Starting an Equine Career (or Business)
Some people start with experience, learning to ride or having a pony as a child. Others begin with studies; undertaking formal studies (eg. a certificate, diploma or higher qualification).
It does not matter a great deal which comes first - but to realize your full potential, you will eventually need both learning that comes through experience and a different type of learning that comes through study.
Experience may start very informally, perhaps caring for pets at home, taking up a hobby (e.g. bird watching), or having a family that is involved with animals (e.g. growing up on a farm). Alternatively, it may start with a job (e.g. working in a pet shop or farm), or volunteering (e.g. for an animal charity).
Study may start with anything from a short course or vocational certificate through to a university degree.
Whether you start with experience or study - the value of either is the same. The greatest benefit is “learning”, and the second greatest benefit is being seen to have learned. Every time you learn new things about animals, your capacity to work with them improves. When an employer or client sees an indication that you have relevant knowledge, they are more inclined to employ you.
Getting qualifications may be of value, but in the grand scheme of things, your career is likely to be far more affected by your learning than by your qualifications.
In reality, most graduates end up working in disciplines other than those they studied, partly because opportunities they anticipate do not arise at the time, or in the place, they hoped for - but also because their interests and motivations change.
This should not dissuade you from studying though, but it should make you understand that a “broad based course” which teaches general skills in your areas of interest, will be more useful in the long term, than what a highly specialised course would be.
Learning horse husbandry and biology is and important foundation; but alone not a ticket to a career with animals, but it is a foundation for being successful in all sorts of careers. Most people that start out on a career path will usually divert from their original goals as time moves on. This is because:
- The job they have in mind when they start may simply not exist by the time they are trained and experienced enough to do that job.
- Their perception of what a job would be like changes from fantasy to reality, as they study, gain experience, learn, and hence develop a proper awareness of that job.
- The opportunities they anticipated never present - but more attractive opportunities arise that were never anticipated.
- Priorities change; when a person starts studying and gaining experience, for instance; earning money might change to be a higher or lower priority.