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Develop your Microskills for a Horse Career

January 4, 2024 by Christine Meunier 1 Comment

I have recently been reading Simple Money, Rich Life by Bob Lotich. So far, I absolutely love this book and what is is explaining and encouraging! Now, whilst it is not a horse focused book at all, I believe aspects of it can be applied to your horse career journey.

How so? One chapter encourages readers to keep learning and honing their craft. To get paid the best, to be sought out, you have to be someone who is willing to keep learning and improving. Whatever you plan to do with horses, you can improve on skills and knowledge that may better your chances for future jobs and career growth.
Develop your Microskills for a Horse Career | Equus Education
Develop your Microskills for a Horse Career | Equus Education


I just love horses and read as much as I can to learn about them. I also take opportunities to learn new skills. When first working in the thoroughbred industry, any chance I got to view a foaling (or do night watch), medicate a horse (thus learning oral medications, intramuscular injections, subcutaneous injections and even intravenous injections), hold a mare for teasing or cover, I jumped at it!

In time I became a skilled worker who was known for their enthusiasm and growing skills. I couldn’t get enough! And consequently, I was never out of stud work, even if I moved between studs to gain different experiences and skills.

Whilst a full time stud hand, I started a blog (this blog) about horse careers. That lead to an unexpected phone call and an offer to teach equine studies. This is now my career that supports myself and my family with four children!

Through my love of reading, I have picked up on some grammatical errors in horse books – or incorrect information. I have reached out to authors and notified them, in case they wanted to update their book and correct the errors. (No pressure to them, just information they can choose what to do with).

In time this has led to being paid for some editing of books and even recently, being approached to edit a non-horse book because of my ‘keen eye’ and easy way to work with. What lovely feedback! I assisted this self-published author with reading their book and providing feedback for edits. You can view it live on Amazon – note the editor! 😀

Do all you can to improve your skills and develop new ones. And especially be keen to take on opportunities as they’re provided to you! Who knows what your future horse job will be? My current one combines:
  • my passion for horses,
  • my interest in reading and writing,
  • the ability to help others learn about horses and get a horse qualification and career
  • online resource development
It is an incredible combination of my skills and passions.

Consider what micro skills you could learn or improve on in 2024. For your dream job, what skills or knowledge would make you invaluable?
  • Would knowing what a mare in season looks like? Or how to assist a mare that is having a difficult foaling?
  • What about being able to promote an equestrian business online and run social media marketing?
  • Or would you be of more value to a future employer because you can negotiate with people and delegate tasks well?
Take some time to consider a few skills that you can research online, learn more about and develop. Perhaps you may even find some in the education or free resource categories on this site!

Filed Under: Career

PU-Certificate (Free Training) for Farriers

November 23, 2023 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

Recently at work we had a farrier awards day for the apprentices who are taking part in a four year study to complete their apprenticeship. There is much signage up at work and I saw the website for Kerckhaert on one of the advertisements. They are a producer of horseshoes.

As I checked out their website, I stumbled across some recent news on the site, promoting getting your PU certificate. Now, although I know my horse regularly needed a farrier – and all horses do! – I am rather ignorant in the area of tools farriers may use, equipment to treat feet or create extensions for limb deformities or even glue for cracked hooves! It seems the industry has come a long way in what they will now use to correct problems or help alleviate lameness and unsoundness.

PU-Certificate (Free Training) for Farriers | Equus Education
PU-Certificate (Free Training) for Farriers | Equus Education

Published back in April of this year, is an article on the Kerckhaert website about mandatory PU Certificates within Europe. As it says in the article:

As of 24 August 2023, as a user of two-component urethane adhesives in the European Union, you will be required to have a PU certificate. This regulation is mandatory for anyone working with products that have a total concentration of monomer diisocyanate above 0.1%. This means that users of Vettec must also complete a training to get this certificate.”
What really caught my attention on the site though, was the chance to undertake this training for free! I’m always curious to check out different horses businesses, services and/or products!

So if this applies to you, is of interest or you know of someone who would benefit from this free (mandatory) training within the industry in Europe, I encourage you to read up on it. Head along to https://info.kerckhaert.com/pu-certificate for further details.

Filed Under: Career, Education, Free Resource

Next Crop – Thoroughbred Breeders Australia

August 11, 2023 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

I love learning about new initiatives within the Equine Industry. That’s why I’ve started this blog! You can read about more than 170 different equine related careers on it, here. One new initiative that I’ve recently learned about is Thoroughbred Breeders Australia’s Next Crop group. This focuses on connecting under 36 year olds in the industry.

The group has been created with the aim of providing those aged 36 and under with the chance to network with their peers in the industry, as well as the opportunity to continue their professional development and education.”

For those who have an interest in the thoroughbred breeding industry, entry is open! You can find out more via https://www.tbaus.com/next-crop/. Access will be given to those in this group, to exclusive events within the industry.

I’m not one who tends to feel old, but not being young enough to take part in this initiative is something I am feeling keenly currently!

Next Crop – Thoroughbred Breeders Australia | Equus Education
Next Crop – Thoroughbred Breeders Australia | Equus Education

TBA aims to have a chapter of Next Crop in each state, which will then feed into a national leadership committee.
Membership is free.”

I genuinely feel that the thoroughbred industry provides some incredible opportunities for horse enthusiasts. You get:

  • so many experiences,
  • great exposure to horses
  • and are paid often better than other parts of the equine industry

If you are interested even slightly in breeding horses, I encourage you to check this out! Free events are a wonderful way to break into an industry, learn many things and also develop invaluable contacts. Even if you have an interest in breeds outside of the Thoroughbred, this is one industry that can teach you a lot and grant you access to almost every part of the world for work!

