I reached out to EquestriSafe recently about a profile on Equus Education. Teresa was kind enough to answer some questions about what she does.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
I am constantly aware of horses, horses being stolen, the wild horse round-ups, kill buyers and auctions as well as clinics, clinicians and equines in general. Unfortunately at the present time I do not have any horses of my own. But I make every effort to be involved with events and other opportunities that put myself and our products in front of horse enthusiasts and owners.

What is it exactly that you do?
We produce Equine Identification items along with offering other safety products by women owned businesses. Our EquestriSafe products are handmade or enhanced by us, personalized and often customized for our customers.

With equines being top of mind, we have expanded and increased our identification products so that they can be used for almost all small farm animals and dogs. Several items can be used for pet cattle, goats, sheep, camels, llamas, alpacas, possibly also for emus and Ostriches.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full-time professional and earning a liveable income?
As an individual manufacturer entrepreneur it is up to me to make a liveable income. My income from EquestriSafe has been a hard, long fought battle of learning, advancing and getting the word out about our products.

Since we are not the only Equine Identification product company on the market, for me it is all about explaining our products, uses, and safety. We also do not mass produce our products offshore. Being focused only on safety and identification, our income is reliant on natural and man made disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, floods, traveling accidents and other incidents that would warrant having visible reliable identification on your equines.

My husband joined in with me in 2016 and EquestriSafe became mobile. We have traveled the US since then to horse expos, small farm and ranch events as well as being able to provide products to retailers and other outlets. Yes, EquestriSafe has afforded us the ability to do this.

Profile On: Teresa Spencer, EquestriSafe

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
Anyone can be an Entrepreneur, however it is not to be taken lightly and is not without second guessing yourself always. If you have a message, product, device or way of doing things just that much different and have gained an audience, then yes anyone can do what they want to do in the equine industry.

That is what is so wonderful about our industry, things are always changing, messages are often the same, but spoken in a different way that suddenly you might be the one to listen to. I personally look for instance to all the “Natural Horsemanship clinicians” there are many that have come and gone and there are many who are doing the same things, but in a different manner and with a different delivery.

Look at what you do, start at the bottom, define your message, help others, get lots of testimonials, referrals and be present.

Favourite horse memory?
I have several. When I was a teenager, my friends and I would spend all day every day in the summer, trail riding on a private cattle ranch, climbing hills and valleys with our horses from early morning until dusk.

As an adult my favorite memories are the friends I found who were and are very passionate about horses. As I was part of many different groups of women, I could and would often be able to ride 7 days a week, attend clinics or work privately with a trainer on things I had not learned as a young woman..

Future goals?
Continue with our current products and grow the company with other safety and identification products.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
The best part about my profession is that I continue to meet many of our customers. Many of our customers are adamant advocates of our products and mission to provide safe, reliable, visible identification for all equines. Word of mouth, customer referrals and returning customers are our biggest joys in our business.

I recently learned about Henke Bookkeeping. This business has a horse focus! Erika Henke was kind enough to answer some questions about what she does.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
Well not nearly as much time is spent with my horses as I would like… But I’m certain that is only a short term problem as I get my business going. I spend at least an hour a day with them just doing chores and spending time with them. And I would say I average at least a couple 2 hour sessions with them each week depending on the weather. Sometimes we ride around our farm, other times we do some arena work, and sometimes ground training and liberty work.

What is it exactly that you do?
I run my own bookkeeping firm, and I specialize in the Farming and Equine Business industries. Helping other farmers and equine enthusiasts is really what gets me up in the morning. Knowing that I help make a difference in their businesses is very rewarding.

My “job” involves the clean-up and daily maintenance of their finances to make sure they are getting the best tax advantage with their deductions. And showing them where their business stands financially so they can make the best business decisions possible. Besides basic bookkeeping, I also offer services such as:

• bill pay (accounts payable),
• invoicing (accounts receivable),
• payroll,
• sales tax filing, and more.

