Often I see gorgeous horseshoe designs come up in my Facebook feed. Recently I reached out to Rustic Horseshoe Designs. I asked if they’d be willing to answer some questions about their work. Alice was kind enough to provide her answers below.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
It varies weekly, depending what we have on, whether we have riding lessons or pony club etc. It can vary from about 7-18 hours a week with the horses.
I spend between 3-15 hours a week drawing horses, and 10-20 hours a week working with horseshoes.

What is it exactly that you do?
I create 2D art from used horseshoes.
I create a design with pencil on paper, or with chalk on my cast iron bench. If drawn on paper, I’ll scale the design up to the required size and trace it out on my bench.
A grinder with a cutting disc is used to cut pieces of horseshoe to match the lines of the design I have drawn on the bench. Some of these pieces can be tiny, and for those I’ll grip the horseshoe piece with a Knipex which allows me to cut slivers if required.
I tack weld the pieces together as I go along, otherwise they end up skittering all over the bench and I’m forever resetting them in place.
Once everything is cut out and tack welded, I’ll take photos and look it over closely to see if any changes are needed. When I’m happy with the tacked together piece, it gets welded up solid.
Using a flap disc on the grinder I take the welds back to blend in with the surrounding shoe. I’ll then go over the piece with a wire wheel and brush to thoroughly clean the groove and nail holes.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full-time professional and earn a liveable income?
Yes, it is definitely possible to do this work full time and earn a liveable income. It takes time to build up a reputation and to get your work out and seen, but it is possible to end up doing it full time.

Profile on Alice, Rustic Horseshoe Designs

Last year I was doing an average of 7 hours a day, 6 days a week through the summer months, with plenty of work to do more hours if I had wanted to.
This year I’ve knocked back my hours and do between 10-20 hours a week with the horseshoes to give me more time to draw, and to do the admin work for the steel fabrication my husband and I started a year ago.

What are the general steps to be employed in such a role?
For anyone wanting to get into horseshoe art, you will need to start with a basic knowledge of welding and handling a grinder. Once you have those and a space to work, it’s really just a matter of choosing an easy project and getting started. As with learning any skill, the more you do the better you will get.

Favourite horse memory?
This is a hard one, I have so many!
Being put up onto a horse’s back for the very first time at 6yrs old. And the sheer delight of feeling the horse underneath me.
Or being blindfolded on my 13th birthday, guided out the front and having a leadrope put into my hand with a sweet mare on the other end of it!
Or my gelding and I jumping 95cm for the first time. I’ll never forget that feeling of flying.
Or galloping on a summer afternoon through a paddock that’s just been cut and freshly baled for hay. That smell is divine!
Or having my heart mare give birth to a beautiful brown colt, and hearing his little nickers for the first time.
The memories are endless.

Future goals?
A goal with horseshoes is to complete a 3D horse that will stand about 13-14hh tall.
My dream is to constantly improve my drawings, and to hopefully one day get the courage to enter some art competitions.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
The best thing about what I do is the flexible hours. Being a Mum it’s been great being able to fit my work in around my kids.

Danielle Smith was kind enough to answer some questions about her role at Racing Victoria. Danielle is a Workforce Educator & Apprentice Jockey Mentor.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
All day, every day!

What is it exactly that you do?
I am the Workforce Educator and Apprentice Jockey Mentor at Racing Victoria. I travel around Victoria teaching the education programs related to the racing industry. These are programs for Stablehands, Trackwork Riders, Jockeys and stable staff. Our programs focus on educating people to work with and care for horses.

I also work in the Apprentice Jockey team as a mentor to the apprentice jockeys to support their health and wellbeing.

Profile on: Danielle Smith, Workforce Educator Racing Victoria

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full-time professional and earn a liveable income?
Yes, it is. The hours are flexible and every day is different which enables me to have time to still ride my own horse as well.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
I have a Bachelor in Education and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment which allows me to be involved in the education and delivery of the courses. I also have significant experience in the racing industry which has provided me with the relevant experience for this role.

Favourite horse memory?
Training my first winner as a horse trainer at my home track, Mornington. Her name was Somethinfornothin, we only paid $750 for her!

Future goals?
To keep learning myself and providing the industry with as much support as I can to upskill the workforce.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
That I get to talk about horses all day every day! I also love that I get to meet so many different people from many different backgrounds.

Recently Bryan came and had a chat with our Equine Students at work, about his business – CEN Nutrition – entrepreneurship, and working hard in the equine industry.

I love learning about different horse companies and especially the stories of those who are self-started. The industry is so large and offers so many different opportunities for horse fanatics!

