Profile On: Denise O’Meara, Equine Land Conservation Resource

Denise O’Meara was kind enough to answer some questions regarding her work relating to the Equine Land Conservation Resource.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
8 hours per day, 5 days per week. Additional 6-8 hrs per month in evening meetings.

What is it exactly that you do?
I am the director of education for Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR), a non-profit national organization focused on educating and advocating for equine land, facilities and trails through locally based organizations. Let’s face it – No Land, No Horse.

We are the only national organization to take on this task. I perform research into a variety of related areas, give presentations, write articles, administer webinars, monitor our online website educational library, and also handle technical assistance inquiries from around the country. I also provide content for social media platforms and create communication and marketing pieces. On top of this I am also a professional landscape architect (that’s the PLA) and have a background in thoroughbred racing and farm management.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full time professional and earning a liveable income?
Other non-profit organizations may have representatives that advocate and otherwise spread the word about the need to protect land for equine activities.  To get an idea of potential areas of study that might lead prospective students into land protection jobs look at the six issues that ELCR focuses on six issues: Planning and Zoning, Conservation Tools, Access to Public Lands, Access to Private Lands, Best Management Practices and the Economic Impact of Horses.

Jobs such as this one, combining equine knowledge and land conservation expertise, are replicated locally in mostly volunteer situations.

However, it is possible to earn a living in national breed and discipline organizations that have paid staff, as faculty and staff for equine science and equestrian programs at colleges and universities, in government agencies, and as staff for land trusts and other land conservation organizations, such as Nature Conservancy. One may also earn a living in positions training horses and riders, boarding horses, and farm management.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
First, acquire an equine science, equine management, business, communications, natural resources or other degree that will fit in to the employment/research area of choice. If you can afford to, take one or more intern positions. It’s amazing what you will learn.

Learn to communicate well, both verbally and in writing. Also learn about conservation. Network as much as you can. Most jobs worth having are the result of relationships rather than putting resumes out there by the hundreds. That said; develop a good portfolio of work.

Favourite horse memory?
I don’t think there is just one. Here are three of many that come to mind:

1. When training at a local thoroughbred track, I had been away for a while. When I walked down the shed row, one of my horses, anticipating my return, began nickering in his stall and poked his head out in greeting.  He laid his head on my shoulder and closed his eyes. Not a mild mannered horse by any means, this horse had taken to me like a faithful pup.
2. During my years foaling mares at our Kentucky farm, a client’s mare had a poorly presented foal and was making no progress.  This was to the point of her life being endangered. We called our vet, but until he arrived, we had to do something. I had to push the foal back up into the mare as far as possible and give her a light muscle relaxer. When the vet arrived, we were able to manipulate the foal out of the breach presentation.  We got him out, saving both that lovely mare and her foal. In those moments after the birth, listening to the mare nicker as she nudged her healthy newborn was singularly amazing.
3. I guess the best memory would be running a horse named Mane Minister in all three Triple Crown races. He was third in each race. It was thrilling to see the horse do so well in exceptional company, and to be part of the entourage and celebrate all three race outcomes in the tracks’ turf club inner sancta for triple crown owners whose horses had won, placed or showed.

Future goals?
After a couple of decades in thoroughbreds, two degrees as well as an equal period as a landscape architect, I’m looking forward to “retirement” in a few years and enjoying my family and the rest of the world through travel and adventure.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
As an educator in this field, I’m constantly immersed in research about community planning, land protection and the horse industry. As a landscape architect, I’ve grown to understand both development and conservation, and how important both are to the liveability of cities and towns. As for my years in the thoroughbred racing and breeding world, it’s very hard work and incredibly rewarding!”