Blog : Equus Education

Microfinance for Horse Small Business

September 13, 2017 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

You may have already read the post on Equus Education about providing finance to people who have a horse business plan. Of course, this often happens in the form of a loan, on which you need to pay interest. Recently on Vision Radio I heard an interview with a gentleman who is involved in microfinance in the Philippines. And of course I got to thinking about microfinance for horse small business. (No I’m not obsessed!)

So what’s the general idea? Well, if we use the example from the Philippines, $150 USD was provided to people who had a business idea. With this (small) sum of money they were able to start a business.

It could be to buy product or something to help them provide a product or service that they could sell. Alongside this money, they were also provided with training and encouragement to get their business off the ground. Within a short time span, they were also expected to pay back the money that they had been loaned. This was interest free. Any other money they made after paying back the loan was theirs to live on / provide for their family and future.

I love this concept of empowering people to do things for themselves. Sometimes all someone needs is a helping hand to get out of a poverty cycle. This could be a cycle that may have affected their family for generations. With the accountability of paying back what they’ve been loaned, they aren’t being given something for free. Rather, they are being provided with an opportunity to earn and be responsible for themselves.

Microfinance for Horse Small Business

So how could microfinance apply to horse small business? What if a particular setup provided $150 USD to individuals to start a horse business? Is this enough? For some things, sure!

$150 could help to buy a website and pay for hosting – it would cover the hosting and .com renewal of Equus Education for a year.
It could be used for someone to undertake a course that educates and enables them to earn, like with my Equine Passive Streams Course at Udemy.
Maybe the money could be used to pay an editor, get a book cover designed and publish a book. Electronically, you can publish a book for free on many platforms and earn a return as soon as someone buys.

So how would such an initiative benefit the person providing the money? Not in the form of interest earned on the money loaned. But what about in the form of raising the economy in particular areas, or even worldwide? In time, if the concept grew, maybe different people could volunteer their time and resources in various areas.

For example, maybe $150 USD in a third world country could buy a horse or donkey that could be used as a pack horse or trail horse for tourists. In this way, it could be bringing in consistent money for the owner. Buying second hand horse books off eBay or in opportunity shops and selling them in sets could generate a handy return.

There are so many little things that could be done with $150 to turn it into a greater sum of money and in time, maybe even a viable business. With so many people in the world below the poverty line or on government benefits, for those with an interest in horses, could you see microfinance for horse small business working?

Running Free (Midnight Dancer #3) by Elizabeth Lindsay

September 11, 2017 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

Running Free finds young Mory desperate to prove the worth of her pony Midnight Dancer. After some unexpected jumping opportunities arise, Mory is adamant that her pony is a brilliant jumper. Mean girl at school Caroline Spencer wants Mory to prove it by entering the local show jumping competition.

Running Free (Midnight Dancer #3) by Elizabeth Lindsay

Although Mory knows her beautiful mare is brilliant, she isn’t so sure about her own jumping skills – she is still learning to ride effectively. Whilst Mory is out riding on the hills, she discovers a dog running free. In time, a dead sheep is found and Mory’s uncle Glyn is furious. He is adamant he will shoot any dogs on sight if they’re near his sheep.

Mory is fearful for Ben, a new dog that her friend Lionel has acquired. Although Mory doesn’t believe Ben killed the sheep, she knows that he was in the area at one point. Uncle Glyn is certain it is either Lionel’s young dog or a local woman’s dog. Mory is unsure how she can prove it was neither!

In time Mory is goaded into entering the show jumping competition at Penyworlod. Most of her energies go into training her pony and learning to sit well on Dancer. Alongside this she suddenly has to deal with another dead sheep – this time a young lamb. Lionel has also run away and Caroline is suddenly going out riding with Mory’s cousin Cara.

Running Free focuses on a great mystery that young Mory has to work to solve before an innocent dog is killed. It is also a perfect story for young horse enthusiasts. The horse information rings true, is educational and the story is an entertaining read. This third book in the Midnight Dancer series I am sure would be a hit with pre-teen horse enthusiasts.

Author – Elizabeth Lindsay
Fiction – children
In my library – along with a few others in the series!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

7 Horse Riding Careers to Consider

September 8, 2017 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

So you want to make a career out of riding horses, ey? Well here are 7 horse riding careers to consider. Some offer consistent work and wages. Others will be successful only if the horse in question being ridden is successful in its given discipline.

1. Exercise rider for racing
  This is a person who rides horses in their morning workouts. Often this will be for thoroughbreds galloping on the track in flat racing, or jumps racing. Riders are generally paid per horse that is ridden and can get work 6 – 7 mornings a week.
2. Jockey
  You need to be qualified to ride in race work and your earnings will be based on the performance of your mount – as well as the class of race. Rides may be over weekends or during the week, depending on race meetings.
3. Eventer
  Many of these riders need to be sponsored and the performance money is a lot less than in race riding. Still, it is possible to ride competition horses for a living. An eventer focuses on dressage, show jumping and cross country riding.
4. Catch rider
  For the owners who have a horse that needs to be ridden, a catch rider can come in handy. They ride the horse in its competition event for a fee – and hopefully the horse receives points/ribbons in the classes it is entered.
  
