Some life coaching needed please

Kenzo

Kenzo

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Keep talking about a career change but I never do anything about it, every year I plod along doing the same old thing (admin job for an IFA) don't get me wrong its ok, nice people etc, wage isn't brilliant in the job I'm in so a change of career to work somewhere in the horse industry won't make any difference to the crust I earn anyway but at least I'd be doing something I enjoy.

Problem is I'm in a pickle, I can't just chuck in work and go off to college to study for a few years because a) I have a horse to pay for b) plus the usual living expenses, bills/food/car etc.

So do I work on a yard somewhere, take my horse and see if I can pick up qualifications while on a work placement?

Sell my horse (more chance of cutting my left arm off as thsi would break my heart in two) and use the money to pay for my exams, I can always ride either where I work (depending on what sort of job I find) so really I wouldnt need a horse anyway. Plus at least I wouldnt have the financial burden of being a horse 'owner' and I could always buy another in due course in the future.
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Right, so what if I took a part time course? again this would mean packing in a good full time job, finding something to keep me ticking over par time which would be me peanuts, then I still wouldn't be able to afford to go and study part time.

Ok, finally this leaves my weekends, what part time weekend courses are available that will get me a some good half decent equine qualifications that would be desirable enough for someone to employ me?

Finally what do I want to do, well I'm not sure because I know I'd enjoy doing anything with horses, groom/breaking/retail/sales/nutrition anything but then I was not blessed with A levels and 5 GCSE's at grade C and above so does that mean there is no point me even looking at courses because you don't need a diploma to sh*t shovel...because without those qualifications I wouldn't get on a course anyway, or anything worth doing at least?

I've been looking at Bishop Burton's part time courses and I don't know which way to head....or if there is anywhere for me to aim for because I'm not sure what qualifications you need for what job and what jobs are out there. For example the BHS Prep Stage 1 is an 8 week course on weekends...great but then whats a prep course? would I need a prep course when I've been riding and handling horses etc since being a whopper snapper, I've done my HOC 1,2 and 3 and found them a doddle but I only did these for something to do on evenings and I enjoyed going to weekly evening class, but really there not much use are they, there more for your own benefit rather than putting on your CV etc.

As you can see, I need a bit of guidance from the wise...a boot in the right direction, a kick up jacksy, all I do know is I want to do something about it now, I'm 30 and getting older by the second lol, I'm good with horses its in my blood, harding working and I feel like I'm wasted in the job I'm in because my hearts not in it.
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hmmm suggestions on a postcard, cookies & cream for getting this far.
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the weekend courses for bhs stage 1 prep are basically just going through all the prep you need to pass your stage one and for stage one it would just basically be what everything in the grooming kit is used for, how to much out properly tie haynets up etc so you proberbly wouldn't even need it but they are good as you work your way further up your stages etc
 
Do Bishop Burton or another FE college nearby not run evening courses? I know our local Equestrian College does. I would look around and see what you can find.

I would suggest trying to get some initial qualifications in the evening first as that way you you still get paid, get a feel for studying again and maybe get some basic entry qualifcations for a future course in a years time. Now is a good time to look but get your skates on as you don't want to miss out on this years registration for Sept. My local college does the BHS exams in the evening and then also has part/full time options. Just think that way you can look at your different options and then choose the right course etc while you are still earning. There are lots of weekend courses/ week courses you can do over the next year which may help you decide on your future without having to give up everything and commit straight away - and the qualifications may count towards other things.

Hope that makes some sense!! Good luck with it!!
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My friend is doing her BHS exams to be a instructor and is doing it at the same time as working using someone else's horse as she don't have one, so I would say stick to your job and horse and do it on the side. It will be hard work but then that shows your willing to work hard.

Good luck with it
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i would also stick with your job and do your bhs on the side (at least stage 1 and 2, more time will be needed for 3). It will take you longer to qualify this way, and be hard work but if it's what you realy want and your heart is in it then you can do it.

my instructor said for stage 1 i needed no extra training, just a brush up on the management side, ditto for stage 2, plus a bit of jump training.
 
Why don't you try to find a working pupil position that is live in and you can take your horse with you to? There's loads on yardandgroom.com
Tbh I've always found with horsey jobs that people prefer experience over qualifications anyway and if you're doing wp/grooms work then you'll gain the experience along the way to enable you to take things like BHS stages of your own accord. Plus some places will train you towards nvq 2 etc anyway if you did what some form of education/qualification as well.
Horses are obviously your passion and what does GCSE's/A levels etc haev to do with the way you handle a horse etc? Nothing. Hopefully you'll be lucky enough to find an employer who also believes this. A good covering letter highlighting your equine experience will hide the missing qualifications anyway.
Alternatively TOCES do long distance learning courses where you go for residential training too, you don't always need academic quals for that either- perhaps give them a ring?

Hope that helps a little :s
 
Yes well is what I thought, so can you skip stage one and do stage 2 and stage 3? or do you have to do one before the other?

