EQUUS EDUCATION

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Added Benefits
2007-03-18 12:27:00
I'm one of those people that jumps more at opportunities to work in an area I'm not familiar with but want to be, rather than looking for the security of decent pay, good hours, etc. For now, anyway.However, other things that you can get out of a job are really worth looking into, especially if you've been in an industry for say twelve months, have gained some decent experience and are getting to know people in that industry.For example, currently I'm working at two riding schools with the view to become qualified to teach. Technically, I entered the field blindly, knowing nothing about the rate of pay I should expect, hours or even where to look. I just chose schools that were close to home for convenience and sent out letters to see if any were looking for workers. Now, of the four letters I sent, I got two replies (50%, not a bad strikerate for job searching!) and took on both jobs as it was experience.In hindsight I realise how blessed I am to have gotten the two positio...
More About: Bene , Benefits , Benefit

Online Equine Library
2007-03-11 13:54:00
Boy am I having fun playing rather than behaving and heading off to bed. Have been strolling through horse sites/blogs and found one that listed horse related books that the person owned/had read and out of curiosity clicked on the link.This lead me to Libra ry thing.com - a site where you can build an online catalog of all the books you have, drawing information from the likes of Amazon.com. Now, as someone who has recently posted about building up my horse related library, this was totally appealing! Curious to know what I've got in my library? Check out the search I have placed on the right hand column of this page a bit further down. Example, type in the word 'polo' and see what happens... totally cool!:DYou can also have on your blog/site a random show of books in your library like so:"You Know You're A Horse Person When... ...on rainy days, you organize the tack room, not the house. "
More About: Online , Line

I've been published!
2007-03-08 11:12:00
Sorry, no massively insightful piece tonight, just me jumping for joy cause two of my horse related pieces have been published online! Check out http://www.ridersnreapers.com/ and look for the pieces by Christine Thomas. And feel free to check out the others!"You Know You're A Horse Person When... ...someone asks for a screwdriver and you hand them a hoof pick."
More About: Published , Been

Horse Networking
2007-03-05 09:11:00
So I went along to a thoroughbred sale today as I had the day off and wanted to catch up with mates from TAFE. It's a great way to keep in touch with those in an industry that I aim to stay a part of, even when I take short breaks from it.It's also a great way for someone to get their foot in the door in a particular industry. If you're frequenting events, you're getting your face known and hopefully getting to know others and how they are placed in the industry.Horse sales can be a great way to get to know who provides a service, sells horses; who is looking to buy horses and race them; who provides transport for horses to and from sales, etc. If you're interested in getting into the Thoroughbred industry, keep on top of when sales are and attend some. So much in relation to employment in this industry is who you know, rather than what. That can be in your favour as long as who you know, is aware of your dedication to the industry.So maybe Thoroughbreds aren't your scene...
More About: Networking , King , Working , Workin

For Me
2007-03-02 10:59:00
If you can't get something out of your own blog, what is the world coming to? So I have a huge obsession with books - namely, horse books. Surprised? I know - of course not!Currently I have around 70 horse books in my collection - this is discluding all my magazines and catalogues from horse sales. I have been telling myself for the past 18 months that I won't buy any more until I've read all the ones I've got, but it just ain't gonna happen! I love purchasing horse books. Once I've got my property established, one of my dreams is to have a library with books from all over, about anything horse related!So I have a request for anyone who reads this post:- Help me to grow this collection of books- Help me to establish a library that contains fiction books for all ages; non fiction books on any and every discipline, health issues, nutrition, breeding or anything else horsey!How? Easy, send me an email or reply to this post with the title and/or author of a book that you ha...

Flying Horses
2007-02-24 05:11:00
Finally found my information relating to flying with horses! As someone who is eager to travel often, it was pointed out that sometimes it's possible to find your way to your desired country while fulfilling the requirements for another job.Example: Wanting to work in England for the Thoroughbred Breeding Season. Why not fly over with stallions that are shuttling from Australia's just finished season to England for the upcoming season? There can definitely be benefits from working in an industry that follows seasons and is prevalent in both hemispheres.Although I haven't done this, I was curious to find out what might be involved in being qualified to travel via air with equines.Two main sites of interest for this may be the Animal Transportation Associate and International Racehorse Transport. AATA actually has information regarding being accepted as an AATA Animal Attendant. Check out http://www.aata-animaltransport.org/asses sment/criteria.htm.My only dilemma in regards to...
More About: Flying , Horses , Lying , Horse

