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

I think it sounds like a great idea to consider a mix of different things, since it may be difficult to make a living from one activity alone. It may also help you get more contacts/clients, since you would meet people in different capacities, and if they like you they may use you for other tasks as well?

I do not have any experience of Bowen. Personally I think I would discuss it with a couple of equine vets whether they think it is useful before training. Even better, is there an equine vet clinic in the area you know well and that you could potentially work with and get referrals from? As a horse owner my personal preference is to use therapists that come recommended either through my vet or my YO.

Do you have a good contact network at local yards? If not, that might be something to try to build up alongside the training.

Did you think saddle fitting may fit with bowen and your previous saddlery experience?

Stable management - perhaps this could be combined with being a part time groom if your clients go on holiday or need additional support.

For any of the above I guess location is very important - is there an unmet need for these activities where you live? For example - is there a riding school or college that already offers stable management courses?

Regarding riding instruction, do you think it may be hard to get clients if you would only aim at beginners? Perhaps it would be easier to get a PT job at a riding school teaching beginners, than as a freelance instructors. Personally if I were looking for an instructor to teach kids/beginners, I might still look for someone with a high level of riding ability who would also teach at a more advanced level, simply because there are so many instructors to pick from that I might as well. Also, I think that if people don't mind whether their instructor can do more advanced training, they often just ask another rider at their yard to help them - for free.

And, to be honest, I would be a bit hesitant having had a look at the ridden pictures in your signature. (It may be just the angle of the photos, and I am by no means an expert, but in the ridden pictures your horse's head appears tucked in towards the chest with the nose behind the vertical, and in the second one your leg appears quite forward.) Please don't be offended, but if it puts me off it could put other potential clients off as well...

That being said - I don't know you, so I can't really say. And, I am sure you could find training to complement the strengths you already have. Good luck and let us know how you get on :-)
 
touchstone said:
I am a huge believer in following your heart, you will always live to regret it if you don't, whatever the outcome; you don't want to live with 'what iff's' and 'buts'.

There is a saying that I find true, than when you do what you love it isn't work.Every day should be a pleasure, not a drudge and often when you are doing something that you love and enjoy the income flows in anyway, because you have the passion and dedication to keep going, whereas doing something because you 'have' to affects the quality of the rest of your life.

Even if you aren't at that level yet, working towards a target is no bad thing, and to be honest a good teacher is far more about connecting with others than ability alone.

I say go for it and enjoy, and I wish you every success!
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I like the thinking... Hm. I think you're right. Will see what happens when I finish The Game Plan today - I think that it will be a good way of seeing what makes my heart sing :)

I firmly believe in your comments re. ability to connect. I may well not be the best rider around (roflmao), but I know what I should be doing. Does that make sense? Certainly at the level I'm considering :)

Thank you. Very helpful :)
 
rosiefronfelen said:
MrsM, hopefully you will get better after your horrendous accident and be motivated again- but its funny how when i said i was disabled, in a chair, unable to do sod all- i was accused of playing the sympathy game!(which i wasnt!!) but you will get better eventually, but i suppose that is down to me being bitter and twisted, as i was told- anyway, good luck in whatever you wish to achieveand i hope your dreams come true.
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Thank you :D. I felt pins and needles in my feet yesterday. Not good. A bit worrying. Ho hum. Hm. But a bad night followed by an iffy but better day (if that makes sense!). I hope your dreams come true as well hun. Sorry, don't mean for that to sound trite, hopefully you understand. Hugs.
 
Izzwizz said:
Ooooh your the same age as me! I dont feel so bad about comtemplating/doing my change of career now. OH was worried I was going through some kind of crisis packing in a decently paid job. He wasnt the one in tears at 4pm each day telling my manager why we hadnt got any sales leads for Loans and Credit cards. I just couldnt do what I didnt believe in, in the way they wanted us to anymore. Im much happier now and my horses always have clean rugs lol!!

Good luck in whatever you decide to do. x
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Well done! :D. I hope it does well and that you are happy and content :D
 
eahotson said:
Well while I wouldn't want to do a job I really didn't like, not having money or worrying about it all isn't fun either.If you like teaching why not train as a teacher, infants, primary or whatever appeals.You won't have quite the same freedom as someone who is self employed but its something that can be done anywhere in the country, full time or part time.Hours and holidays are not bad although I appreciate that teachers days don't end at 4 pm.
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Good suggestion :). I have lectured in my profession and am qualified to do so :), which I do enjoy, but other than teaching D1 and D2, I do not have the drive to teach a class full of children :) Other than maybe starting a small school... hm, now there's a thought lol :)