  7 Horse Riding Careers to Consider | Equus Education
5. Educational rider/trainer
  Some horses have issues with regards to their education or the way they’ve been ridden. They may be acting up because they are in pain or fearful. Some trainers manage ‘difficult’ horses beautifully, getting to the root of the problem and enabling owners to move forward with their riding goals.
6. Trail ride guide
  Perhaps you’re the sort of person who loves getting out and about, seeing beautiful places on horseback. You also love interacting with people and can teach beginners a thing or two. And maybe you enjoy riding with more experienced horse people, too. Taking people out for trail rides may be a job worth considering! It will often involve matching strangers to appropriate horses, tacking up horses and taking groups out for a ride. Then you will be dealing with the horses and putting them away again. Many trail places do 2-3 rides in a day or some overnight rides for the more experienced clients.
7. Mounted police
  It is worth noting that if you want to get into this area, it can’t be solely because you want to ride! Mounted police officers have to serve as a police officer for a few years before they are in a position to consider the mounted department. It can also be quite competitive. Love of the law needs to be your focus, with getting to ride a bonus 😉
The 7 horse riding careers to consider listed above touch on different disciplines and different working hours. Have you considered another? I’d love to read in the comments about other riding careers you’re interested in!

Donating to Horse Charities, through Business

September 6, 2017 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

I am currently looking at a blog to biz boot camp where you get your blog into order with regards to SEO optimisation and earning possibilities. The presenter of this online free series is Melyssa Griffin, a successful online entrepreneur. Melissa indicated that because of her online earnings, she was able to donate a large sum to a charity of her choice. And of course my thinking went to donating to horse charities. As a horse business, do you give to any charities?

I am aware that the British Horse Society has their own charity that you can support. So my question for you if you have a horse business, is do you encourage others to use your products or services by giving away a percentage to a particular horse charity? Perhaps you could give a percentage of your earnings (or profit) each month to a chosen horse charity. Or maybe you could even donate a particular month’s earnings to a horse charity because of your horse business!

Donating to Horse Charities

Donating to horse charities can be a great way to raise your business profile within the equine world. If people are happy to pay for your product or service and they know some of what they pay will be donated to a horse charity, it may make them even more inclined to use you! Just some food for thought.

How can you use your profits to better impact the horse industry or your local community? It could be through taking on an apprentice and paying them a wage or perhaps through donating to your local Pony Club or adult riding club. I am sure there are heaps of ways you can use the funds generated in your horse business to positively impact the industry and local community.

“Just then, down through the last glimmer of twilight, stepping high and free, like a cloud, a moth, a ghost in the shape of a horse — came the Silver Stallion. Wild, beautiful, and free as the wind he came, from one kingdom to another, Thowra.” – Elyne Mitchell

Defining Gravity by Genevieve Mckay

September 4, 2017 by Christine Meunier 1 Comment

Recently Genevieve Mckay provided me with a copy of her latest release, Defining Gravity. I really enjoyed reading this horse novel for young adults and believe others will, too.

Young Astrid is an extremely talented archer. It seems that she lives for the sport that she excels at. It’s the one thing that makes sense to her as a teenager. She struggles with her self image and her weight. Her father is a stranger that seems to view her as an annoyance. She has a crush on a boy who barely recognises her and even her closest friend is brutally blunt.

Attending a party at the Ling’s home, Astrid feels things might finally be falling into place. Thomas Ling is actually talking to her and it seems that he may like her. Or perhaps that’s the punch talking. With a little too much in her system, Astrid feels bold and finds herself behaving in a way that she wouldn’t have the courage to otherwise. And this is her downfall. Her boldness leads to an accident that puts her archery career on hold and could even end it.

Missing the sport that feels as necessary as breathing to her, Astrid feels she’s been punished enough. Her father disagrees and Astrid finds herself suddenly with a job at a stable, surrounded by large, imposing horses. A fill in job to pass the time – and develop discipline – suddenly opens a door of possibilities.

Defining Gravity is a great look at the horse performance world with a focus on dressage. The characters are varied but all human with different flaws and insecurities. As Astrid works through the disappointment of not being able to play her favourite sport – and of having let down her father – she learns what true friends look like at the stables. She also discovers the need to stand up for herself. Defining Gravity is a great coming of age story with horse information that rings true and is educational. It’s a great look at the horse world from a beginner’s point of view as they get consumed by the industry and take in all that they can.

The story moves along at a good pace and has some characters you’ll love to hate. Astrid’s character is believable, likeable and grows into a young woman as the story develops. The horse events work well to build the reader’s knowledge about the industry and Astrid’s riding lessons are really interesting to read about. Do yourself a favour and get a copy of Defining Gravity.

Author – Genevieve Mckay
Fiction – young adult
In my library – as an eBook it is!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

Microfinance for Horse Small Business

Microfinance for Horse Small Business

Running Free (Midnight Dancer #3) by Elizabeth Lindsay

7 Horse Riding Careers to Consider

Donating to Horse Charities, through Business

Donating to Horse Charities

Defining Gravity by Genevieve Mckay

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