Equine Focused Bookkeeping

All of this takes the burden and stress off of the business owners that I work with and gets them back to doing what they do best and the things that only they can do. It frees them up to enjoy their business again and gives them more time either with their families or growing their business further.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full-time professional and earning a liveable income?
Absolutely! Owning your own business is definitely not a get-rich-quick situation. It takes a lot of work and determination, but it most definitely is a viable solution.

In less than a year, I more than doubled my take-home pay from my full-time job prior to going off on my own as self-employed. And my income is not stuck at this level by any means. I can’t guarantee results for anyone, but I do believe with the right tools, a strong determination, and a positive, can-do attitude anyone can become an entrepreneur and be successful.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
With regards to bookkeeping specifically, I think having an affinity towards numbers is definitely a plus! But this profession doesn’t require a degree in accounting or special certifications. Those things may help, but they certainly aren’t necessary.

I would suggest finding a bookkeeping course/group that you can take and be involved in, especially if you have little or no experience in bookkeeping and accounting. Even with experience, these groups are great resources as they give you a group of peers with varying experiences and levels of expertise that you can learn from and bounce questions off of.

Then there are the typical steps toward getting any business started like deciding if you want to form an LLC, getting your federal employer identification number (FEIN), a business checking account, etc. And finally, getting clients!

Profile On: Erika Henke, Henke Bookkeeping

This is sometimes the most challenging piece especially if you struggle with marketing yourself, but it is also the most fun and exciting. In a service based business, it’s all about selling yourself rather than a product. You are the product! Being confident, personable, and trustworthy are just a few of the character traits that will help gain you success in any business venture.

Favourite horse memory?
I can’t think of a specific memory, but I can say with certainty that my favorite times involve the trail rides that my daughter and I go on occasionally. We travel to a trail together talking and laughing about one thing or another. We have the best conversations and we get to spend quality time with each other and with our horses.

It’s always so peaceful and enjoyable. And I truly believe our horses enjoy being together and seeing a new environment with us too.

Future goals?
I am working towards growing and scaling my firm to have other bookkeepers working with me and form a mutual partnership with one or two CPA’s so that I can truly be a full-service bookkeeping firm offering tax preparation and filing as well. That is the one piece that I am missing at the moment.

I’d like Henke Bookkeeping to become a “household name” in the Equine Business realm and be the go-to firm that equine business owners seek out to handle their bookkeeping needs.

The Best Thing

Best thing about your sport/profession?
The best thing about my profession is the flexibility I have with my schedule. It was one of the main reasons I wanted to start my own business. We live on a farm and have 2 very active teenagers, both of which keep us extremely busy!

Knowing that I can schedule my day around the needs of either one is a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Unlimited earning potential is a close second though!

I have worked in positions that offer little to no advancement opportunities. And it’s not fun knowing you have no control over that outcome. I truly enjoy the freedom and flexibility I have. And I consider myself one of the lucky ones to find a profession that I also love doing!

Certified Equine Appraiser, Tanja Schnuderl kindly answered some questions about her unique horse related career. See below.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
Pretty much all day, every day. If I don’t provide barn management services, I write horse appraisals or work on legal cases that involve horses, I spend my time off riding or showing my own horse.

What is it exactly that you do?
I am a Certified Equine Appraiser and have established my own equine appraisal company, Sigma Equine LLC. As an appraiser, I analyze the market and determine the market value of a horse for different purposes, like insurance claims, donations or within the process of purchasing or selling a horse.

I also provide barn management and horse care services at a modern 20-stall boutique barn and an exclusive 8 horse training facility of a local FEI Dressage Rider here in Maryland. In addition, I am a member of The Equine Expert LLC, which is a multi-discipline equine expert and consulting firm and serve as expert witness. With my expertise in barn management and horse behavior, I consult with attorneys in legal cases that involve horses.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full-time professional and earning a liveable income?
The pay rate for an appraiser, barn manager and expert witness are definitely different. Since I enjoy working a part-time mix of all these capacities, I can’t speak on whether doing just one full-time would be enough to provide a liveable income.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
I have been involved with horses my whole life and turned that passion into a full-time position as barn manager a few years ago. However, my professional career actually started in the legal industry.