Your post has got me thinking though, so thank you :D
 
I agree that connection and empathy is super important for teaching beginners by the way. If you can get clients through word of mouth as a nice, confidence-giving reliable instructor for beginners that might be a quicker way to build a client base than trying to advertise, I can imagine it being pretty competitive some places in the country where there are lot and lots of instructors with BHS qualifications/high level competition results/famous family names/glossy yards etc etc to pick from :-)
 
eahotson said:
Well while I wouldn't want to do a job I really didn't like, not having money or worrying about it all isn't fun either.If you like teaching why not train as a teacher, infants, primary or whatever appeals.You won't have quite the same freedom as someone who is self employed but its something that can be done anywhere in the country, full time or part time.Hours and holidays are not bad although I appreciate that teachers days don't end at 4 pm.
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Unfortunately it isn't the case that you can teach anywhere. Not just because people are staying put because of the recession - graduates are finding it very difficult to get even a temporary job in many areas. But if you want to teach in Wales you need to be able to speak welsh and if you want to teach in Scotland you have to have a certificate to do so. TBH I would be very wary of advising any-one aged 47, no matter what their previous qualifications, to train to teach. I know a few people who have trained as very mature students and have been unable to find any kind of permanent job. It is also an extremely stressful job, no matter how much you like children and teaching.
 
_CJ_ said:
I think it sounds like a great idea to consider a mix of different things, since it may be difficult to make a living from one activity alone. It may also help you get more contacts/clients, since you would meet people in different capacities, and if they like you they may use you for other tasks as well?

I do not have any experience of Bowen. Personally I think I would discuss it with a couple of equine vets whether they think it is useful before training. Even better, is there an equine vet clinic in the area you know well and that you could potentially work with and get referrals from? As a horse owner my personal preference is to use therapists that come recommended either through my vet or my YO.

Do you have a good contact network at local yards? If not, that might be something to try to build up alongside the training.

Did you think saddle fitting may fit with bowen and your previous saddlery experience?

Stable management - perhaps this could be combined with being a part time groom if your clients go on holiday or need additional support.

For any of the above I guess location is very important - is there an unmet need for these activities where you live? For example - is there a riding school or college that already offers stable management courses?

Regarding riding instruction, do you think it may be hard to get clients if you would only aim at beginners? Perhaps it would be easier to get a PT job at a riding school teaching beginners, than as a freelance instructors. Personally if I were looking for an instructor to teach kids/beginners, I might still look for someone with a high level of riding ability who would also teach at a more advanced level, simply because there are so many instructors to pick from that I might as well. Also, I think that if people don't mind whether their instructor can do more advanced training, they often just ask another rider at their yard to help them - for free.

And, to be honest, I would be a bit hesitant having had a look at the ridden pictures in your signature. (It may be just the angle of the photos, and I am by no means an expert, but in the ridden pictures your horse's head appears tucked in towards the chest with the nose behind the vertical, and in the second one your leg appears quite forward.) Please don't be offended, but if it puts me off it could put other potential clients off as well...

That being said - I don't know you, so I can't really say. And, I am sure you could find training to complement the strengths you already have. Good luck and let us know how you get on :-)
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Thank you for the thoughts and views :). I think a mix would be the best as I like variety and am interested in the interaction between horse/saddle/rider. Not at all offended re. your comments :). Dizz is a pain to get her head where it should be :D. She's young and a bit daft and seems to think that her chest is to rest her chin on :D. It's been the subject of comments before now lol. She is getting better :D. Not sure which picture, the first ridden one isn't me, though I'm guessing you mean the second one? It may well be in the wrong place, I think we were mooching about or standing still at that stage; I note and appreciate your comment, but I wouldn't take it as a sign of my abilities :D. Dizz is not the easiest of horses to ride (hence her name, The Dizzy Blonde - used to spin and make me dizzy lol), so it used to be a plus that I was still one top and that it wasn't the other way round lol :D. If you saw a schooling session - well, let's just say it depends on what mood she's in :D
 
_CJ_ said:
I agree that connection and empathy is super important for teaching beginners by the way. If you can get clients through word of mouth as a nice, confidence-giving reliable instructor for beginners that might be a quicker way to build a client base than trying to advertise, I can imagine it being pretty competitive some places in the country where there are lot and lots of instructors with BHS qualifications/high level competition results/famous family names/glossy yards etc etc to pick from :-)
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Yes, I think it would be a case of slowly slowly catchy monkey :).

I can still do what I'm doing now, just cut it down to maybe three months of the year; or just do pure consultation contracts (short term but extremely good day rate) - they come up less often, but with a bit more effort on the networking front they should be do-able. Also Scotsmare's suggestions re. teaching what I already work in - a few weeks of those would tide us over nicely :D
 
Hope I've replied to everyone!

