How much of your day/week is related to horses?
Our company, Equustock, manufactures horse bedding under the brand Guardian Horse Bedding. We also manufacture cat litters, fuel pellets and a moisture absorbent. I am primarily engaged with the horse bedding products.

Not only is our business founded and dedicated to horses but we also have our own farm with currently 6 horses residing there. We call this our “research facility” because all of our products were formulated, developed, tested and of course, subsequently used here.

I am around horses most days when I’m not traveling in some capacity. In addition to our corporate offices at another location, I have my own office in our barn. I am fortunate that I can walk out and pet, groom, clean or ride anytime I feel the need. Thanks to the wonders of modern communications I remain completely connected by intercom, internet, phone, cell, fax, etc. to the rest of our organization.

What is it exactly that you do?

I am one of two managing partners of Equustock, LLC (my wife Claire is the other partner).  Together, with our team of 10 office staff, we oversee the day to day operations of manufacture, packaging, shipping and marketing of our brands: Guardian Horse Bedding, Guardian Angel Cat Litter, Unconditional Cat Litter, Absorb & Clean moisture absorbent and Big Heat Fuel Pellets.

We’re both fully engaged in sales and maintaining and promoting our company policy of Reduce-Reuse-Recycle-Repeat.  We ship domestically and internationally direct from 10 plants regionally located around the country.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full time professional and earning a livable income?
We began our business with our own horses in mind. We wanted to provide the best, cleanest and most consistent bedding we could. We finally came to the realization we had to make the effort ourselves. So, at first, Claire was the only employee (and she was working free).

We then slowly built the business until after about 2 years, Claire was able to take a salary out of the business. Anyone with a start up business will cite this same kind of story so we aren’t anything special. At first it was difficult and I continued to work at my other job while we established the framework of Equustock. After 13 years, we still continue to grow and expand our product lines. Short answer: tough, but do-able.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
See a need… create a solution… persevere.

Favorite horse memory?
So many… I’ll go with finishing a training level event on my wonderful young Irish Sport Horse “MJ”. He was quite a project but with expert assistance we were able to bring him along. I look forward to many more years competing him at Preliminary Level.

Future goals?
We would like to build the business to be self-sustaining or perhaps sold at some point. This goal would free up more time for us to spend together, and with our horses and animals.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
Equustock has provided me with the ability to combine my love and passion for horses with a stable business (no pun intended) that continues to grow. We began with the health and well-being of our horses as the objective and still remains our core philosophy for all horses.

“Give me food and drink; and care for me. And when the day’s work is done, shelter me. Give me a clean bed and leave me not too small a place in the stable. Talk to me, for your voice often takes the place of reins; be good to me and I shall serve you more gladly and love you.” – Author unknown

Equine photographer Nancy Wilkinson kindly took the time to answer some questions about her profession – and share some photos!

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
I spend three to perhaps four hours a day editing photographs. I spend from about Thursday to Sunday with horse related, such as horse racing or horse related events such as horse shows, and I do horse portraits.

What is it exactly that you do?
I’m an Equine Photographer.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full time professional and earning a liveable income?
Yes it is possible. But like with everything involving photography, it is and can be a very competitive filed. But you can reach to where you can make a living in doing so.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
Steps should include a bit of luck and a lot of perseverance. First thing one needs to do is a lot of practice; go to your local tracks, shows, watch, take notes; watch their movements, learn horses’ personalities, taking photos of your subject, learn what is working for you, what is not?

Second after you have got to a point where you are comfortable, seek out some Pro Bono work (this is where you get the gig, but will not be paid, but a good learning curve).

The exception to Pro Bono work is race tracks, every track is different, most of the time you need to be with an organization, such as a magazine or newspaper, but if you’re able to, see if you can get on with these on that Pro Bono.

One thing for sure is you must carry liability insurance, this is very important. If you do get a chance to photograph at a track also be aware that you will get the chance to do so on a non stakes day, but this helps you for future endeavors. Last I would say sell your photographs on your own to stock agents, at art shows etc – you will gain a following, and might just help with word of mouth.

Favourite horse memory?
Seeing the great Secretariat win the Belmont Stakes, thus becoming the Triple Crown Champion.

Future goals?
My future goals are pretty simple or not depending on how one looks at it. The simple part is to become one of the top Equine Photographers (sports and other).  The perhaps harder part is that I’m hopeful to one day win an Eclipse award – a lofty goal for sure, but one I hope is in my future.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
The best thing in my profession is the passion I have for the horses themselves. Seeing them race or in a show ring is just wondrous. They are by far some of the greatest creatures ever brought to man. They are joyous to watch.

I like to say also that photography is like a time machine, when you take your photo in that moment you have preserved the past. There is nothing like it. I’m sure I will be doing photography in some form till I no longer am able to.

“A large and liquid eye. . . the swirl of dust around pounding hooves. . .these, then, are the images that move us.” – Author unknown

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
Horse Lifestyle is 100% dedicated to equestrian media and content, so we deal with horses thematically all the time – across all territories and in all languages. We’re constantly developing the narrative around what it means to be a horse person and what the lifestyle entails. It’s an all encompassing experience.

What is it exactly that you do?
I get this question from my mother all the time! As a Chief Business Officer, I oversee a number of executive functions mainly related to B2B and B2C relationships, market development and strategic planning. On any given day I’ll be working on contracts, original programming production, content acquisition, legal and financial issues, HR, social media management, marketing – you name it.

The role is exciting because you really have to think about the big picture of your company, the needs of your staff and weigh all of this with the day to day functions of progressing both a business and a brand forward. You have to be both a creative and critical thinker in one.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full time professional and earning a liveable income?
The overarching aim of Horse Lifestyle is to provide positive unity and a more buoyant market for the equestrian industries. We support horses and horse people across the board. Our success is predicated on yours.

So, if I’m doing my job right – everyone in the equine industries will be able to make a livable income doing what they love best. It’s possible, it just takes unwavering nerve and a bold, insightful team of professionals working with you who can patiently adjust to the daily ebb and flow.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
In the media industry, you really have to “earn your stripes.” If you say you’re going to do something, do it and do it better than anyone else. You have to hold to your vision and prove that you have endurance to last – both professionally and personally.

It’s a bit of a fallacy that you need fancy degrees and years in academia. To be sure, that may help, but there’s also something to be said for what the British refer to as, “Pluck and luck.”

My greatest recommendation for success in the media industries is to read a lot, listen more, and when you’re ready to act – hold nothing back.

Favourite horse memory?
Nearly all of my memories and stories revolve around horses – this is the toughest question so far.

Hmmmm … you know how, at the end of a busy day, when you feel a bit frazzled and you need a calm moment – well, I think back to this one day in late April. I must have been about 8 or 9, and I had been for a trail ride on Black Night, the horse that taught me everything I know. He was part of our family for 20-years, special in every way.

Anyway, … it was one of those especially warm spring days, so I untacked him, spritzed him down and took him out to graze on the clover. He was happily munching away, so I lay down in the grass a minute, staring at the clouds.

I still remember that perfect sound of him munching and snorting at flies and just the peaceful calm of everything. Infinite happiness in that moment. It’s one of the rare memories that you can return to your in mind and find an inner calm.

Future goals?
I’d like to produce more and really roll up my sleeves in terms of original content creation.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
I telecommute with a brilliant team that happens to be based in The Netherlands. So, keeping ties with Europe, where my husband and I were ex-pats for 6-years, is really wonderful. Plus, they’re always sending over stroopwafels!

“Machinery may make for efficiency and a standardisation of life, but horse love is a bond of freemasonry which unites the entire race…” – William Fawcett