I reached out to Bryan to see if he’d be willing to share a little bit about himself and CEN Nutrition. Bryan is “the outlier Entrepreneur starting an Equine Nutrition Feed Company from scratch at the age of 30, having graduated as a Medical Scientist to perform blood analysis at age 20”.

He has kindly answered some questions about his career, below.

If you have a passion for linking horse health and horse nutrition, you may be interested to learn a little about his nutrition business! Read on below.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
All working hours are horse related and I love it!

What is it exactly that you do?
Co-Founder of CEN Nutrition, Head of Education and Marketing.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full-time professional and earn a liveable income?
Yes, due to part-owning the company we created.

Profile On: Bryan Meggitt, CEN Nutrition

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
Entrepreneurship and the never ending search for the right answers for horse health through nutrition.

Favourite horse memory?
The 2023 Tom Quilty Gold Cup (National Endurance Championship Race) the winning horse “Tonki Dee Boo Novak” was on the complete CEN Nutrition diet program and recorded the 3rd fastest time in history over the 160km event!

Future goals?
Continue to innovate and improve horse health with quality products.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
The feedback from a horse owner/trainer that you have changed their horse’s life for the better with nutrition.

Recently I connected with Darci in a Facebook group looking at marketing of digital products. She was kind enough to answer some questions about her horse related work. See below.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
I run our small, private 6 stall stable and 30 acre facility so my days begin at 4:45 with am stables and then I head off to teach high school science for the day. I used to coach riding lessons but now only work with a few clients as I am really focused on building my mental performance coaching business.

I also ride a few days of the week, although as an upper level competitor I rode in a day as much as I now ride in a week. Life changes and I am thankful to still be involved in the equestrian world.

What is it exactly that you do?
I am a certified mental performance coach, specializing in the mental aspect of equestrian sport. I work with equestrians 12 years of age and up, regardless of their tack, the sport they love or the level they currently ride at. With a background in education and counseling, in addition to having been both an upper level equestrian and coach for almost 3 decades, I love helping riders develop the skills I really could have used when I was competing.

The aim of a mental performance coach is to help you understand and manage yourself better. This includes your thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Through being able to control yourself and your mind, you will then allow the physical talents you’ve worked hard to develop shine through during competition.

It’s no secret that the mind and body are deeply connected. My mission is about helping riders learn about the huge impact their thoughts have on their biology, physiology and somatic experience. A mindset is a set of underlying beliefs, attitudes, and assumptions that serve as the foundation for how you view, engage with, and interact with the world.

Mindsets are powerful: They create your realities, and shape your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in important ways. They can also create blind spots, fuel biased thinking, and when left unchecked, can be hard to change. For many, aspects of your mindset remain outside of your consciousness.

From enhancing focus and managing stress to building resilience and boosting confidence, the impact of mental performance coaching on equestrians and the relationship they have with their horse, is an untapped opportunity for growth, connection and performance.

What an athlete thinks, believes, and feels can have a significant impact on their physical performance. For peak performance and a harmonious connection with your horse, mastering the mind is as crucial as mastering physical skills.

Skills I help Equestrians Develop:

• Enhanced Focus and Concentration: In sports, split-second decisions and unwavering focus can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Mental performance coaches introduce techniques like mindfulness and visualization to help athletes improve their ability to concentrate. Through guided imagery and meditation, athletes learn how to eliminate distractions and stay in the present moment, enhancing their performance under pressure.
• Stress Management: The pressure of competition and the demands of training can lead to elevated stress levels that hinder an athlete’s performance. Mental performance coaching equips athletes with stress management tools, such as deep breathing exercises and positive self-talk. These techniques not only help in managing pre-game jitters but also aid in maintaining composure during high-stress situations.
• Building Resilience: Athletes face setbacks and failures throughout their careers, which can impact their confidence and motivation. Mental performance coaching teaches athletes to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, fostering mental resilience. The ability to bounce back from disappointments and setbacks is a hallmark of successful athletes, and this skill is honed through mental coaching.
• Confidence Boost: Self-confidence is a cornerstone of peak athletic performance. Mental performance coaches work to build an athlete’s self-belief by reinforcing positive self-assessment and encouraging a growth mindset. When athletes trust their abilities, they are more likely to take risks, seize opportunities, and perform at their best.
• Goal Setting and Motivation: Mental performance coaching aids athletes in setting clear, achievable goals that align with their aspirations. Coaches help athletes break down larger objectives into smaller, manageable steps, creating a roadmap to success. This process not only enhances motivation but also provides a sense of accomplishment as milestones are achieved.
• Emotional Regulation: Emotions can influence an athlete’s performance, either propelling them forward or holding them back. Mental performance coaches teach athletes how to recognize and regulate their emotions, preventing emotional fluctuations from negatively impacting their performance. Emotional stability enables athletes to remain level-headed, make better decisions, and maintain consistent performance.

