Sophie Barrington runs an equestrian marketing company, Archer Creative. She has kindly taken the time to answer some questions about what she does.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
I’ve been running Archer Creative full-time since our launch in January 2014. As the founder of the business, with a small and dedicated team, my day to day schedule can become very busy. As we are always managing multiple clients and projects, organisation is key! Most weeks, I ride once a week on a Friday afternoon. It’s my reward for a job well done and certainly one of the most important parts of my routine.

What is it exactly that you do?
Archer Creative is the first and only full service equestrian marketing agency in the Southern Hemisphere. This means that we provide a range of marketing solutions to equine companies of all shapes and sizes. Our core services are copywriting, public relations, social media marketing, email marketing, website design and graphic design. Some of our clients require our assistance on a regular basis and some clients come to us on a per project basis.

We share daily tips on marketing the equine business on our Facebook page and we have a monthly e-newsletter which shares the latest from our blog. People are welcome to subscribe.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
As the founder of the business, I must admit that I wear many hats. But, by far, my strengths are in copywriting. I manage a team of sub-contractors who specialise in other areas, including SEO, website design, graphic design and social media marketing, to name a few.

What I look for in my team are people who are highly skilled and passionate about the equestrian industry. What separates us from our competition is that we are horse people.

My recommendation to anyone entering this industry is to develop your craft and follow your interests. Qualifications are important, but when applying for positions it’s crucial to think about the company. How can you add benefit and deliver results?

Favourite horse memory?
This is such a hard question! I’ve been riding for almost 20 years. In that time, I’ve worked at a riding school, gone on horse riding holidays and spent so many glorious hours in the saddle. The only way I can answer this question is to say what I enjoy most about horse riding itself. That’s spending time in the company of horses and amongst nature. You’ll find me out on trails and exploring the wilderness. It’s such a welcome change to time in a busy office!

Future goals?
Since our launch in 2014, we’ve achieved phenomenal growth, having worked with more than 25 companies from four different countries, including Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Saudi Arabia. I’d like to continue growing my business and become a trusted agency for equine companies, particularly in Australia and New Zealand. But, most of all, I want to change the industry’s mindset about marketing.

Archer Creative exists to support our clients to achieve their goals. We are a team of genuine and extremely helpful people who are passionate about equestrianism, and we work very hard to create success for each company we work with. Too often, I think people feel that marketing is about coercion or deception, when it’s actually about building long-term and authentic connections with your customers.

“A good resolution is like an old horse, which is often saddled but rarely ridden.” – Mexican Proverb

I have recently come across Galloping Graphics as an online horse store.  Beth Jones was kind enough to answer some questions about her store and horses!

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
I am currently focusing on my career/business and I just bought a house, so most of my days are spent working or renovating my house. However, I have plans to buy a horse within the next few years

What is it exactly that you do?
Since Galloping Graphics is a small business, I have many hats. I create all the designs, cut out all the stickers / vinyl, source products, manage social media accounts, write thank you notes, etc.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full time professional and earning a liveable income?
With a lot of elbow grease and tenacity, anything is possible. You’ll have a lot of late nights and never really have a day off, but it is worth it.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
I have a degree in advertising and a minor in art which have helped me greatly when promoting my business and creating the art. For people looking to get in to the field, I would suggest having a strong portfolio and to not be afraid of criticism and long hours.

Favourite horse memory?
This is a tough one, I’ve been around horses since I was three. One of my favorite memories would have to be when I was cleaning my first horse’s stall and he came over to just rest his head on my shoulder while I was working. It’s a very simple, but very fond memory. He was a special horse.

Future goals?
My future goals would be to continue to grow with Galloping Graphics, finish my house, and buy a horse.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
The best thing about this sport is the bond you create with the horse. There’s truly nothing like it. The best thing about this profession is being able to combine my creativity with my passion.

“He has galloped through young girl’s dreams, added richness to grown women’s lives and served men in war and strife.” – Toni Robinson