Writing About Your Passion
2007-02-20 22:47:00
My mum sent me a link to a website that was looking for writers who could provide pieces based on farm/ranch life. As someone who has spent the most of her short working life on a stud farm and loves to write, this seemed very appealing. The site I visited was Ridersnreapers.com - a Christian website aimed at sharing "stories of life on the farm or ranch… Stories that make us long for moments away from the hamster wheel that most of us feel like we're on."So after reading at the bottom of their page what they were looking for and reading over a few pieces from the recent online publication, I decided to e-mail a story based on a night of foal watch at work to see if it was the sort of works they might be looking for. I was rapt when I received a prompt reply telling me the piece would be used in the next publication. So this and another I have sent along to be used on their site. The next edition where my pieces will be shown will be up from March. Currently there are piece...
More About: Writing , Passion , Pass , Sion , Passi

The Law and Horses - Mounted Police
2007-01-28 12:01:01
One of my friends a couple of years back managed to get her year ten work experience at the Mounted Poli ce of Victoria, Australia. She thoroughly enjoyed herself, getting to do general stable duties with the horses and also view the sort of training that the animals and riders went through. If you have an interest in policing and the law and love your horses, perhaps this line of a career is worth investigating? I believe you have to be at a certain rank as a police officer before being able to focus on the specialised area of the mounted police. Ranking works from Constable to Senior and Leading Senior Constable, Sergeant, Senior Sergeant and all the way up to Chief Commissioner. http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp? Document_ID=5 has information on a career as a Police Officer with links on policing as a career, the role of the police officer, being prepared before applying, career opportunities and more. Some helpful links: http://www.policensw.com/info/gen/u7.html - mounte...
More About: Horses , Horse , The Law

Small Mercies
2007-01-26 23:59:01
It seems funny to me that making someone even more unsure than me feel comfortable feels better than focusing on someone with so much more experience who is giving me information. Started a new job today and things seemed to go pretty well and although I wasn't in my comfort zone, it was easy to spot that I wasn't the only one and although not totally secure in my new job, it didn't take much effort to make another in the same situation feel more comfortable (and it made me feel better). Small mercy. For those of you out there considering the whole instructing path, can I encourage you to have at least one place lined up where you are able to gain a lot of experience, over varied situations. (I'm to be working at two which I think will be interesting for contrast reasons and to help learn as much as possible for running my own place). The best way to do this initially may be to save up a lot of money before focusing on gaining a new qualification especially if you will be doing...
More About: Mall , Merc

Rude Awakening
2007-01-26 23:59:01
Know when you get told something and it's a given that it's for your own good, but you're not keen on hearing it anyway? Had one of those moments not too long ago. So I've finished the breeding season with Thoroughbreds and with its end, have moved from work back to the parents place for the next five months or so with the view to get work in a riding school and achieve my Level 1 in instructing. It was a given the horse work wasn't going to be a problem - I've worked with and studied them for the past four years.... and on the ground am happy, confident and capable. In the saddle, I'm happy on my own horse and any other that behaves... Anyone spot the problem I may have with becoming an instructor? Then again, they say if you can't do it, teach it. So my riding I thought may be the area I most needed to work on and it was pointed out in an interview not too long ago that this is definitely the case and perhaps at this point in time I'm biting off more than I can ch...
More About: Wake , Rude , Rude Awakening , Awake , Awakening

Grubby kids, chubby ponies.
2007-01-26 23:59:01
Nearly time for the change! I have three weeks left at work and was home at the parents place this weekend with an interview lined up at a riding school. All sounds good! So the plan is as of January 2007, to be training towards my Level 1 instructor's licence. Brilliant! Was hoping for full time work as am used to twelve days a fortnight of work, each around ten hour days... Now this one is generally going to be weekend work, maybe a weekday here and there... but not enough to keep me busy; even if it will be days full of grubby kids on chubby ponies! So am standing in faith waiting on another job possibility that can fill in my week days, still be about working with horses and earn me a reasonable income. Big ask? You bet! All things are possible, though. Have been thinking lately about doing a massage course in relation to horses, so once I've done a bit of research, will add a post about this and possible places to do so; although for now the focus should be just the L...
More About: Kids , Ponies

Welcome Helping Hand in the Thoroughbred Industry
2007-01-26 23:59:01
I've been flicking through a manilla folder I've got with numerous sheets on possible horse courses, careers, job possibilities and holiday ideas and stumbled across my Darley Flying Start application form. I've long since realised that the course isn't for me as I am not Thor oughbred industry focused, but for anyone who's dream is to work in this industry (training, breeding, riding, racing, whatever) I encourage you to take a look at the Flying Start course. It is a relatively new course but very popular as it runs over two years and covers the likes of stud management, horsemanship, veterinary topics, nutrition, farriery, pedigree analysis, management, information technology, legal topics, insurance, marketing and advertising, the horse business, enterprise development and first aid. Visits are made to studs, training yards, sales complexes, racecourses, veterinary hospitals and research facilities. The course itself is held in peak racing countries and the students travel...
More About: Industry , Welcome , Come , Hand

Polo Fanatic?
2007-01-26 23:59:01
Or perhaps you have the potential to be one? I believe I do. Almost anything relating to horses appeals to me and after catching some docos on polo on television and even being along to a polocrosse match, the two sports suddenly had quite an appeal. And of course, anything with horses that can be used as an excuse to travel is good in my books! Hence my interest in http://www.alejandropolo.com/. Alejandro's Argentina Polo Experience looks like a brilliant way to improve on the game or even learn the basics while being on a property that has the facilities and horses that allow you to do exactly that! The property offers other activities and facilities for the times when you may need a break out of the saddle - swimming pool, carriage driving, golf - or even just a change of scene with cattle round up programs. And on a gorgeous property with a comfortable and stylish looking place to live out your stay, it looks very appealing for even couples where only one half is polo crazy....

Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch
2006-04-23 14:00:00
Currently, the most rewarding thing about horses is the fact that you will always learn about them.It's impossible to know everything about them. I hope that in the future, the most rewarding thing for me will be teaching others all I have learnt and am learning about this gorgeous animal and nursing back to health neglected equines.There are so many people that own and work with horses that have a terrible ignorance and it almost seems that we should have a license to be able to work with or own any animal. Some are so badly neglected, I'm always asking if the person that let them get in that state meant well, but just didn't know enough. It appears to be the same way with children at times, too.Crystal Peak s Youth Ranch is a property run by Kim Meeder and her husband Troy. The pair work together to influence abused and neglected children while at the same time nursing back to health horses in the same condition. Thanks to an ever alert mother, I was given a copy of Kim's ...

Certificate II in Horse Studies
2006-04-17 17:16:00
It all begins here... So the earliest I discovered that I could actually start 'studying' horses at school, was in year ten (third last year of highschool in Australia, was 16 at the time) through the joys of work experience.Only for a period of two weeks, looking back now it seems hardly enough time but I am glad over the course of my last three years of high school, I was able to complete three lots of work experience - at a small racing stable/stud, riding school and a stable at Caulfield Racecourse.Rather than dissuade me from the not so kind hours and manual labour, this only fuelled the want to get the rest of school out of the way and work with horses.Fortunately, in between the school I attended had just recently offered the chance to study horses (Cert ificate II in Horse Studies ) as part of your VCE subjects and so over my second last year of school, I was able to actually do one of my chosen subjects as horses, at the end of it having a Certificate II and a little more ...
More About: Cate , Dies

Stud Work, TBs
2006-04-12 23:03:00
Joys of the Thoroughbred Industry.Planning on working with horses? Want to run your own property? Experience wise, you couldn't go past spending a season or three in the stud side of the racing industry. Pay wise - Thoroughbreds are your best bet for a half decent income when it comes to working with horses.For the past twelve months I have been out in the 'real world', working - finally! Before coming to Ireland to study, I spent my days in a small town called Euroa, in Victoria, Australia that seems to house about a dozen studs - I worked at three over this duration.As someone who wants to breed thoroughbreds for a hobby and run my own horse property, working on a stud is the best way to go about gaining experience. During the breeding season (August - December in Australia) you get practise at handling mares for service, handling stallions, horses for the farrier, treatments for horses (oral and injections), bandaging, foaling down mares, feeding horses and general stable work...
More About: Work

Volunteer With Horses
2006-04-11 21:59:00
So you know the cheapest way to get extra horse experience? Can't quite remember how I found out about it, but I'll almost do anything to have myself working with horses. So, when I found out about Riding for the Disabled and the fact that they are always looking for volunteers, I thought - why not?One Saturday every two weeks for about a two year period, I joined up with other volunteers at Riding for the Disabled of Australia in Moorabbin, Victoria to help out with grooming ponies, feeding, tacking up and leading young riders around an arena, over and around obstacles and on 'trail rides'.RDA is really a great cause and what better way to get extra hands on with horses, and be able to help out at the same time? An added bonus if you'd like, this would look excellent on the resume but just helping out was reward enough.As someone who wants to eventually run my own agistment property and riding school, it was a great eye opener and an invaluable experience."In riding a horse we...
More About: Horses , Volunteer , Horse

Ireland and Horses
2006-04-09 13:43:00
So I love horses, and I love the idea of travelling; but travelling isn't cheap. One thing that's so appealing about these animals though, is that you can work with them almost anywhere around the world.Ireland has always been a dream of mine as a place to visit and has been made possible thanks to horses.If you love working with horses and have a desire to travel, I strongly recommend you do so! The cheats way to do it without it costing too much, I believe is working holidays or attending an equine related course.Currently, I'm studying at the Irish National Stud and am thoroughly enjoying myself, having come to another country to work with horses in an environment where I am learning daily, doing something I love and getting to meet different people from around the world and therefore - many contacts.Check out the stud at http://www.irish-national-stud.ie/"The outside of a horse is good for the inside of man." - Winston Churchill
More About: Horses , Land , Elan , Horse