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Post by welshiegirl on Feb 18, 2015 13:04:18 GMT
Hi guys, I am currently at college studying level 3 extended equine science and therapy (and doing teaching alongside) when I first came in September I knew i wanted to do something with rehabilitation. My inital plans were to be an equine physiotherapist, but I do not have the interest and time to do 6 years of human first and was told by tutors that getting into harper adams no matter how good grades etc where was near enough impossible. I don't mind college, my grades are very good, however i do find it patronizing and repetitive and have found out the first year of my course is actually just horse management, and the job i have and the yard I'm on I've already been taught most of these things and find it easy. I feel stuck and let down, struggling to decide what I want to do when I leave. I definitely want to work with horses, I am very experienced for my age and do have the dedication, however I feel very stuck at the minute! I have thought about everything from producing M&M's to a livery yard, but nothing is really grabbing me and exciting me to get me through college. We are constantly told we need to know what we want to do and how to get there. I want to be hands on with horses, riding and I also show! What careers do people have, if you went to an equine college what have you gained from that college and any advice please?
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Post by chalky284 on Feb 18, 2015 14:32:21 GMT
I feel for you, I knew I wanted to work with horses all my life, my college pushed me into a degree in equine science. I wanted to be a vet but had glandular fever during my a levels so failed to get the grades I needed. Retrospectively I should have been advised to resit my a levels but they said to do equine science so off I went. Having done some equine courses during my GCSEs and a levels, and studied like a horse obsessive for years growing up, being taught how to muck out, groom etc was to me pointless. Even the more advanced teaching I felt was pretty basic, I did learn things but not in the depth I was expecting. I know how passionate you feel about horses, but believe me unless you have fantastically wealthy parents who can support you in a good lifestyle and fund or support your career then horses are not the way to go as your full time career. Good well paid jobs in the equine industry are few, it rides on the back of low paid labour. I always had an interest in medicine whether human or animal and this is where I ended up, yes I work hard but I can fund my equine pursuits along with the usual big purchases in life like a house, car and a pension. As you travel through life your priorities will change, I competed regularly up until a couple of years ago when I sold my transport to renovate my house. If you do fancy physiotherapy, please do give it some thought, instead of thinking that it's 6 years of no horses think of it as 6 years of earning and learning so you can build your career as an equine physio. Doubled up with your human experience can provide you with extra earning power helping out riders physio needs too. Don't think of it as all doom and gloom, it's just a little life plan to get you where you need and want to be. Well that's my two penneth, good luck!
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Post by overthejumpwego on Feb 18, 2015 18:03:06 GMT
Hi, I am currently at Harper Adams, I think you're best to contact them not going on your collage's word. I am pretty sure that this year they were adverting for more vet physios, so I really don't think its as hard as they are making out to get on. Admittedly I don't study vet physio but my friend does and I'm sure she didn't get amazing grades but they were good.
if I was you I'd ignore what your collage says and go and try for Harper Adams as it is a really good course!
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Post by gillwales on Feb 18, 2015 18:26:21 GMT
I have yet to hear of anyone going on to a well paid career with horses from one of these degrees. I would advise to combine with a business studies course which you can transfer to non equine if you have the need. I can understand that you want to work with horses... been there and got the t shirt, but unless you have your own land and finacial support the chances of you making a living that will support you independantly are very slim. I'm guessing you are late teens/ early 20s, at some point you are going to want to buy your own home, proberly something that has yet to flit into your brain at the moment, but trust me that is a mere turn around the corner. These equine colleges have it made, they are being paid to have what used to be working pupils, who at the least got free board and lodging and tutition.
Good luck.
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Post by welshiegirl on Feb 19, 2015 6:36:39 GMT
Thank you for your replies guys, I'm only 17 and have always been set in my ways to work with horses. I've known it was always hard to find a career choice that is well paid, but I never knew this hard!! On the flip side I don't think I could have horses as just a hobby. I think I should of done law lol now, and progressed that into specialising in equine!! Thank you for your advice, it has all been noted and is going through my head!! Time to do some serious thinking I think xx
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Post by topsy14 on Feb 19, 2015 10:03:57 GMT
I am now going to say to you what I have said to many of the young girls at my yard, I say it out of helpfulness and not trying to upset you. I think you would be better looking outside of the equine world for your career path. It all sounds great working with horses but the truth is it's pretty hard to make a decent living out of. I know of a lot of people who spend years doing these courses who then at the end of it have to start doing something else because they cannot make a living out of it. Probably not what you wanted to hear but surely it is better to not waste time doing something which you will probably get nothing out of in the end.
