This week’s letter is A (sorry, no horse jobs covered that start with Z – yet!). If you missed last week’s Friday Feature, take a look at Yearling Work.

There are many different kinds of art, but the kind I’d like to focus on in this post has the same theme: horses!  However, as stated it may be portrayed via:

• drawing
• painting
• scuplting
• photography
• unique products
• and much more

 Although artists will vary in what they create, if they want to be successful they will need to:

• create a quality product that is easily reproducible or distinctly unique
• promote their products
• provide ways for people to purchase easily – whether it be locally through stores or online
• produce many items

The idea of being paid to do something that you love – and perhaps from home – appeals to many.  Creating equine art for sale could be a way to achieve this over time.

For some posts that relate to this topic on Equus-Blog, take a look at:

• An Innovative and Sustainable Rocking Horse
• Calling Aussies Artists
• Generating an Equine Related Income Through Writing and Photography
• Horse Toys
• Inglis Equine Art Prize 2011
• Jockey Lawn Statues
• Profile On: Angela Hook
• Profile On: Barbara Rush
• Rocking Horses
• Saddle Covers

“The delicate and exquisite horse is itself a work of art.” – Bertrand Leclair

This week’s letter is Y (sorry, no horse jobs covered that start with X – yet!). If you missed last week’s Friday Feature, take a look at Website Design (Equine).

I believe it takes a special kind of person to be able to educate and turn out any yearling to a high standard for sale.  This tends to be done year round in the racing industries and because the northern and southern hemispheres work on different seasons, it can be done year round by the individual willing to travel.

A yearling handler is often involved in:

• Teaching young horses to lead
• Feeding and grooming
• Introducing horses to rugs and to being brushed
• Washing perhaps for the first time
• Holding for the farrier
• Pulling manes
• Turning out to a high standard
• Parading yearlings to clients and putting through the sale ring

If you find yourself enjoying this sort of work, it really is possible to travel around the world – or even the states of your country – and attend different horse sales.  Some may argue that the best (or worst) bit of working with yearling sales preparation is that every 8 weeks you’re working with a new set of horses and the cycle starts again.  Just don’t get attached – they’re being prepared for sale!!

For some posts that relate to this topic on Equus-Blog, take a look at:

• Melbourne Premier Yearling Sales 2009
• Networking at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sales
• Positions Vacant
• Yearling Handlers
• Yearling Management

“Never give up. For fifty years they said the horse was through. Now look at him – a status symbol.” – Fletcher Kneb

This week’s letter is W. If you missed last week’s Friday Feature, take a look at Veterinarian (Equine).

There are many people out there who can design websites for a fee; there is perhaps a small niche who can do so with an understanding of the horse industry.  Someone who is familiar with horses and has a skill in website design can offer a little more than someone who is ignorant to horses:

• awareness of what makes a good horse photo to add to a website
• awareness of horse related websites that would be good to promote the business on
• knowledge of what horse owners are looking for when researching particular equine businesses

Being able to market yourself and provide website design and hosting to the equine world could generate a feasible income.  For those with a bit more IT know how – creating an equine program on a site that people have to pay to use could also generate income.  If savvy with graphic design, this will help to add to the appeal of those looking for a classy website.

For some posts that relate to this topic on Equus-Blog, take a look at:

• A Place to Vent Online
• Mixing Horses and the Internet
• Working From Home With Horses

“A camel is a horse designed by a committee.” – Author unknown

This week’s letter is V.  I don’t have any jobs under U at this stage! If you missed last week’s Friday Feature, take a look at Tourism (Equine).

An equine veterinarian is someone who may find themselves needing to be familiar with all facets of the equine life.  Knowledge of stallions, pregnant mares, newborn foals, growing horses, racing horses, competing horses and older horses are all necessary.  Often if people want to specialise with horses, they will first need to gain experience in a mixed practice (small and large animals).

Once a lot of general experience has been gained, vets can often specialise. This may be in the area of:

• reproductive work
• corrective work on a horse’s conformation (generally their legs)
• working with racehorses or other equine athletes
• surgeries such as colic

All veterinarians should be familiar with horse health, their skeletal and muscular systems, cardiovascular, reproductive/urinary systems, digestive system and general conformation. Long hours should be expected, particularly if working during the breeding season or with racehorses that start work early in the morning.

For those keen to build up their experience in a particular area (for example, horse reproduction), travel should be considered to take advantage of the southern and northern hemisphere running on opposite seasons.

For some posts that relate to this topic on Equus-Blog, take a look at:

• Doubling up to Create a Niche
• The Neddy Wears Prada
• VET for Vet

“Lessons from your horse: when you’re feeling financially secure, let me teach you the meaning of “‘veterinary services, additional.'” – Author unknown

This week’s letter is T. If you missed last week’s Friday Feature, take a look at Stud Hand.

Tourism with regards to horses can come in many forms.  Chances are it’ll combine two things: horses and a chance to learn more about the location they’re in.

You may find you get to explore a particular country or town on horseback as the form of tourism, perhaps shown areas that only the locals know about or you may find that the focus is on a particular breed of horse or discipline that you can learn about only in that area.

Because it can be varied, skills of those working in the horse tourism field may differ.  Some skills required in any field could include:

• knowledge of horse health and care
• mucking out boxes, picking up paddocks/fields
• dealing with people
• local knowledge
• horse riding skills or horse handling skills

I have adored horse tourism in the form of trail rides in Ireland, Australia and South Africa; visiting many horse related museums in France and Ireland and of course studying at the Irish National Stud where you can learn horses in another country whilst also working at a property that teaches others about thoroughbred breeding and racing.  I dream of one day visiting Machu Picchu on horseback.

For some posts that relate to this topic on Equus-Blog, take a look at:

• Horse Tourism in Australia
• La Sagesse
• Living Horse Museum
• Machu Picchu
• Mixing Horses, Travel and Vacations
• Travel With Your Horse
• Wild Coast, South Africa

“We gaze upon their quiet beauty, their natural elegance, and we are captivated. They see us softly, in gentle light… rewarding human companionship with strength, grace and intelligence. As they run through arenas and open fields, past mountains and seas, moving like the wind toward heaven, we travel with them, if only in our hearts.” – Author unknown