... :D. Damn good instructor. No idea as to his riding skills.
 
I'm an instructor, and I say if you can keep your cool through all the stress you've been given on this thread (mostly by text book reading teenagers it seems!) then you would be a great instructor! Look into those exams!

I'm off to bed! Worn out by this forum. Its more like Horse and Pony forum than Horse and Hound tonight! Its not just you getting flack either - loads of threads are squabbling tonight!
 
Honey08 said:
I'm an instructor, and I say if you can keep your cool through all the stress you've been given on this thread (mostly by text book reading teenagers it seems!) then you would be a great instructor! Look into those exams!

I'm off to bed! Worn out by this forum. Its more like Horse and Pony forum than Horse and Hound tonight! Its not just you getting flack either - loads of threads are squabbling tonight!
Click to expand...

Lol, ta hun :). It's certainly been an interesting and informative evening :D

Flack is flying indeed! I swear there's something in the air today... or rather, yesterday now :D

Sweet dreams.
 
With 5 years of lessons, I've never seen my RI on a horse so I have no idea how he rides, it's what he says and does whilst alongside my horse and I that counts (seeing him in his breeches and long boots on a couple of occasions going on from me to a SJ comp though has been enough :D:D, sigh!). Seriously...he is great at sussing out people and their horses...he instinctively understands people and horses - all our combined weaknesses and strengths, madnesses, foibles, limits, what makes both of us tick separately and together, what we can or can't achieve together, when's a good time to stop and when's a good time to push us on to try harder. He's a human being so can read fears, sadness, stress, and work his magic to pull you back up again and ground you in your lesson again. MrsM you are good with people and horses and I think you have many of those qualities...I for one would not need to see you ride to know that :)

Have to go to bed now...will read the full thread tomorrow :)
 
MochaDun said:
With 5 years of lessons, I've never seen my RI on a horse so I have no idea how he rides, it's what he says and does whilst alongside my horse and I that counts (seeing him in his breeches and long boots on a couple of occasions going on from me to a SJ comp though has been enough :D:D, sigh!). Seriously...he is great at sussing out people and their horses...he instinctively understands people and horses - all our combined weaknesses and strengths, madnesses, foibles, limits, what makes both of us tick separately and together, what we can or can't achieve together, when's a good time to stop and when's a good time to push us on to try harder. He's a human being so can read fears, sadness, stress, and work his magic to pull you back up again and ground you in your lesson again. MrsM you are good with people and horses and I think you have many of those qualities...I for one would not need to see you ride to know that :)

Have to go to bed now...will read the full thread tomorrow :)
Click to expand...

Thank you :). I like the sound of your instructor (no comment re. the breeches lol).
 
Right :D

I would like to thank everyone for their input, it's certainly been an interesting and informative evening :D

As discussed, these are ideas and thoughts, nothing is set in stone lol. It's all up to the options re. training and what can be done around my current job, especially as there is quite a bit to what I do and I cannot just drop it, for so many reasons :)

There's been some really good points raised: my back might be an issue and for some reason I hadn't thought of the type of hours, so those two are definately on the Issues and Risk Register, as Issues at the moment, but will see how things go.

I think that as there are more important threads on the go, that I will stop replying on the thread to any new posts, I will pm instead :). Unless of course something obviously needs saying to the world at large :)

So, thank you again, and I hope everyone sleeps well :). I'm orff to close some machines and poke one of them to find out why it's stopped working (don't think D would appreciate being woken up to come and fix it lol). I just hope it hasn't lost anything... *tries to remember when last saved...*
 
Mrs M I'm going to PM you when I get to the office (am on a blackberry atm and don't have all the info I need)

Anyway I might have an idea which would combine your love of horses with your ability to communicate and your computer savviness )if that's a word.

Of course you might think its a rubbish idea, but its something I looked into for me, but at the time was putting in 12 hour days at the 'big' job and also nights and weekends on my own company so just concluded I'd die if I did any more :D

Anyway sorry to be mysterious, just excited I might have thought of a new angle for you (sad person that I am lol)
 
If you are not getting fed up with this thread by now, how about this combination:

Since you have the leather work skills already, how about a made to measure bridle making service with bitting and saddle fitting advice on the side? I have a feeling there is more interest in 'different' bridles than there has ever been before, so you could offer customised options (including bling to the buyers heart's content!) AND the extra value of helping with bitting and sorting out saddle fit in one go.

This would involve some work to set up in terms of learning about bitting and saddle fitting and some investment in machinery (I assume you need a large leather sewing maching but perhaps this kind of thing can be picked up on e-bay?) and leather, but you could set it up at home and see how it went. You could then do it on the side to your regular job and give up the regular job gradually as this took off (or stick with the regular job if this did not take off/was not fun).
 
The woman I want to come and give me lessons doesn't ride. She hasn't for years but her knowledge, the way she explains, and the way you end up knackered after each lesson is just amazing.

Sometimes the best riders do not make the best teachers and vice versa.

I am all for change. In my life I have run plumbing firms worked in publishing, been a PA, was a freelance groom (god I miss those days!). Now I am happy in my job and work but I would love to set up a sort of rescue/ therapy centre. Take on neglected or unwanted animals and then use them to help kids from the inner cities and those leaning towards gangs etc to show them that there is another way and just give them a break from it all. I also want to make sports equipment. I have a couple of cracking designs but not the funding for them... We shall see - one day.
 
