Do you have a love for horses, whether riding, managing, or caring for them but not sure where it can take you? The Equine Industry is huge and there are various types of roles after completing an Equine Studies course at Hadlow College, here are some of your options…
Yard Manager
A yard manager is the person in charge of everything and everyone, they are responsible for scheduling staff, ordering feed, bedding, and other vital duties. Wages can start at £13,000 for assistant stable managers, whilst experienced stable managers for the large competition yards can expect to bring in upwards of £20,000+.
Riding Instructor
A riding instructor not only teaches their students to ride but also safe horsemanship practices and share their passion for the sport of equestrianism. Instructors will take their students from either absolute beginners, teaching them the basics of correct riding position, riding aids, and softness, or work with more advanced riders to perfect aspects of their riding, and prune bad habits. The starting salary for a junior instructor, working at a riding school is somewhere around £14,000. More senior instructors working in the same establishment can expect up to £25,000.
Horse Trainer
Horse trainer jobs involve training young horses and teaching them to accept a rider. They also work to bring on already trained horses to a higher standard. As a Horse Trainer you can expect to earn anywhere from £12,000 to £50,000 depending on your chosen discipline.
Equestrian Veterinarian
An equine vet works with horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules, their job is to save equines lives, alleviate discomfort and relieve any suffering. Responsibilities include diagnosing and treating illness, disease and injuries, undertaking testing X-rays, bloodwork and scans. A newbie horse vet, on average, can expect to earn around £31,150. However, more generally speaking, with further training and experience an equine vet can expect to earn anywhere between £40,000 - £70,000 pa.
*The wages do depend on where in the country you decide to work.
Equine Physiotherapy
An Equine Physiotherapist works with animals to relieve musculoskeletal issues from improving quality of life of older horses with arthritis to rehab to young out of an injury. Responsibilities include hydrotherapy, planning and conducting physio sessions, utilising ultrasound and much more. Many Equine Physios work on a freelance basis and will work with other animals as well. There are full-time jobs available at universities and larger veterinary surgeries. Salaries vary from £18,500 up to £65,000.
Do any of these jobs interest you? If so, check out our Equine Management courses here.