If you have a passion for horses and always have then you might be wondering if it’s possible to have a career working with these magnificent animals. Humans have had a close relationship with horses since time began whether it be for transport, farming, load carrying or in battle. Here are some interesting career choices for those wishing to devote their working lives to training or caring for horses:

• Veterinarian

As a vet, you can specialise in equine care providing health care, preventative care and surgery for horses. You’ll need to spend a long time studying and it takes a lot of commitment. It’s a well-paid position and as well as the years of training, there will be a commitment to career-long learning as new technologies and medicines enter the industry.

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• Vet Technician

These are the people who assist vets whenever they carry out examinations and procedures. You’ll still need to spend a considerable time studying and then gain additional certification in the field but it’s an important and well-paid position which can be specialised for working with horses.

• Groom

If your passion is for the daily care of horses then you might love being a groom. They provide the daily services of grooming, feeding, cleaning and making sure everything is well with the horses under their supervision. It’s a hands-on job and you’ll need to muck in but if fresh air, rural settings and horse welfare is your passion then this could be the job for you.

• Yard Manager

This is the person in charge of everything that happens from working out staff rotas to ordering in feed and other essential supplies. They need to know what’s going on for the owner of the facility and could be responsible for any of the following types of facilities:

Riding School – taking riding lesson bookings, managing the instructors, planning vet visits and marketing activities.

Livery Yard – advertising and marketing, organising events and shows, ordering supplies and invoicing.

Competition Yard – arranging horse travel documents, managing training and competition calendar, managing grooms and riders, planning vet visits and arranging transportation for the horses. Find specialised colleges that run courses in equine business, like Hartpury College in Gloucestershire. For Gloucester Student Accommodation, visit http://studentaccommodationgloucester.co.uk/

• Farrier

If you’ve never heard of this profession, it’s similar to an old-fashioned blacksmith. A farrier takes care of a horse’s hooves and trims the feet of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules for the fitting of horseshoes. This is an incredibly important job as the hoof is very sensitive and without correct care and attention, a neglected hoof can lead to lameness. A farrier is an essential profession that no yard can do without and the skills of the job mean that where deformity or lameness occur, it’s likely to be a farrier that works to correct the problem rather than a vet.

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• Riding Instructor

Teaching students how to ride and proper horsemanship is another important and fulfilling career. You will need to be a qualified instructor and will be responsible for taking private lessons for individuals or groups of all abilities. Ensuring the safety of rider and horse, assessing riders and providing coaching and feedback are just some of the key aspects of the job.