Filed Under: Career, Education

Equicapture Photo App by Shelley Paulson

June 16, 2023 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

I believe it takes a horse person to best capture horse photos. They recognise if a horse is correctly positioned, the handler on the right side, ears pricked forward and so on!

Shelley Paulson is a talented equine photographer. I cannot believe it’s already been six months since she was profiled on Equus Education, but it has! Check out some of her work and find out about her career here.

Shelley is promoting a newly released application for equine photographers. I was pleased to learn about it recently on LinkedIn.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this app is packed with features to help you capture stunning photos of horses and the people who love them.”

Equicapture Photo App by Shelley Paulson | Equus Education
Equicapture Photo App by Shelley Paulson | Equus Education

EquiCapture features include:

  • inspiration and prompts for photo sessions
  • audio of horses whinnying to encourage the desired ‘ears forward’ position
  • tips and tutorials to guide photographers through the app
  • affirmations to keep you positive and pre-session prayer to assist in a calm and confident feeling before photography sessions
  • creative ideas linked with photography techniques to inspire you
  • recommended settings relating to lighting, horse and rider movement and more

Now I am not a photographer, but I definitely appreciate the value of a good horse photo! This application sounds awesome to me. If you are a photographer or are entertaining the idea of turning your passion for horses and photography into something more, why not check out this app?

For a one time purchase price, you can use this educational resource to build on your horse photography skills. Details on Shelley Paulson’s education site.

Filed Under: Career, Education

Profile On: Ashley Furler, Barefoot Hoof Trimmer

February 12, 2023 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

I recently heard about Ashley through an equine business group on Facebook. Ashley was kind enough to answer some questions about her career as a barefoot hoof trimmer. Read below.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
Between Furler Equine and Marley, at least half of my day is usually spent with horses. And in true horse girl style, much of the rest of my day is spent reading, writing and talking about horses online or with my husband and friends.

What is it exactly that you do?
I’m a barefoot hoof trimmer, and online equine store owner although I have only found enough time to list one item in my store so far. But it will grow!

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full-time professional and earning a liveable income?
Absolutely. Farriers and barefoot hoof trimmers are in very high demand and most people struggle to find one that suits them and their horse or that is willing to come often enough for their horses’ needs.

I’ve heard many times that clients have had trouble with farriers/BFTs simply because they won’t answer their messages. If you are an:

  • effective communicator,
  • good at responding,
  • consistent with your online content,
  • good at what you do
  • and have done your local research to see if there is need of another hoofcare worker, there’s no reason you shouldn’t get as much work as you need.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
Hoof trimming is something that you need to be passionate about to do for work as there aren’t many employment opportunities for trimmers. So you will most likely need to run your own trimming business.

It is also very hard physically and takes a lot of patience. It takes a bit to learn as the courses aren’t easily accessible all over Australia, and you need to get it right for the horse or you can do a lot of damage.

To be a farrier you do an apprenticeship under a master farrier. This is where you learn to do shoes and it’s a different philosophy of care to barefoot hoof trimming. To become a barefoot hoof trimmer, there are multiple courses online and small courses that pop up around Australia.

The only certified one I know of here is ACEHP’s 12-month course which has an in person element down in Tasmania then the rest of the course is done working with your local ACEHP trimmers.

Profile On: Ashley Furler, Barefoot Hoof Trimmer | Equus Education
Profile On: Ashley Furler, Barefoot Hoof Trimmer | Equus Education

I find the best place to start learning is with your own trimmer/farrier and once you feel confident and know the theory to keep your horse safe, practise on your own horse. Many hoof trimmers, including myself, are happy to teach you some basics while out doing your horses’ hooves. Ask a lot of questions.

Learn what a good trim is through reputable online learning sources like David Landerville, Progressive Equine Services and Hoofcare and The Equine Documentalist. Don’t just take your trimmers word for it, do your own research. Just like with the rest of the horse industry, there’s no standardisation of protocol.

Everyone has they’re own ways of doing things and not all of them are beneficial to the horse. Learn why they’re doing what they’re doing and if it can be done in a way more beneficial to the horse.

Profile On: Ashley Furler, Barefoot Hoof Trimmer

Once you have done the course in barefoot hoof trimming, practise, practise and practise some more! Keep learning from other trimmers as much as you can, never stop learning.

Finally, if you’ve never done a business course or run a successful busness, I would highly recommend such a course, as the hard truth is statistically, most new businesses fail. Yet another reason you need to be passionate to make it work. I’m doing a business course through TAFE Queensland and also network with other horse business people for support.

Favourite horse memory?
Seeing my brumby mare, Marley, for the first time. I got her from a brumby rescue where I was lucky enough to be the first to choose her out of the lot. I saw her straight away and just loved her.

She is a blue roan so she stood out and she seemed to be taking care of the other horses who were a bit scared since they weren’t sure what was happening. I sensed an instant mother-like vibe about her. She is caring, nurturing and kind and I just loved her straight away.

Future goals?
For Marley, we are just about to buy our first acreage. This has been my goal for the over 4 years that I’ve had her, finally living with my mare and find her another horse friend for company.

For my business, I’m wanting to focus it more online in the future; create courses, sell products, sell books if I can ever finish writing one! I also would love to run hoof trimming courses/clinics from our property.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
It’s absolutely fascinating and you never stop learning. Hooves are incredible structures and a good trim and right advice followed by the owner, makes the world of difference to the horse. It’s very rewarding seeing the improvement in their hooves.

Filed Under: Business, Career, Profile On

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