Owner: EQUUS URL:http://darquette.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 03:14:31 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: A look into equine related jobs, education and holiday possibilities around the world.
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Welcome Helping Hand in the Thoroughbred Industry 2007-01-22 10:47:00 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 Thoroughbred 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 fr Read more:Welcome
, Helping
Polo Fanatic? 2007-01-21 00:32:00 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.
Read more:Fanatic
Small Mercies 2007-01-08 06:21:00 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 so
Rude Awakening 2006-12-24 09:55:00 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 chew.
Grubby kids, chubby ponies. 2006-11-26 07:25:00 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 Leve
The Law and Horses - Mounted Police 2007-01-28 06:23:00 One of my friends a couple of years back managed to get her year ten work experience at the MountedPolice
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 - mounted p Read more:Horses
Instructing in Australia 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Plan - wipe out as many ignorant horse owners as possible through owning my own agistment property, running a riding school and having facilities and contacts available for all areas of horse work.Weakness - impatience!I'm currently working on a stud to improve my hands on, still be working with horses and have the chance to earn/save money. This isn't enough though! I want to instruct eventually and thankfully boss is kind enough to agist my horse so I can ride often, but I need the piece of paper that says I am qualified to instruct. After a small amount of research, one has discovered there are a few different possibilities in relation to teaching:NCAS - Level 1 instructing is through Pony Club Australia
and on the Pony Club Victoria website, it is stated to be for people over 18 years of age, designed to enable them to instruct at Pony Club C Certificate level and above; Candidates are expected to attend an NCAS Pony Club Level 1 Course (32 hours total) with 100% attendance.EF
Machu Picchu, Peru 1970-01-01 00:59:59 So my time at the Irish National Stud seems to have turned into a bit of an eye opener in many ways...One is definitely finding out more about other's cultures and countries and the other day I had a bit of a history lesson. I have a list of what will eventually be (got 53) 100 things I want to do before I die - see the aurora borealis, ride over the snowy mountains, take part in a Group 1 race, etc... and was talking with a friend about it who consequently mentioned her desire to visit Machu
Picchu in Peru - http://www.machupicchuperu.info/.The next day on tea break I was flicking through a horse magazine from last year and stumbled across an article on 'a charity horse ride in Peru, aimed at helping two remote, rural communities in the Andean mountains' which involves a train trip to Machu Picchu
, the Lost City of the Incas! Go figure.The site referenced is http://www.perolchico.com/ but doesn't appear to say much about the charity ride although there are some awesome looking t
All Over Ireland! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Well, my course at the Irish National Stud is now finished, having had the graduation yesterday afternoon. The 25 of us graduated, eaching receiving a Certificate stating that we completed the five or so month course at this well known property.So, now I have friends and horse related contacts from Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland
, England, Hungary, France, Canada, Scotland, Belgium, and America!Half of the students are checking out the Southern Hemisphere shortly, most coming to Oz and a few to New Zealand so it'll be awesome to be able to catch up with them. One will be just up the road!Head off today to see Connemara and then on to Giant's Causeway. Then - the horsey area of France that is Normandy! Going there with one of the girl's from the course - can't wait!You cannot beat travel with work - the experiences, the people you meet and the contacts you gain."I am still under the impression that there is nothing alive quite so beautiful as a thoroughbred horse." - Jo
La Sagesse 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I'd like to think I already had wisdom before this trip, but I have definitely been enlightened by coming to Ireland and France. Thanks Claire!26 July after being about a week in Normandy, France we paid a visit to the Haras National du Pin - one of the French equivalents to where I have been studying for the past six months. I say one as France has 23 national studs in total.This one is a slight different from the Irish National Stud where the sole focus is Thoroughbreds. Haras National du Pin has on show many different breeds with us seeing a barb stallion, french riding pony, french donkey, percherons, a cob, new forest pony and arab pony.The horses are used for competition; being worked in harness or under saddle for an hour each day and later turned out before retiring in their boxes for the evening. It's nice to see different types of horses for different uses all on display. During our paddock visit we were able to see a percheron in harness being worked in their equestri
More Education? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 So it's coming up to exam times for those in their last year of highschool and therefore, time to decide what to do next.For many, it is so appealing to go straight into working with horses after highschool... or possibly even instead of the last couple of years of highschool, but I believe the education is worth it.With the main outcome being working with horses and earning money from your passion, the last thing I wanted to do was consider a two or more year course after highschool that would 'stop' me from doing exactly that! But when I finally settled on a course to do at the start of year twelve, it became evident I would have to see the year out to be able to get into the course. It was either that or gain some experience with horses before hand, and fast!Anyone with a desire to work with horses and the revelation that they need to work hard, be interested and show initiative can get a job with horses... and then you do your learning, while working. This is a little more da Read more:Education
Jackaroo Course, NSW, Oz 1970-01-01 00:59:59 So I love looking for any sort of course/holiday/work that I can do with horses that is different to what I already know... and gives me a chance to check out another place! Stumbled across this one the other day... not that I remember what I was looking for:http://www.leconfield.com/Tis a Jackaroo/Jillaroo 'school' set over five days that covers grooming, riding, natural horsemanship (Pat Parelli style), horseshoeing, whip cracking, lassooing, mustering sheep, barrel racing, sheep health, shearing, pasture improvement, fencing/yard building, mustering cattle, yarding and drafting cattle, using working dogs and more.The school is run at Leconfield on a 5000 acre property in New South Wales and those that run the course offer the possibility of helping you find work afterwards if this is your desire.So, once I'm back home from Ireland and have had enough of the racehorses for awhile, I think I'll check this out... just hope I'm up to it! Has anyone done anything like this before?
