So, you want to work with horses but have no idea where to begin. It would be an exaggeration to say that there are an infinite amount of careers available in the equine industry, but safe to say there are many more than you might imagine. Let’s take a look at a few and see if we can inspire you and point you in a new and previously unexplored direction.

Vet

What does it involve?

Obviously, if you choose to train as a veterinary surgeon you will have to learn about lots of animals, not just horses. You may decide whilst studying that actually you enjoy the diversity of treating many species, but if by the end of your course you still favour equines, you can specialise.

There are various areas you can work in once you have qualified:

General practice

You will be responsible for treating a variety of animals including household pets, zoo animals, farm animals as well as horses, but if you wish to work only with horses and ponies, there are practices that specialise in equine work. Once you qualify there are further exams you can take, for example through the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), which are necessary to keep your skills and knowledge constantly up to date.

Veterinary teaching and research

You could decide that research is the road you want to travel, learning more about diseases and working to find preventative methods and cures.

Government service

You could choose to protect public health through government agencies like the State Veterinary Service, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

Other opportunities

You could decide to work with pharmaceutical companies, with charities such as the RSPCA and PDSA, or wildlife and environmental conservation.

What qualifications do I need?

You need to attend a Veterinary College and read for a degree, either a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVM&S) or Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc). On gaining one of these qualifications you must become a member of the RCVS – then you can practise. The course lasts five years, six if you go to Cambridge, and is widely acknowledged as one of the hardest degrees you can undertake. But as long as you’ve got passion and drive, and can commit to the study hours required, which can often eat inbto your holidays, then you’ll be rewarded with a fantastic career at the end.

Where do I start?

As passionate as you may be about horses, in order to study to be a vet you need to have a love for all types of animals, not just equines. School qualifications required vary from college to college, but as a general guide you will need A level Chemistry plus two other subjects, and one of those will preferably be Biology, Physics or Maths. Non-science subjects will be considered as long as they are academically sound. Grades-wise you need at least two As and a B. Universities also require you to have good GCSE grades, and generally expect you to have attained at least a C in English Language, Maths and Science. Even if you have excellent grades, you are not assured a place at a veterinary school. Courses are always oversubscribed, so it pays to approach the university personally. Write initially, and attend all relevant open days so they know you’re keen.

Who can I contact to find out more?

• Veterinary Admissions Clerk, University of Bristol - 0117 928 9000, or www.vetschool.bris.ac.uk
• Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge - 01223 337600, or www.vet.cam.ac.uk
• The Cambridge Intercollegiate Applications Office - 01223 333308
• Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh - 0131 650 6130, or www.vet.ed.ac.uk
• University of Glasgow Veterinary School - 0141 330 5700, or www.gla.ac.uk/faculties/vet
• Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool - 0151 794 2000, or www.liv.ac.uk/vets
• The Royal Veterinary College - 020 7468 5000, or www.rvc.ac.uk
• The School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham - 0115 951 6417, or www.nottingham.ac.uk/vet
• The British Veterinary Association – www.bva.co.uk
• The British Equine Veterinary Association – 01223, 836970, or www.beva.org.uk
• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons – www.rcvs.org.uk

Veterinary nurse

What does it involve?

Based in a veterinary practice, a veterinary nurse supports the vet throughout the day. An ability to be able to work on your own initiative is invaluable, as is being able to work as part of an often small and tightly knit team. The nurse is usually the link between pet owner and surgeon, so good communication skills are vital. In more progressive practices, nurses can be given more ‘paraclinical’ roles, such as carrying out minor surgical procedures and X-rays. There is scope for progression for veterinary nurses who may wish to become practice managers, and as with vets, it is also possible to specialise in equine work.

What qualifications do I need?

First of all, you need to have worked as a full time, paid employee, for a minimum of two years, in an Approved Training and Assessment Centre (ATAC) or Training Practice (TP). Secondly you must complete an NVQ portfolio in Veterinary Nursing at levels 2 and 3. Finally, you have to pass two sets of exams as set by the RCVS. Bristol University runs a four-year course that will give you a VN diploma as well as a BSc in Veterinary Nursing and practice management. Although the road to becoming a veterinary nurse is shorter than to become a vet, the work expected of you is just as demanding on your time, so dedication is key.

Where do I start?

You need to have gained grade C or above in your GCSEs, in subjects including English Language and a science or mathematics. If you don’t have these it is possible to do a pre-veterinary nursing course instead.

Who can I contact to find out more?

• British Veterinary Nursing Association – www.bvna.org.uk
• The British Veterinary Association – www.bva.co.uk
• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons – www.rcvs.org.uk
• Veterinary Admissions Clerk, University of Bristol - 0117 928 9000, or www.vetschool.bris.ac.uk

Farrier

What does it involve?