Profile On: Tanja Schnuderl, Certified Equine Appraiser

For many years I worked at international law firms, first in Germany and then here in the US. I started as a Trainee, became a Legal Secretary, a Paralegal and then earned my Bachelor of Law degree. Having extensive work experience in both the equine and legal industry, I was looking for a way to combine the two.

Granted, that seems like a stretch at first. But then I came across an article about equine appraisers and started looking into that profession. In order to get certified as Equine Appraiser by the American Society of Equine Appraisers, I had to study through the courses and successfully take the exams.

Favourite horse memory?
That is tough… I’m thinking about sitting on my mare for the first time after getting her started under saddle. Or doing a flying lead change on an schoolmaster for the first time. But to be honest it probably was the very first time walking into a horse barn as a kid and soaking in the warm magical smell of horses, hay and leather and hearing the horses peacefully chewing their grain before they curiously pick up their heads to look at you.

Future goals?
Continue to learn about horse care and behavior, becoming a better rider and competing my way up through the levels.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
For me personally it is working with horses every day, taking care of them, training them and seeing them develop. I also enjoy working as an expert witness on legal cases with attorneys, since they usually are non-horse people and always fascinated when I explain basic horse behavior to them, reminding me about how lucky I am to be working with them every day.

Emily Haag of Polished Pen Editorial often has some interesting posts on LinkedIn! They tend to focus on horses and grammar. Emily kindly answered some questions about her editing work.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
That partly depends on how horsey the project I’m working on is. If it’s horsey, then quite a lot, but I also work outside of my niche. In terms of being with horses in person, I’m saving up for my own. When I get them, every day will have a lot to do with them! Right now, I have a lot less to do with horses than I’d like, which is partly why I’ve chosen an equestrian niche.

What is it exactly that you do?
As a proofreader, I check people’s writing for errors and inconsistencies in spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization and formatting. When writing comes for proofreading, it should already say what the writer wants it to say. I do the final polish to make sure that it looks professional, that readers will have a smooth experience and that there’s nothing left that will distract or confuse them. Think of it as getting a horse ready for a class where turnout is important. You want it to look immaculate.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full-time professional and earning a liveable income?
Yes! Although most proofreaders offer editing as well, there are some like me who stick purely to proofreading and proof-editing (which adds awkward wording and such to the things checked). I’m the only one I know of with an equestrian specialization, but any writing that’s seen by the public can benefit from a proofread. This includes websites, newsletters, brochures, pamphlets, advertising and signs, as well as the more obvious books and magazines.

Profile On: Emily Haag, Polished Pen Editorial

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
Although some proofreaders are employed in-house by publishers, many are self-employed. In general, training by your national editorial society, or another country’s, would be a good place to start.

In the UK, the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading and the Publishing Training Centre have good quality, widely recognized courses. In Australia, there are the Canberra Society of Editors, the Institute of Professional Editors and province-specific editorial societies, most of which have workshops, and some have courses or mentorship programs. The Society for Editing (ACES) in the US offers a wide variety of webcasts.

Favourite horse memory?
It’s so hard to choose! Possibly spending time with Robin, my favourite pony. My funniest horse memory is from early on. The other pony in my riding lesson, Lucy, tried to drink from the instructor’s bottle of water, which was on a block in the middle of the arena.

Future goals?
My business goals are to become well-known for what I do and expand into copyediting. I’d also like to network a lot more with equestrian business owners.

My personal goals are to buy some land and keep my own horses, as well as a few other animals. If things go according to plan, one of my first two horses will be a Dales pony.

Best thing about your profession?
Some of the things I proofread can be very interesting, and I’m always learning something new. The flexibility of being self-employed is an added bonus.