I put a thread on about gap year experience ... I also meant to ask about careers - in case we are talking about not just a gap year !

[ginorwine]

Anyone knowledgable about equine related jobs . ?? Courses etc ?
It's been sprung on us that dd may not go to uni after all and we need to thknk about things quite quickly ..... intrnet good but advice and Pointers invaluable
Thanks

Which area of equine work?

She has exierince in
Competing - jump dressage cross country
Correction of bad habits posture etc
Exercise
Schooling
Dressage
All stable work and tack care
She isn't sure
But prefers the company and work with horses rather than competition or limelight
Eg we had a pony with a muscle problem she spent hour s doing appropriate carrot stretches with her
It s the creature s that she loves most

Other ta that we just don't know enough about what is on offer / opportunities
She did want to do equine degree but I put her off as I thought that there wdnt be jobs and said he a job and do horses in soars time

Feel bad now

Ants Hill & Ants Nest are riding safari properties in South Africa which have employed gap year students in the past to help with the horses.

Did you mean work there ? We cdnt afford to be a customer ..

Yes, I mean her work there. She could contact them now & then get a job here to save up for the air fare once she's finished her exams. Could she get a paid job at a local stables for the summer/autumn? Their high season is over the winter I think so she might be able to work there from November until the summer. If she wants to reapply through UCAS once she has her grades in August she can send off the forms at the start of the autumn & then just check Track by internet.

Their minimum age is 21 though and it says they're usually booked up 18 months in advance .,,

Sorry about that - we've only been as clients & really enjoyed it.

I wouldn't do an equine degree initially. Depending on her level of riding and experience of equine care (was it helping at a school? Owning a horse? Loaning? What type/range of horses has she looked after?) she might need to do a college course initially. I'd aim for the BHS stage 1or 2 to give her a real proven level, then look for work.

A girl I know had no formal qualifications (but had worked on her parent's yard and evented to novice) ended up working for a top eventer, then moving onto another top rider, even ended up attending the Olympics in London as a groom. Having ridden, fittened and helped prepare top level horses she now does a lot of training for people. She's probably gone further through hard work than any college person I know.

Places still do working pupils don't they?

If she wants to get her best levels, that would be an option, they live on the yard, with other working pupils, work and have lessons and riding lessons. You can work and qualify to as higher level as you want to go (or as high as the yard can take you)

Would that be of use?

*BHS not best

Yes to last two posts
I've been looking at yard vacancies today
She has owned
Loaned
Worked on a very good dressage yard
And has helped students from local equine collage but nothing formal
.. thankyou

www.yardandgroom.com/Job/United-Kingdom/Devon/Working-Pupil-Groom-Needed-For-Eventing-Team-And-Stud-Farm/111844

There are loads of similar jobs listed.

lisakeyseventing.co.uk/job-vacancies/

Time
Thanks v much !

m.malvernridingschool.co/BHS-Working-Pupil-Scheme.html

I'll stop now

PS, I think you're right about doing a different degree and having a horse in your own time. I worked with horses for a few years but it quickly became a job not a hobby. I went on to uni, did languages and hardly even rode for a decade. Finally I got a decent paying job, bought a house and got a nice horse of my own. I still teach occasionally, but horses are my hobby again.

Also, while being a working pupil is the best way to learn, be very eyes open about what the terms are. There are good and bad.

There is quite a lot of information on working with horses here:
britishgrooms.org.uk

My opinion is that equine studies degrees are not worth the paper they are written on and she'd be better off working with horses straight away. There are a number of career paths open to her. Being a groom doesn't pay that well, but working her way to being a competition groom might be a better option. She could also become an instructor and see if a combination on teaching and grooming would suit her.

Alternatively she could go for a related career, e.g, equine nutritionist, veterinary nurse, farrier, equine dentist, equine behaviorist.

If she is unsure what to do there are a lot of short term opportunities to work with horses around the world. A friend went to Argentina to work on a polo ranch for a year and has been there for more than a decade now. Yard and Groom has a lot of adverts, Work Away might be another option.

Give Wellington Riding a call. They offer apprenticeships to 16-19 year olds - 1 year residential to complete BHSAI - if she gains that qualification then she can work anywhere in the world. They are also sub-letting a small yard in their premises to someone to practice rehab. Their facilities are amazing. I can highly recommend as I was a working pupil back in 1988! Fab place and fond memories. My daughter is keen to go when she's 18....
Do look them up on the Internet...

Thankyou all -
You are very kind . !!

Agree with Booboo about equine degrees.

Has she considered becoming a veterinary nurse at an equine hospital - I am not sure what qualification are required, perhaps get in touch with your nearest hospital and ask to speak to someone, they are usually very helpful. The ones at the hospital my horse goes to are very helpful and knowledgeable, but it can be a stressful job - being on the team of 9 as part of a colic operation for example.

Perhaps also worth considering equine chiropractic as a degree/masters choice? McTimoney have a great reputation.