Stud Work, TBs 1970-01-01 00:59:59 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.As
AI Course, Colorado 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Another course!The one thing that annoys me about the Thoroughbred racing industry is that AI is illegal. Now, there are valid arguments both for and against the use of AI, but either way, being something that is used in the breeding side of the horse industry outside of Thoroughbreds, I'd be interested in learning about it.Was chatting with a mate about this while in Ireland working and another that has spent a bit of time studying in the US suggested a short course on AI at the Colorado
State University.Did a little search and:http://equinescience.colostate.edu/content/view/41//"The four-day course includes 24 hours of classroom instruction and 12 hours of laboratory work in mare and stallion management, seminal collection and evaluation, artificial insemination, and care of the pregnant mare and neonatal foal. Participants are encouraged to actively participate in the collection and evaluation of semen and insemination of mares. Topics to be covered include anatomy and physiology
Wild Coast, South Africa 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I'm a firm believer that if you're interested in it - find out a way to learn more and work in that area.After finishing studying in Ireland and having a bit of a look around, I'll be returning to Oz to do the breeding season at my favourite stud and all the while, save for another travelling experience: a working/riding holiday in SouthAfrica
mid-2007!I want to eventually be a riding instructor while running an agistment property and so need to improve my own riding skills before I can teach others. This holiday seems like the perfect opportunity!http://www.sunrayfarm.co.za/ - Check out the working riding holiday link.Sunray Farm "offer volunteers the opportunity to come to Africa on a working riding holiday. You stay on the farm and time permitting run the riding project for local disadvantaged children. Horse lovers are given an opportunity to eat, sleep and breathe horses from a couple of week's holiday or up to 3 months in the volunteer program. You will be able to impro Read more:Coast
, South Africa
Volunteer With Horses 1970-01-01 00:59:59 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 bo Read more:Volunteer
, Horses
Ireland and Horses 1970-01-01 00:59:59 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 Read more:Horses
Great to be Back! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Man it's good to be back at work! Have been back two weeks now and boy did they fly by! Have gotten right back into the swing of things with foaling down mares, holding mares for covers and general feeding, stable duties and vet work.Boss hired a new person while I was overseas who has been running the farm, handling weanlings and prepping yearlings and I'm now working alongside her for the breeding season. Total blessing - before I went overseas I started my Certificate III in Recreational Coaching and had been doing all the theory, but had no one to mark off my practical. Well, turns out my new co worker is qualified to mark off all my practical work, so I can gain another qualification while working and playing with my horse outside of work! Brilliant!I've also been chatting with her about wanting to learn about artificial insemination and it was suggested to me to do a breeding season with trotters and then look into the short course offered at Glenormiston - http://ww Read more:Great
Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch 1970-01-01 00:59:59 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.CrystalPeaks
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 boo
Certificate II in Horse Studies 1970-01-01 00:59:59 It all begins here... So the earliest I discovered that I could actually start 'studying' horses at school, was in year ten (second 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 (Certificate
II in HorseStudies
) 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 of
Money, Money, Money 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Sometimes, I hate the horse industry...We've had a few ups and downs at work as is commonly the joys of the breeding season with horses, and every year through talk with friends, it becomes more apparent that people are in this 'game' because they have enough money to own a horse or two. Pity that it's seen as a hobby, sport or financial game rather than an animal's life and they don't have enough money to continue it's life if it's not considered worth it.There always seems to be an incidence where something has happened to a horse, affecting it's ability to race and although it is healthy enough to live (after an operation and thousands of dollars later); the situation is assessed, the animal isn't 'worth' the amount of money it costs to operate and consequently, it is put down. Some 'game' that is!Ideal world for this not to happen - I know; but when I have my own property, I can't wait to each year invest in an animal that would be in such a condition that due to m Read more:Money
Diploma of Horse Studies 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I can't work some things out, like a course that has honestly helped me to learn about the Thoroughbred industry, has a 98% employment rate for students at the end of the course and offers a scholarship each year to the Irish National Stud having such a low number of students this year. Hence, this post.I studied at the Wangaratta Campus of Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE, Victoria, Australia in 2003/4 completing my Diploma of HorseStudies