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Post by gillwales on Feb 19, 2015 19:04:50 GMT
Welshiegirl, have you taken A levels, were you any good at english and history? If so then see if you can change and study Law, it is a long slog and hard graft, however it would be a good place to specialize in Equine law, you would need to decide if you wanted to be a Solicitor or Barrister. I think you need to see a careers adviser, look to the future not for the next few years, you will be working till you are 70, what you chose now will impact on the rest of your life
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Post by catkin on Feb 20, 2015 18:40:35 GMT
I am not sure on the equine physio side of things, but I do know that the human osteopath course is long, but not neccesarily 6 years. Will check. Maybe its because you are so young. I believe you need the general/human knowledge and you then learn horse anatomy to be able to apply this to equine treatments. Osteo may be different to physio though. Do not forget the options of 'office' jobs in horsey organisations everything going on there from finance to marketing, and more 'horsey' things too such as welfare, education etc. Check out the BEF website to see all the member societies. Good luck
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Post by muggley on Feb 20, 2015 21:27:01 GMT
Have you thought about going into racing? There is a 14 week course at either Newmarket or Doncaster that you need to do if you are under 18yo but it guarantees you a job in a yard at the end of it. Racing is one of the few well paid, regulated jobs in the horse world. You can do all of your NVQ levels in racing and there are also many avenues within the industry that you can go down. Most yards work on a weekend on/weekend off rota so whilst not impossible showing would be hard to do as you will always work a Saturday morning. But at least you will get weekends off unlike most other yard jobs!
I have worked in racing for just over 10years and it started off as a gap year before uni and I lost track of time. As much as I love my job I do now regret not going to uni as I am getting to the stage where working outside all winter riding out in all weathers is getting a bit tedious. But it is well worth doing for a year whilst you figure out what you want to do! If you have the brain power don't get stuck in a horsey job as it really won't pay in the long term.
Racing is very much a life but it's not a living.
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Post by kt66horses on Mar 3, 2015 13:04:38 GMT
My daughter is in her last year at Uni doing a degree in Equine Rehabilitation and Sports Science. She does not necessarily want a hands on job with horses and has already realised she needs to think outside the box with regards to finding a job when she hopefully gets her degree! Because of the different things she has learned she could go into many branches of the horse world - feed manufacturers, nutrition, welfare, rehabilitation etc. I think the "horsey" jobs are hard work with little pay and long hours but if you can broaden your horizons and learn as much as possible about everything to do with the equine world then you may find a better opportunity to get a career when you finish your learning.
Try not to get too bogged down with the "what ifs". Jobs in any career these days are hard to find but if you can learn as much as possible while you are young then it will help you in later years.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
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fredaf
Junior Member
Posts: 173
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Post by fredaf on Mar 3, 2015 18:09:52 GMT
Hi - its difficult to know what to do but if you were to study law or physio then your long term options would be better. I have friends who went through uni and earned money by teaching at weekends or in the evenings. In order to do a chartered equine PT you would have to qualify as a human PT first and then work for two years before moving on to the Equine course. Once qualified and registered you could earn from both NHS and Private practice although you would have to be prepared to relocate wherever there was a vacancy initially. There aren't as many PT jobs around now as previously and you would need top grades, alternatively you can do other qualifications in for example manipulation - they won't have the same status as being a chartered PT but would be a useful qualification. Producing M&Ms or any other type of horse is not going to give you a secure future with a pension and many of the producers on the circuit have obtained a professional qualification and then worked in that area for a couple of years before going on to their dream job. You really need to keep all your options open and gain as much quality experience as possible - as you are 17 this may mean having a rethink about the subjects and grades you already have and seeing what the options are. Does your college not have a careers advisor who could give you access to a job analysis? That would throw up a range of possibilities. Good luck!
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Post by lucyjaynexx on Mar 6, 2015 20:56:37 GMT
Im a large animal veterinary nurse and its the best job in the world!
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