Thank you for all your input :D. Has given me a lot to think about, re-affirmed some of what I'd thought of, and given me new ideas and points to consider :D

*wobbles off to order Indian and contemplate Life*

Hot choccies to all of course, with all the trimmings :D
 
I was only going to add, that I think you work in procurement (but could be very very wrong - sorry if so) - but I think (with a boss who specialises in procurement) you could easily do "portfolio working" - and gradually build up the horsey side whether teaching/saddle fitting.

I do know (and this is going back 15 years) my non-horsey parents who foolishly bought me a pony would have loved someone to give unbiased advice on an ad-hoc basis - the type of thing where you pay a small subscription and have the right to call up and ask stupid questions from someone who is experienced in the stuff riding schools don't tend to teach well.
 
SusieT = Negative!!:D

Strike you down for considering you may be knowledgable enough to teach riding and god forbid you try to teach stable managment!:)

Any area people consider going into usually requires a learning curve, and enthusiasm and positive attitude goes a long way to being succesfull in any career path you choose to take.

Go for it i say, maybe spend some time shadowing some therapists in different therapys, saddle fitters and instructors etc. might help push you down the right road!

Good luck
 
rachel_s said:
I was only going to add, that I think you work in procurement (but could be very very wrong - sorry if so) - but I think (with a boss who specialises in procurement) you could easily do "portfolio working" - and gradually build up the horsey side whether teaching/saddle fitting.

I do know (and this is going back 15 years) my non-horsey parents who foolishly bought me a pony would have loved someone to give unbiased advice on an ad-hoc basis - the type of thing where you pay a small subscription and have the right to call up and ask stupid questions from someone who is experienced in the stuff riding schools don't tend to teach well.
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Yup, that's me :D. I have considered widening the portfolio side, rather than the being on contract. Hm. Will review (my Game Plan is growing by the minute lol). Thank you :D

I like your idea. Hm. Yes. Will add that as well! :D
 
MrsM, in response to SusieT's doubts, it is worth mentioning that the general rule seems to be in several walks of life, that if you are not good at actually doing something, you will do just fine at teaching it :D;)
Disclaimer - above is intended as a joke, by no means implying anything about your horse skills.
Now seriously: go for it, by all means do loads of research if you must ;), but don't overthink, just go for it. I've done it, ditched everything and moved to UK to work with horses, somehow, it's working out fine:)
 
martlin said:
MrsM, in response to SusieT's doubts, it is worth mentioning that the general rule seems to be in several walks of life, that if you are not good at actually doing something, you will do just fine at teaching it :D;)
Disclaimer - above is intended as a joke, by no means implying anything about your horse skills.
Now seriously: go for it, by all means do loads of research if you must ;), but don't overthink, just go for it. I've done it, ditched everything and moved to UK to work with horses, somehow, it's working out fine:)
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Lol, in that case hun, I'll be just grand at it :D :D :D. If it were just me, then I'd take a swing at it, but I have dependents (family, four leggededs, business) to consider and plan for..., so will take is slowly (not to say I won't have a mad fit of 'leap of faith' at some point :D:eek::D).
 
Mrs M, where there's a will there's a way. Allthough not quite in your situation, I went back to working with horses last year after 30 years in Finance administration. The pay is rubbish, you are out in all weathers, and the hours are long sometimes but I am a stone lighter, am fitter and happier than I ever was working for corporate business.

You get used to less money, I am still able to keep my horses and I am only a few years older than you.......... Go for it!

p.s I do have a very supportive husband :-)
 
MrsMozart said:
I don't particularly 'love' my job, though I have worked in some fascinating and amazing places and met some brilliant people. The more it goes on, the less I like it though :(

Here's the 'am I completely mad' bit...

I would like to do something else.

I am good at teaching, at getting people to understand things, so have contemplated teaching riding, for the lower levels (I have changed instructors over the past as I have got 'better' lol).

I am interested in saddles and fittings.

I like the idea of Bowen treatment.

Hm.

I need to keep doing what I am doing for a while, until the other things we are doing take off(!), and I'm fine with that.

Oh ignore me. I probably just need shooting :D

Forgot to say: I get paid a lot for what I do at the moment, but I've been working some figures and it is possible, so long as we sell here and don't go mad buying somewhere else :D
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Mrs M, life is far too short not to have a career change if that's what you want. ;) I don't know anybody who has done it and regretted it - and I know a few who have said it is the best thing they ever did. Me included.

