I have recently come across the HorseWorthy website. Although I haven’t yet had time to explore it fully, it seems like this site could be a great resource. As it says on the site:

“Want quick and easy access to expanded detailed information for you and your horse? HorseWorthy gives the tools to help you succeed.”

It seems that this website has been setup as an online resource for anyone horsey to be able to connect with others. Professionals like farriers, vets and instructors can make themselves available to horse owners. The site is envisioned to be a directory and network resource for horse owners of all breeds, disciplines and levels of horsemanship. Want to know more about a horse related product or service?

Apparently HorseWorthy can help. They work to provide a social network of horse contacts, listings and promotions for horse related products and services as well as feature articles relating to horses by various authors.

I love that there is also an events calendar on the site. This is where people can post their horse related activities so that others can be aware of them. This may include a show, clinic, trail ride, webinar, lecture or even a fund raiser. The map drop allows businesses to show others where they’re located and for added fun there is a photo contest section.

Whether you’re a horse owner or a horse business professional – or maybe both! – the HorseWorthy site may be worth checking out. Who knows how it could benefit you?

Stewards are often seeing at work during race meetings.  They are people who help to keep the racing industry acting with integrity.  They work to ensure rules are upheld and that anyone who doesn’t is reprimanded.  If you are interested in the racing industry and helping out in a role like this, then it may be worth considering the role of a cadet steward for the racing industry.

You can actually undertake a course for a cadetship as a steward.  For this, you need to have year 10 level high school or equivalent to undertake the course.  You also need to have current employment as a steward by a recognised racing authority.

I think the subjects within this course held in Australia aptly identify what you would be doing in your role as a cadet steward:

• comply with the rules of racing and related protocols
• investigate job opportunities in racing and related industries
• interpret wagering trends
• assess racing gear suitability and safety
• analyse race performance
• handle horses
• work effectively with diversity
• use business technology
• write simple documents

A Cadet Steward Course

Apparently to undertake this course, students need to be able to “actively participate in the duties of a steward at racing meetings, inquiries and non-race meetings.”  Want to find out more about the course?  Be sure to check out the cadet steward course with the Racing Academy in Australia.

Want to find out more from someone who has undertaken this role?  Check out Equus Education’s profile on Kim Meredith.

“There is a lot of folklore about equestrian statues, especially the ones with riders on them. There is said to be a code in the number and placement of the horse’s hooves: If one of the horse’s hooves is in the air, the rider was wounded in battle; two legs in the air means that the rider was killed in battle; three legs in the air indicates that the rider got lost on the way to the battle; and four legs in the air means that the sculptor was very, very clever.” ― Terry Pratchett

We have touched on the idea of racecourse maintenance as a potential horse related (though not necessarily focused) career before on this blog.  I think I was of the mindset that someone who is interested in this type of work would need to undertake a horticultural course.  In Australia our tracks are made of turf, rather than dirt!  Maintaining this is a big job at any racetrack.  I was surprised, but also pleased to find that there is actually a track maintenance course.  This is for the racing industry in Australia.

You can undertake this course through the Racing Academy in Australia.  The qualification is said to reflect the role of a person whose work responsibilities would include the maintenance and repair of racing tracks, gardens and other facilities.  Such a role would focus on racetrack maintenance.  Although there may also be the need to handle horses in emergency situations on the racetrack.  An awareness of how the track impacts the welfare of horses racing on it would also be vital.

Track Maintenance Course for the Racing Industry

It seems that within this qualification, students can opt to undertake the racing stream or the track maintenance stream.  You can find out more about the subjects involved in each of these via the above link.

Perhaps you are interested in pursuing this as a possible career.  Well year 10 or equivalent is the only entry requirement into the course.  Though there is reference on the site to also having employment or planned employment with a particular track.

Track maintenance for the racing industry is a great example of a career that relates to horses, but doesn’t necessarily involve a lot of hands on with them.  Want to consider other possible horse careers?  Be sure to check out vocation 100 where over 170 different horse related careers are explored.

I recently found out about the Wild About Hooves website and their apt focus on hoof care.  This website focuses on a few different areas that are of benefit to farriers and horse owners alike.  They look at a qualification in hoof care, education about hoof care, farriery tools and also horse related adventures.

For those who want to get a qualification, they can look at a certificate course in equine hoof care.  This is a 12 month course that is “designed to give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to work within the equine industry.”  Adding to the educational area of hoof care, Wild About Hooves detail trimming workshops, seminars and wild horse study tours.

If you’re looking for tools to help you in the farriery trade, then they have a shop to buy such products.  Whether it be a hoof knife, hoof stand or general trimming tools they have all these.

Seeing horses in the wild behaving as they naturally would allows for many to better understand their nutritional and care needs – including hoof care.  Wild About Hooves also provide horse adventures in Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory of Australia.

Perhaps you want to better educate yourself as a horse owner with regards to hoof care.  Or maybe you want to cut your farrier bill by doing the work yourself.  Or maybe you have a passion for learning more about the equine hoof.  Either way, you can find out about all of these aspects of hoof care at the Wild About Hooves website.

“Fascination with horses predated every other single thing I knew. Before I was a mother, before I was a writer, before I knew the facts of life, before I was a schoolgirl, before I learned to read, I wanted a horse.” ― Jane Smiley

The internet truly makes many things possible that you may not have thought!  I am rapt to be making money through horse books that I have created, horse courses and even horse educational products.  And of course I get to read many horse books for free in exchange for a review on this site!  Today I came across an online initiative I would never have dreamt up!  Online equestrian competitions over at EquiMind.

You can enter these real horse competitions at any time and ride on any suitable surface.  You don’t need to transport your horse from where it is, don’t have petrol costs and are not restricted by time or having to pay membership fees.  So how does it work?

You choose to enter into advertised classes on the EquiMind website.  You then use your phone to record yourself riding and upload the video from your phone or computer.  The videos are then professionally judged and winners determined.

As far as I can see, you pay an entry fee and you receive real rosettes for placings – incredible!  You can enter into any class from anywhere around the world, as long as you have an internet connection.  And of course, you need to be able to film yourself riding for the online class.  As it says on the website:

“There are many reasons to join EquiMind. As a member, you become a part of the growing community of riders who prefer to compete online instead of having to travel with their horses all the time. We are looking especially after handicapped riders, visually impaired horses and very little riders who have no opportunity to travel to equestrian events. EquiMind online competitions are also an ideal opportunity to prepare for other major championships.”

What a unique concept!  You can even become a bronze, silver or gold member at a minimal monthly fee.  This entitles you to show entry discounts, training video discounts and access to the online Facebook group amongst other things.  You can pay for 1, 3 or 6 month payments; take a look at the bronze membership details.  Real horse competitions submitted and judged online; now I’ve seen everything.