I know things have to be passed the 'BHS way' and its those little things that can slip you up so I know the importance of each stage in that way...we went through all that in the HOC's and making sure you do this before you do that, and state that you have done this, otherwise they fail you etc

But to be honest I would find it really frustrating being taught how to do things and the contents of your grooming box etc and stuff I've been doing since I was little, it would feel like a complete waste of money and bore me to tears, but at the same time I fully appreciate why they do this because the courses are designed for people who have never had a any experience with horses before, so I don't mean that in a bad way but I want to learn something new and intresting, something I can get my teeth into etc.
 
you have to pass stage 1 before you can take stage 2, and before you take stage 3 you have to pass your riding and road safety test. After you have done stage 2 you can take your preliminary teaching test.
 
Arr right ok, thank you, well that fair enough if thats the way its done.

Thank you everyone for you advice/suggestions, much appreciated, I've contacted Bishop Burton just now by email and requested a call back so I can have a chat to someone about the courses they offer on evenings/weekends.

thank you
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I'm 40 this year (aarrrggghhh!!!!) ...at the top of my chosen career so good money/hours etc.......but I really wish I had made a career out of horses, but I was dissuaded by my parents...although to be fair back then there wasn't the variety and opportunites there are now.

Long shot here......if you have equity in your property could you possibly remorgage to finance yourself to do something that will give you a reasonable salary when you qualify, such as being an EDT..... where you could be self-employed and work to suit yourself? Would you OH support you through this knowing that ultimately you wouldhave a good income, hours to suit and a horsey job?

Thats what I would do in your position, pre-kids etc.....
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What is it you want to do with horses?

I think your best bet is to sit down and write down likes/dislikes, strengths/weaknesses etc and look into things you are interested in then take it from there.

The line that my olds always used to discourage me from working with horses (wanted to be groom/RI when I was younger) was to not make your hobby your work. If you're working on a yard (long hours, hard manual work, starting from the bottom) will you have the time/energy to do Mr M before/after work or is there a chance of getting "horse sick"?

Someone suggested EDT, does anything like that appeal? You can do the courses and train while working to fund it and Mr M. What about McTimoney-Corely, Equine Body Worker, Mary Bromiely(sp) massage courses, EDT, saddle fitter? If you google you'll find a heap of things.

I started on the McT-C course (based in Oxford) in 2008 but it was too much with the travelling (8hrs +), 3 horses, FT job and during winter I had no time to do my "homework" theory and practical after doing my naglets so unfortunately had to postpone it. The others in my class have just graduated and they are all doing well.

I've just qualified as a Saddle Company fitter, the only one in Scotland presently, so that's a niche I hope I can take advantage of in due time.

I'm also doing the EBW course so rightly or wrongly I'm leaving my quite minted job in an office to try and set up on my own. I'm lucky that I have a lot of support and peeps willing to take me under their wing, so to speak, and show me the ropes.

I figure it's a way of me to work with horses and earn ok money while still having time/energy/will do do my own horses, although the numbers are reduced to 2 now.

Don't know if this babbling on makes any sense but if any of it does and you want more info on the courses I've looked into just send me a PM
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No that is very helpful advice thank you, I suppose really I have limted knowledge in knowing what is actually out there, so I need to know this before i just dive into any horse course, thing is I'm easily pleased though, its something I've always wanted, its not about the money, its more doing something I feel that I'm good at.

I like working with people and children too (I used to teach years ago on the side to some of the locals in our village they came riding for years so I know they enjoyed it), so I think I have good social skills and do like helping people to so teaching/special needs etc would be something I'd really enjoy.

hmm saddle fitting, that sounds really interesting too, its something I'm quite passionate about (I'm sure I've bored everyone with my saddle fitting posts before).

I'd also love to work in the racing industry too, I think the problem is there is too much I would like to do.
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I guess there are ways you can work indirectly doing all that.

For example, if you were EDT or "back person" then you could try to get work doing racing/comp yards and also give talks at PC/RC and do practical demos. That way you still have you job but you are not restricted to the same thing day in and out and it's a change to mix with other people/children? Just an idea, good luck whatever you decide
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Just to play devil's advocate, are you sure you want to turn your hobby into a career? There are days when I'm having a bad time and I think "sod the money, just go and get a job with horses and enjoy life." But then I realise that the horses are my escape, my de-stressing time, and I would lose that if they became the reason for the stress. I wouldn't enjoy my horse if I was knackered by the time I got to him after working with other people's horses all day. I would also be more stressed about money as working with horses could never pay what I earn now.

If you do decide that's what you want, contact the college and ask if you can speak to a tutor/careers advisor to find out exactly what is available and then you can decide what to do. They should have plenty of people around at this time of year as people are getting exam results and making choices, so now's the time to do it. Is there a possibilty of keeping your job part time and soing something horsey part time? I know a freelance groom who works 3 days a week in Tesco for regular income and does 3 days a week self-employed.
 
Like others have said, I think you need to narrow it down a bit and decide what you DONT want to do.

Yes the idea of being with horses all day long is tempting but a job takes up most of your waking hours and you need to do something that fulfils you. I know you said money isn't important but that doesn't mean you can't aim high.

No-one's mentioned is yet but what about training to be a farrier? Or aromatherapist or something. Where there is a will there is always a way.
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Good luck
 
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