There is a Baz Lurhman song called suncreen, with lyrics which I particularly love at the moment, and seem very apt to quote you.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your
Life.
The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don't.
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You seem like you've got things worked out with regards to your finances. Please, do go for it, if you don't you'll always wonder, and if it doesn't work out you've got a previous career to fall back on :)
 
TicTac said:
Mrs M, where there's a will there's a way. Allthough not quite in your situation, I went back to working with horses last year after 30 years in Finance administration. The pay is rubbish, you are out in all weathers, and the hours are long sometimes but I am a stone lighter, am fitter and happier than I ever was working for corporate business.

You get used to less money, I am still able to keep my horses and I am only a few years older than you.......... Go for it!

p.s I do have a very supportive husband :-)
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Yup. That's what I want. That happiness again :D

D is supporting :D. He's already figuring out what and how, etc. :D.

I will keep doing what I'm doing until such time as other things mean I can step back. I might not give it up completely. I'm working on that one :D :D
 
Naturally said:
Mrs M, life is far too short not to have a career change if that's what you want. ;) I don't know anybody who has done it and regretted it - and I know a few who have said it is the best thing they ever did. Me included.

There is a Baz Lurhman song called suncreen, with lyrics which I particularly love at the moment, and seem very apt to quote you.



You seem like you've got things worked out with regards to your finances. Please, do go for it, if you don't you'll always wonder, and if it doesn't work out you've got a previous career to fall back on :)
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Thank you :D. I love the words :D. I've done a fair few things in my life - it's been varied lol, but I do have this profession to go back to... I'm wondering whether this branching into other things will rekindle my interest in what I do now.... I'm good at it, well qualified in it (though could go higher, a PhD maybe?), lots of experience, and there is a fair bit of demand - and I do really like some parts of it... Right! It's all going into The Game Plan :D

Thank you hun :D
 
Ah, tis very sad he is broken :( but you are doing the best for LC, giving him everything he needs, you are a fab horsey mummy!

I might have to drag you to London one day... *forms evil plan* :D
 
I think you should go for the teaching. You speak really well and I think on Sunday when you came over to chat in the collecting ring it really helped me to keep calm and focused before my xc run. :o

There will always be people that think you can't do things and the ones that will say so. You can do anything you choose to do. Its all about having the ability to apply yourself which you must be able to do to hold down your current role.

Go for it. x
 
TG - lol. Have you posted today's report yet?

MM - you did grand hun! You looked calm and were keeping your lad cool (who is beutiful by the way, but you know that lol). It was lovely to watch you ride up that hill, very neat indeed. Thank you :)
 
I would seriously think about teaching! I'm currently training for my A test then a PTT and I love everything I'm doing! I helped teach at two different PC camps this year and I'm always following my instructor around when I'm not competing picking up tips, and she even lets me teach some people for a bit. I'm also going to uni next year to do my teaching certificate as I want to be a primary school teacher :D

Its seriously so much fun and it just feels so good when you see an individual improving :D If your interested in it perhaps you could follow your instructor around and see if it may be something that interests you.

Another way to go into it is by doing a coaching certificate which only takes about 6months to a year to train for and is a lot cheaper then doing BHS stages than a PTT.

Good luck with whatever you do and if you go into teaching I hope you have lots of fun doing it.
 
Mrs M go for it once you have done your sums and worked out what it is your hankering after, I left my chosen career after years of training and working my way up from a waitress to head chef. I worked, did inhouse training and did the college bit whilst bringing up my son and keeping house. I did split shifts and getting home past 12am most nights only to be back in again at 9.45am, yes the money was good and the perks were nice a free hotel holiday once a year etc.
But after 10 years I decided I would rather have less money and control my job rather than the job control me, so one day I walked out and never looked back. I now have several p/t jobs and have never been happier.
 
I must admit, I was a bit surprised by your OP. Based on the posts I have read (which won't be all of them!) you seem to position yourself on here as someone who has fun with horses but is generally quite novice riding wise. I have really enjoyed reading about your achievements starting to jump again, for example- you have done brilliantly and it is a pleasure to follow your progress.

Yes, of course there will be people out there who would really benefit from your riding knowledge and teaching ability but I think you need to consider a) how many of such people will actually own their own horse (and therefore potentially need one provided) and, b) if you did find such clients, how long before they would need someone with more experience?

You are a lovely lady Mrs Mozart and I hate to be pessimistic but I think you need think very carefully about who your market would be, and how you would compete with existing instructors who have more experience.
 
Do what makes you happy Mrs M - you only live once!

If you ever head over to S.Wales you can give me a lesson as I could definately do with the confidence (and the hot choccy)! ;)
 
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