I have recently come across Galloping Graphics as an online horse store.  Beth Jones was kind enough to answer some questions about her store and horses!

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
I am currently focusing on my career/business and I just bought a house, so most of my days are spent working or renovating my house. However, I have plans to buy a horse within the next few years

What is it exactly that you do?
Since Galloping Graphics is a small business, I have many hats. I create all the designs, cut out all the stickers / vinyl, source products, manage social media accounts, write thank you notes, etc.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full time professional and earning a liveable income?
With a lot of elbow grease and tenacity, anything is possible. You’ll have a lot of late nights and never really have a day off, but it is worth it.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
I have a degree in advertising and a minor in art which have helped me greatly when promoting my business and creating the art. For people looking to get in to the field, I would suggest having a strong portfolio and to not be afraid of criticism and long hours.

Favourite horse memory?
This is a tough one, I’ve been around horses since I was three. One of my favorite memories would have to be when I was cleaning my first horse’s stall and he came over to just rest his head on my shoulder while I was working. It’s a very simple, but very fond memory. He was a special horse.

Future goals?
My future goals would be to continue to grow with Galloping Graphics, finish my house, and buy a horse.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
The best thing about this sport is the bond you create with the horse. There’s truly nothing like it. The best thing about this profession is being able to combine my creativity with my passion.

“He has galloped through young girl’s dreams, added richness to grown women’s lives and served men in war and strife.” – Toni Robinson

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
Almost all of the working day and much of the night and weekends – such are the joys of Facebook!

What is it exactly that you do?
I am Research and Marketing Director for EquiFeast. Combining customer contact and technical responsibilities has enabled me to develop products that really help solve rider problems. As our team grows I encourage the same focus on horse and rider needs.

But our strength also lies in our willingness to try novel things. Chelated calcium is proving to improve functions all over the horse and it is very exhilarating to see such a novel approach make our customers smile.

Favorite horse memory?
Winning an unaffiliated prelim dressage test at a local dressage centre on Paddy the horse that got us started down the chelated calcium route. I am the worlds worst rider but 69.55 was a great score from a horse that previously used to enter at A and canter to B and then C before thinking about jumping the judge’s car.

Watching other riders I think it has to be watching Laura Bechtolsheimer (now Tomlinson) winning Gold and Bronze at London 2012 using our chelated calcium supplement!!!

Future goals?
Getting a better understanding of what chelated calcium can do and taking the technology beyond improving behaviour and performance and making progress with health and welfare issues. Top targets for 2016 are mobility (Kissing Spine and less extreme conditions) and Cushings (big trial with the Royal Agricultural University about to start).

Best thing about your job?
Definitely getting calls from customers saying we have saved their wild and uncontrollable horse from the doggers.

“The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit and freedom.” – Sharon Ralls Lemon

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
All of it! No, seriously. Just about everything I do is horse-related. I spend approximately 20-25 hours a week teaching, another 10-15 hours training and/or riding, followed by a fun-filled 15-20 hours of paperwork. Let’s not forget the 1-2 hours a day of mucking, turn in and out, and general barn maintenance.

What is it exactly that you do?
That’s a bit of a complicated question. The easy answer is I’m an instructor. The complicated answer is I work with clients with special needs to teach them how to ride and/or how to safely handle horses.

I also work with horse owners and teach them equine first aid. I co-facilitate equine assisted learning clinics to teach both horsey and non-horsey people how to set healthy boundaries, how to be more mindful and present in the moment, and how to be more confident in their lives.

All of the above is done through my business, The Equine Connection Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre, so I also do a lot of indirectly horse-related things that involve finances, marketing, customer relations, and developing new training programs for my horses and for clients.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full time professional and earning a liveable income?
It’s possible for sure but it takes a lot of work, time, effort, and money, and a bit of luck doesn’t hurt! There are established centres in most countries where you can work instead of establishing your own centre like I did.

Most people involved in therapeutic riding or equine assisted learning do it as a part-time job, which is their passion. I’m one of the few fortunate people who is able to do it (mostly) full-time with some equine-related marketing contracts on the side.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
Start by volunteering at a centre. Get as much experience as you can working with horses and people with special needs. Take an opportunity you can get to handle horses from the ground or ride. Audit riding clinics if you can’t afford to participate in them.

Take advantage of free or cheap online courses to learn more about horse behaviour and handling or about specific disorders and diseases that are treated using equine therapy. Be hungry for information and helpful! The more present and helpful you are at a centre, the more likely you are to get a job in this field.

Favourite horse memory?
I don’t know if I can pick just one. I have many happy memories of pulling up a chair and sitting in the paddock, just watching the herd. I’d have to say that my most recent favourite horse memory was when a client of mine cantered for the first time. It was her last lesson for the year, and she’d just asked my horse to trot for about the 5th time that lesson. She had ridden before but had lost all of her confidence.

She’d been working on position at the trot with me for a few weeks and when she asked my horse Noble to trot for the 5th time, he decided it was time for her to be more confident. He only took about 7 canter strides, but the huge smile on her face was priceless.

She’d always been a bit of a nervous rider and seemed to lack confidence in herself, but after that short canter, she carried her head high and gave him the biggest hug and kiss I’d ever seen. Another trainer might have viewed what he did as misbehaving, but I know that he did it for her. He knew what she needed and took it upon him to get the job done.

Future goals?
I have so many it’s difficult to narrow them down! Mainly, I want to keep expanding my programming so that it’s available for more kids and families in need.

Best of all, this means getting another horse! I’ve been lucky enough to have three amazing therapy horses so far, in addition to a handful that I lease by the hour for lessons. With a lot more hard work and a bit more luck, I’m hoping that my herd will grow again soon. My ultimate goal is for this to be my only full-time job but I’m still a bit away from that happening.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
I get the best of two worlds. I get to spend time with my horses on a regular basis and share them with all sorts of different people. I get to meet new people all the time and teach them about the joy of just being with horses.

I also get to help people with getting stronger physically and mentally through the use of horses. My clients learn new things about themselves from my horses and I get to learn new things from them.

“I would travel only by horse, if I had the choice.” – Linda McCartney