Farriers shouldn’t be confused with blacksmiths – both work with metal, but farriers specialise in treating horses’ feet and only they are permitted to fit them with horseshoes. The craft of farriery has been around for hundreds of years, and is a very hard and physical career. A skilled farrier will have sound practical and theoretical knowledge, be able to shoe all types of feet including defective, make shoes to suit all types of work and working conditions, and be able to create shoes that can correct faulty limb action.

What qualifications do I need?

You must work as an apprentice for four years and two months, employed by an Approved Training Farrier (ATF), a Registered Farrier who has been approved by the Farriers Registration Council (FRC) to train apprentices. The odd two months is a probationary period, during which time the ATF will assess your ability with horses. In order to be eligible to join the Register of Farriers you must pass all college assessments, get an NVQ Level 3 in Farriery (an advanced apprenticeship will also require Level 2 Key Skills), pass the exam to get the Diploma of the Worshipful Company of Farriers, and complete the full four years and two months hands-on training.

Where do I start?

Entry requirements changed from January this year:

• You must have a minimum of four GCSEs, grade C or above (anticipated grades won’t be accepted), including English Language and Maths, and hold a Forging Certificate. (The Farriery Training Agency (FTA) provides information on this, which includes a forging exercise booklet.)

Or

• You must have NVQ level 2, Communication level 2 Key Skills, Application of Number level 2 Key Skills and hold a Forging Certificate.

Or

• You must successfully complete an Access Course, which includes units of NVQ at level 2, Communication level 2 Key Skills, Application of Number level 2 Key Skill and a hold a Forging Certificate.

Who can I contact to find out more?

• The Farriers Registration Council – 01733 319911, or www.farrier-reg.gov.uk
• The Farriery Training Agency - 0845 1188387, or www.farrierytraining.co.uk
• Herefordshire College of Technology - 0800 0321986, or www.hereford-tech.ac.uk
• Myerscough College (Preston) - 01995 642211, or www.myerscough.ac.uk
• Oatridge College (Edinburgh) - 01506 864800, or www.oatridge.ac.uk
• Warwickshire College - 0800 783 67 67, or www.warkscol.ac.uk

Equine Dental Technician

What does it involve?

An Equine Dental Technician (EDT), looks after horses’ teeth. The term dentist is strictly only used for human dentists, who have a degree in human dentistry. Working as an EDT is physically demanding, requires excellent horse-handling skills, and good communication skills as you will obviously be in close contact with the horses’ owners. Equine Dental procedures fall into three categories. Category one can be undertaken by an EDT and includes procedures such as the routine rasping of teeth and the removal of calculus (tartar) which lies above the gum line. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and the RCVS are currently deregulating category two. They are amending the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 to legally allow these procedures to be performed by qualified EDTs. However, some of these procedures require anaesthetic, which must be administered by a vet. Category three procedures are considered strictly surgical and can only be carried out by a veterinary surgeon.

It’s important to say at this point, that the majority of the people in the UK currently working in equine dentistry are not qualified. The law presently allows anyone to advertise as an EDT, irrespective of whether they have any training or qualifications. However, in some cases these practitioners can do more harm than good due to their limited knowledge. There are introductory equine dentistry courses available, run by reputable associations, but attending one of these one day or one week courses does not make you fully qualified – they are merely an introduction. For the sake of the horses you intend to treat, and if you wish to build up a successful business and earn yourself a good reputation, it is advised that you gain all the qualifications recommended in order to practise safely and ethically.

What qualifications do I need?

To become a fully qualified EDT will take many years of hard training. There are only three organisations that offer qualifications recognised by DEFRA –the British Association of Equine Dental Technicians (BAEDT), the Worldwide Association of Equine Dentistry and the International Association of Equine Dentistry. Out of these three, the BAEDT is the only one that requires its members to have passed the joint British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and British Veterinary Dental Association (BVDA) exam, and is the only organisation to be recognised by BEVA.

To qualify to join the BAEDT you must:

• Attend a two-day Advanced Theory Course. To do this you need a CV and two veterinary references. One year after this, you will be eligible to sit the exam.
• Submit at least 300 case studies to the examiners, including at least 40 where advanced procedures were undertaken. These need to be signed by the attending vet.
• Work for a significant time with a qualified EDT. They must give you a reference, and will be asked by the examiners whether they think you will pass the exam. The examiners will assess the documents you submit and if it is of a high enough standard, you will be allowed to sit the exam.
• Sit the exam. This includes two papers covering subjects ranging from anatomy and physiology, to microbiology and the prevention of disease. You will then have two spot examinations, covering subjects such as equine dental instruments, skulls and dental abnormalities. Finally you will be assessed by examiners for one-hour, to gauge your general horse-handling abilities, as well as your examination techniques and findings, your interpretation of the findings, your rationale for treatment and your actual skill in treatment. Unsurprisingly, only about 25 per cent of students pass this exam.