Well, I've just spent an hour reading through all that whilst supposed to be working - whoops!! I have the following observations:

To me a good instructor is one who can:
a) communicate clearly
b) empathise
c) motivate (aka kick up the ar*e ;) )
d) deal with difficult customers

I think its safe to say that your conduct on here shows that you have a big tick next to all of those. :D

I have been taught by, and been to clinics with, some of the best riders and competitors in their field. It doesn't make them great teachers (and in some cases they were pretty lousy). Yes, you need to know what you are looking at, and how to correct any faults, but the points listed above are key to doing this successfully.

I don't want my instructor to get on my horse and ride a GP dressage test or school round Badminton (that's my job - yeah right!!) - I want an instructor to teach me.

I think your idea of combining lots of different things is good and one which should provide you flexibility. There is a distinct lack of McTimoney and Bowen practitioners around me (Yorkshire) and I think that this is an area where you would excel - interpersonal skills are critical to this too.

I think that there is a market for people to work with nervous or novice clients, or those having a confidence crisis, in a number of fields including riding instruction, stable management and general 'horse skills'. Your reputation and referrals will be key to this being successful and it may be a slow build up.

You seem to be thinking this all through carefully and I'm sure you'll continue to do so - I wish you luck in whatever you decide. :D

P.S. Never, ever give up saying 'hun' or offering hot chocolate!!
 
MrsMozart, I'm not sure if I've ever replied to any of your threads before, but I've followed some of your trials and tribulations with Dizzy and felt awful for your when I read about your recent injury! I've noticed, however, how warm and friendly you are and that you've taken the time to respond to a few random threads of mine; being a relative "newbie", it was much appreciated.

FWIW - I've seen a few (though certainly not all) of your pics and videos and you look far from "novicey" to me. Even now, the lovely Dizzy looks far from a straightforward animal (not meant to offend in any way), but you have made so much progress with her. I think you have a varied background with horses that will allow you to draw on a variety of resources when it comes to teaching and also the kind of personality that really allows people to progress. When I started riding with my current instructor, about six years ago, I'd had a massive confidence crisis due to one too many nasty falls. I will be eternally grateful to her for her ability to read people, horses and situations: it gave me my confidence back and a lot more besides. I've seen the encouragement you've offered to others on here - I'm sure you could be putting that empathy and understanding to good use.

Finally, just wanted to wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide to do in the future - you deserve it.
 
I have a friend who is an I, she would be the first to admit that she is probably not the worlds best rider, but she IS an amazing instructor, sometimes those that can ride cannot teach and those that don't perhaps ride as well as others make the best teachers.

My own trainer never rides anyone else's horse, she cannot afford to come off as she would lose her income, she does compete her own horses and is a List 1 BD judge, she also is an amazing trainer.

Mrs M, I think you do have to think long and hard, about what you want to do, I left a very high paid job around 10 years ago to work within the equine industry, yes money has been tight at times but I have not regretted it for one single moment.

I have also thought of taking a saddlers course, but it will cost around £10k:eek: and hours of committment, at the moment I am so busy with other stuff that I cannot spare the time.

You are in a good position to keep your existing income going whilst putting your toe in the water, it is your decision but I would follow your dream :)
 
Hey up..

I am very similar to you. I have a good career, have studied hard at Southampton Uni, Imperial College, UCL doing various post grad quals and research and earn well enough but like you I don't LOVE my job. I LOVE being around my horse and generally being on the yard.

I have a fantastic horse which I am just starting to compete. I have had horses since I was able to walk but my parents were always insistent that I get a degree and then make a decision as if all else fails I can always go back to the job I originally trained for (which I agree with) but I've studied, gone back to horses, gone back packing, gone back to horses. I am always back with horses. I used to compete every weekend and at a decent level now I am a bit behind!

I am seriously considering making a change back into horses once I am financially stable enough to give it a go. Please let me know how you get on and what you do as I am definitely thinking along the same lines.

You are never too late to re start your career yet life is too short to spend the largest proportion of your day doing something that's unfulfilling! Decisions decisions!!

Good Luck xx
 
Good god HUN! You owe me a new cup of tea as I started one at the beginning of this thread and its now cold!
I think some people on this thread have made amazing suggestions, others have made valid points in a constructive manner and others appear to have had an overdose of the rude gene for dinner.
I would second the person, whoever it was (its pages back and i've got RSI in my wrist from reading to this point!!), who suggested life coaching.
Maybe its something you could combine with the teaching? I am not a good rider. Fact. BUT do i know how to be a better rider - Yes. Can i do it - no. Why? Because my nerves get in the way. My Evil Army Man instructor is a saint but he freely admits he doesn't know what its like to be so scared you feel sick over something as silly as a 30cm cross pole. That said he can push me further than anyone ever has - potentially because his bum is so lovely in jodphurs I get distracted!! Oh and yes he does get on my horse and i get a lot out of watching him do that - not just from a slightly pervy perspective either!!

My point being there is a market for confidence giving instructors who can also focus on the "confidence" element - which applies to all works of life not just riding (ironically i am the biggest ball breaking b*t*h in my work life so that doesn't apply in my case!!). Maybe the trick isn't to market yourself as an "instructor". I know lots of terrified riders who are happy hackers and therefore would never dream of getting "an instructor" - they don't want to ride better, they want to ride out without weeing themselves with fear. they would however use someone who could help them with their nerves?

i'm off to make a fresh cuppa now. The joys of working from home today!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top