I am seeking a job in the horse industry and I wanted to know if anyone out there with experience could give me some advice. I think I would like to be a trainer.
2007-02-06 11:16:25 · 10 answers · asked by moonkissedwarrior 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Ooooook... You think?!
Honey... #1 you need to figure out what you want to do:
What discipline/breed do you want to work with? Are you any good? Go to your current trainer and ask for their help.
Speaking of trainer, you will work closely with them through this. If you don't have a trainer, you need to go find one who you get along with (don't get me wrong, this alone could take several years and a lot of money). Then, you need them to understand your long and short term goals. They will help you out.
AKA, they will be brutally honest with you and may say "You are not any good, you will not make it." Or if you are worthy they with say "Your riding style will benefit from going to work for Sally-Joe Bob."
Once you have a name or two of who you want to work for... You need to collect a few good letters of recommendation from some people you've worked with/for. (Your trainer, your neighbor who's stall's you've cleaned, your boss at the local grocery store, etc.) However, the bigger and better the names are (that wrote the letters) the more impressive. Write up a really good resume to go with this. May throw in a few professionally done show pictures of you. Put this all in a binder with a cover letter with a brief intro to who you are, what you're applying for, and why. If your target barns are local, go there directly and introduce yourself while handing it in, if not mail it and give them a phone call so they know what to expect. Go to your high school's business teacher or the library and ask for some help.
Don't forget... In the horse business, we work with people as much as we do with horses. Don't leave out any customer service, retail, etc. experience you may have.
And keep an open mind! You may find that being a trainer is not for you! There are tons of other jobs with horses and animals. As you can see from my "source" I've been around the block, and that's in 9 years. I currently hope to someday be a bona-fide trainer but I still don't feel ready (nor am I entirely sure I won't choose another path).
So to make a long story short. Go get a trainer/mentor and they will help you through this extensive process.
2007-02-06 13:12:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to build a good reputation. Buy a couple good cheap horses from a slaughter house and test yourself to see if you can really handle any type of disposition. Post fliers at the local shows, exhibitions, vet clinics, etc. Start with a very affordable price. Make sure your animals are always in tip top shape, well cared for, and have a great home. People want their horses treated right when at a trainers. There are way to many trainers out there that lie about what they do to those horses and you do not want to be one of them.
2007-02-06 11:37:05 · answer #2 · answered by Horsetrainer89 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The horse show industry today is focused more on the superficial, especially in youth events. People are more concerned with their outfits and accessories than they are with good solid schooling. The competition and backstabbing was always there, but now there are people with zero qualifications dominating the sport. I spoke with a recently retired judge/trainer who told me that all the little girls (and quite a few of the big ones as well) maintain websites that amount to a pre-judging. I can remember when the class didn't start until the gate was closed. Looks like the indulgences of the nineties has taken over, and there is a loss of civility. Too bad...it used to be fun.
2016-05-24 01:07:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take any job you can get even if its not what you want and learn all you can from your employer. The more experience you have, work ethics you show, and people you meet in the industry will help you. Trainers are more likely to hire someone as a groom or hot walker to begin with. If they see you have willingness to learn, show up on time, do the best job you can, and you are not in a hurry to just get done and leave, most trainers will take you under their wing and teach you what they know and will help you move on with your career.
2007-02-06 12:06:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Experience from an education like a Bachelor's in Equine Science. I went to a job interview at Thoroughbred breeding/race horse farm. They liked me, but they hired someone with experience.
2007-02-06 11:20:19 · answer #5 · answered by Jen of Eve 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just have an animal instinct with the horses, carry carrots in your
pockets, horses love carrots.
http://www.horses.com
2007-02-06 11:31:37 · answer #6 · answered by sunflare63 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you can try learning to ride, muck out, groom and a handfull of general horse care. some places will train you up and probably teach you to ride in exchange for labour with the horses.
2007-02-06 11:21:35 · answer #7 · answered by Kim M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cover yourself in horse manure. I'm sure that would make a great first impression and show your potential employer that you're not afraid to get dirty.
2007-02-06 11:19:39 · answer #8 · answered by Justin 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
buy a horse
2007-02-06 11:19:16 · answer #9 · answered by Me 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Just be yourself.
2007-02-06 11:21:12 · answer #10 · answered by Calais 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