(Breeding) straight after year twelve. Of the two courses I was considering, this was more appealing as it is actually run on a stud, for 20 students in their first year and 20 in their second, allowing daily hands on with mares, foals, learning to foal down and even handling of two stallions.There are three lots of work experience, two in the first year: a four week placement over the breeding season and an eight week placement for a yearling preparation and another five weeks over the breeding season in the students second year of study.Much m
Comfort Zone? Bah! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I'm a restless kind of person - unless I'm working constantly and learning new things, I get really anxious about the use I'm making of my time. The breeding season is coming to an end and yearlings are next on the list for the Thoroughbred Industry.Of breeding, yearlings and weanlings, the mares and foals are definitely my favourite and with the most variety, I believe. I love this time of season as it covers so much on the care of the horse - medications, feeding, foaling down, getting mares in foal, bandaging, breeding.But, upon the arrival of the other six months of the year, I find myself with heaps of extra time, a pretty set routine and not a lot looking like it'll help me with my goal to become a horseriding instructor and teaching other kids about horses.So - I'm going for a change of scenery - yes, again! Currently, I'm looking to move back home for awhile and have started the search to work in a horseriding school, gain experience in relation to riding and teaching Read more:Comfort Zone
Pony Club 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Got a horse crazy kid in Australia? Pony Club
is a great way to help them to learn to ride, show and look after their horse. Pony Club was my first introduction to riding lessons and in a group. My first pony, Pride, that I now own, was available to me initially on a lease basis - $50/month and the horse was mine, tack was available to ride him in and 100+ acres to ride across. An added bonus to where I leased him, Pony Club was run the first Sunday of every month on the property.PC allows kids to ride together with classes on dressage, show jumping and games and learn about horses through theory lessons each month. Kids that are eager to improve are encouraged to be graded on their horses (from base level 4 - 1) and complete certificates (D/D*, C, B, A, K) that test knowledge of the childs fitness of the horse, nutrition, care, grooming, etc.PC is great for kids wanting to compete, learn to instruct orjust improve their relationship with their horse and capabilities to care for i
Aloha 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Ok... perhaps a corny title, but just stumbled across a camp of sorts in Hawaii that totally appeals! Was actually searching for employment in the area of flying with horses, but the terms "employment" and "horse" seem to be the main two in the results.I always wanted to go to Hawaii and learn to surf - yeah, I could do so in Australia, but love the excuse of being able to travel and try something new in a totally new place. Might still have to have that plan on the cards, but I've suddenly found something even more appealing!Check out http://www.dahanaranch.com/. This is a place that trains "working cow horses, rope, cutting horses and polo ponies" and offers clinics and the most appealing for me - a Horsemanship Camp. Offered over 14, 30, 60 and 90 day terms, it includes airport transfer, room, utilities/laundry, rodeo and competition attendance, cattle work, meeting tourists from around the world, one day of sightseeing per week.Always dreamed of trying out the joy that is a Qu Read more:Aloha
Finding Work Online 1970-01-01 00:59:59 So there are many different courses and holidays that you can do with horses to gain experience and qualifications, but this isn't always a financially viable option. The best way to get hands on and learn as much as possible is to actually get yourself a job with horses.If you really want both the qualifications and the hands on, there are places that are willing to help staff by sending them along to seminars, or apprenticeships that can be carried out, or once earning money, it may be possible to invest in doing a correspondence course outside of work hours.For me, stud work is currently the most appealing as it covers so many aspects of the horse's life and you can work on a stud almost anywhere in the world. However, if something else appeals - go for it! Polo, dressage, show jumping, cross country, polocrosse, national hunt, western, farriery, vet, pacers/trotters and many more.http://www.stablemate.net.au/ advertises jobs in most of these fields and in Australia, Europe, Am
Writing About Your Passion 1970-01-01 00:59:59 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 pieces f Read more:Passion
Flying Horses 1970-01-01 00:59:59 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/assessment/criteria.htm.My only dilemma in regards to th Read more:Flying
, Horses
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 have
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