Profile On: Darci, E-Pops Performance

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full-time professional and earn a liveable income?
This area in equestrian sport is relatively new although I have colleagues in my mental performance coaching cohort who work with athletes in sports that have HUGE buy-in ( IE. 26 of 29 professional baseball teams in the US have FT mental performance coaches on staff) so I am confident that equestrian sport will see the incredible value of mental performance coaching. Afterall we have two brains and two bodies to regulate and align!

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
I think a wide range of equestrian experience is crucial in addition to experience coaching, would be a starting point. There are some really good mental performance coaching certification programs in addition to sports psychology degrees that would be really beneficial.

Favourite horse memory?
So many…from adventures with my first pony, to the birth of my first foal, to competing internationally with my own home bred. There are too many precious horses I’ve shared my life with to narrow it down to one.

Future goals?
To continue to build my business and increase awareness of the mental game for equestrian athletes. I KNOW these skills will:

• Improve the fate of complicated horses because their riders can manage their own frustration and problem-solve solutions to help those horses rather than resorting to abusive, angry, frustrated tactics we sadly see way too often in the horse world
• Allow equestrians returning to the sport they love after decades away, to thrive
• Help riders regain confidence after struggles or injury, to re-enter their sport
• Help youth manage difficult emotions and be better partners for their mounts
• Assist all equestrians reconnect with the joy of being with their partner, regardless of what they do or what level they compete at.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
Seeing clients reconnect with their horse and their sport because they have tools and skills to manage the brain based emotions like fear, stress, anxiety that change who they are as riders. With these skills, equestrians can problem solve, and improve the relationship of being a leader for their horse because they both recognize what happens to their brain and body when struggles and challenges arise, and have tools and skills to manage those situations. And I LOVE seeing the satisfaction my clients get and the smiles on their faces when things finally click!

Want to connect with E-Pops Performance? Check out E-Pops Website, E-Pops on Facebook or E-Pops on Instagram

Equine author and artist Linda Shantz, has been kind enough to answer questions about her horse related careers. Read on below!

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
I spend about five hours a day, seven days a week with horses or in the barn, then from two to four hours a day painting or preparing to paint, and writing or preparing to write (about horses!)

What is it exactly that you do?
These days I have multiple income streams. I have my own horses plus I foster one for a racehorse aftercare group. I’m also an oil painter, doing both commissions and work for galleries of horses and other animals. And, as if that’s not enough, I write Equestrian Fiction set in the world of North American horse racing.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full-time professional and earn a liveable income?
It’s definitely possible to earn a full-time income from any of those three jobs. When I still did racetrack layups and broodmare management, I made a full-time income from that which my artwork supplemented nicely. I started publishing about the time I stopped doing track layups and broodmares, and that income was able to replace my farm income. I like not having all my eggs in one basket, so to speak!

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
While it’s certainly possible these days to get a formal education in any of the areas I work, as an artist and author I’ve always been self-taught, and in the horse business, though there are more opportunities to be formally educated, hands-on experience still trumps a piece of paper.

Regardless of which route one takes, hard work and determination is key. I’ve spent hours painting, hours writing, and hours in the barn! I do like to supplement that experience with formal learning opportunities such as workshops, conferences and symposiums, which lets me focus on areas of particular interest to me.

Favourite horse memory?
That’s a hard question! I have so many. I have had a couple of tough rehab cases that come to mind, both of which had nothing to do with racing injuries.

One was a mare who was diagnosed with a significantly displaced fractured pelvis when brought to the local veterinary surgical clinic. The injury had happened on a layup farm, and she came to me afterward. It was touch and go for the first few weeks, but after four months of strict stall rest, then a long, careful rehab plan, she even went back to the races. She didn’t return to her earlier form so she was retired after two starts, but she went on to a riding horse home.

Future goals?
At this stage in my life, my only goal is to keep doing what I’m doing for as long as I can! The horses get me up in the morning and keep me moving (important with the injuries, aches and pains I’ve collected over the years!) and writing and painting keep my brain occupied. I would, however, like to check off a couple of big bucket list items. I’d love to make it to France for the Arc, go to the races anywhere for anything in the UK, and get to the Melbourne Cup!

Best thing about your sport/profession?
I’m never bored with my job. I get to help horses and make people happy with my artwork and books.

Be sure to check out Equus Education’s review of Bright, Broken Things by Linda Shantz whilst you’re here!