Recently I provided details on an internship at the Irish Field that related to equestrian journalism. In particular, it was focused on equestrian pursuits. In my head, a lot of horse related journalism pertains to racing. But at the end of the day, many people want to read about other horse riding pursuits, too!
There are Olympic equestrian events and of course great horse events around the world that focus on Dressage, Showjumping and Cross Country riding. Or what about polo or polocrosse tournaments? For the person who loves to write and who loves horses, the idea of equestrian journalism may be appealing. So why not consider it as a career possibility?
So what would you need to do? Having skill for writing is one thing; being qualified in the area of journalism is another. You can undertake a journalism degree which will take you four years at the likes of Melbourne University, Australia.
In this way, you can choose any undergraduate degree and then go on for a fourth year to focus on journalism. If this is the case, be sure to choose a degree that links in with your horse focus – equine science or agriculture, perhaps.
Other options include undertaking a Diploma level qualification, as offered on the Morris Journalism Academy. The course can be as short as 12 weeks, up to 2 years and done via distance.
Equestrian Journalism as a Career
Once you’re qualified, what then? Well if you want to focus on horses, it is best to make contact with newspapers or magazines that cover horse events. Reach out to places that are local to you. Alternatively, look for places that you can write for online and provide pieces this way.
“A horse which stops dead just before a jump and thus propels its rider into a graceful arc provides a splendid excuse for general merriment.” ― Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