Where do I start?

BEVA run a one-day introductory EDT course, which is a great way to get an idea of the knowledge and the type of work that will be required of you. It should help you to decide if this really is the career for you. Remember, attending this course doesn’t mean you’ve qualified.

Who can I contact to find out more?

• The British Equine Veterinary Association – 01223, 836970, or www.beva.org.uk
• The British Association of Equine Dental Technicians – 01827 284718, or www.equinedentistry.org.uk
• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons – www.rcvs.org.uk
• Hartpury College – 01452 700283, or www.hartpury.ac.uk

Equine complementary therapist

What does it involve?

Complementary therapies are many, and cover all sorts of topics, so it will be difficult in this one feature to give them all an in depth look. We’ll give you a general idea of what’s out there, and if you’re interested in a specific therapy, try and point you in the right direction to find out more. Whatever form the complementary therapy takes, it is used in conjunction with veterinary care and approval, to help maintain the animal’s health. At no time can a complementary therapist make diagnoses or administer drugs – this is the realm of the vet, and the vet alone. There are in fact many vets who practise complementary therapy themselves.

Let’s look at some of the therapies available, some of which are more recognised and accepted than others:

• Acupuncture uses needles inserted on specific points on the body’s meridians
• or energy lines to bring about change and healing
• Aromatherapy works with the horse’s sense of smell, to address unbalance in the body
• Bach Flower remedies
• The Bowen Technique involves gentle moves over specific points to rebalance the body
• CranioSacral therapy is a holistic healing method focusing on the central nervous system
• Crystals disperse negative energy
• Divining rods mark and note areas of geopathic stress and energy levels
• Feng Shui in the stable yard can help maintain balance
• Herbal remedies can regulate and support the body systems of a horse
• Homeopathy works on the body at cellular level, from the inside out
• Hydrotherapy uses water to help heal injuries and restore muscle tone
• Kinesiology looks at what strengthens or weakens the body, confirming dietary supplements
• Magnotherapy uses magnets to alleviate pain
• Osteopathy and chiropractic are manipulation techniques
• Physiotherapy and massage works by manipulating soft tissue and uses noninvasive techniques
• Reiki is a non-invasive healing technique that works through energy transference
• Shiatsu uses stress point relief massage techniques.
• Tteam and Ttouch uses holistic training and massage
• Vitamin and mineral supplements may be recommended by a vet – they can be added to the diet for balanced nutrition and body maintenance

What qualifications do I need?

You will of course find it useful to achieve diplomas in specific disciplines, which can be gained at various specialist training establishments across the UK. However, some courses are easier to come by than others – for training in more obscure therapies you may need to look further afield. The USA and Australia are particularly forward thinking in this area, and offer a wider spectrum of courses. If travelling this far to learn is beyond your budget or ability, then it is worthwhile looking into courses aimed at treating humans. The trainers will be able to give you advice on whether basic principles of the therapy are the same, and whether skills learned can be adapted to equines.

A solid knowledge of equines is beneficial before attending any specialist courses, and a degree in Equine Science or Equine Sports Science, or an HNC or HND in Equine Studies, will give you a great grounding before you specialise. Whatever route you take, you will need to hold recognised certification and liability insurance in your chosen field, before you start practising.

Where do I start?

There are so many courses available that we can’t be specific about individual course requirements. However, if you plan to read for an equine science degree you will need English Language, Maths and Science GCSEs at grade C or above, and A levels that include a science, preferably Biology. For training courses, students are generally required to be over 18, hold at least four GCSE passes, one in English Language, and have some sort of equine qualification or experience under their belt. This could be the BHS stage 2 Certificate, a Horse Owners Certificate or Pony Club B, and at least three years experience in the equine industry, preferably at a professional yard or at competition level.

Who can I contact to find out more?

• Brackenhurst College, Nottingham Trent University - 01636 817099, or www.ntu.ac.uk
• Bishop Burton College - 01964 553000, or www.bishopburton.ac.uk
• Hartpury College - 01452 702132, or www.hartpury.ac.uk
• Institute of Rural Sciences, University of Wales - 01970 624471, or www.irs.aber.ac.uk
• University of Wales - 01248 382281, or www.senr.bangor.ac.uk
• Institute of Complementary Animal Therapies - 01626 852 485, or www.theicat.co.uk
• International Association of Reiki Professionals - www.iarp.org
• Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy - www.acpat.org