I thought it would be interesting to talk with other horse industry “lifers” that also have businesses in the industry about their views of trends, shifts and changes. I spoke with an interesting cross-section of colleagues - here is what they said.
Toby Raymond is a long-time horsewoman, writer and creative, and operates Equine Creative Services. Toby often sees the industry through the marketing lens, and also continues to own horses, most of which are Thoroughbreds off the track. Toby says, “As horses became mainstreamed, we didn’t have a handle on healthcare and management. As more and more people got horses, the demand for healthcare and management improvements increased. What we see today is a great improvement in the manner that we care for our horses. Horse owners are largely more educated – in nutrition, diagnostics and remedies. Technologies available, like ultrasound for example, allow us to treat problems that we could only guess at previously. There has also been an increase in unwanted horses. As horse owner’s desires for more advanced education and competitiveness increases, it creates quicker turn-over for horses as their skills develop. But there has also been a move to finding second jobs for horses. We see more horses finding a second life as a therapeutic riding horse, inmate rehabilitation, and horses as healers.”
Seth Burgess owns Equimax, a horse industry employment service. Seth previously owned an Arabian horse farm and owns horses still. Working with employers and jobseekers gives him a view from an angle we don’t often get. “I’ve been through three recessions and this one is the toughest. Over the years the customer profile has remained the same, in that we have had and continue to have all types of clients. Over the last 25 years, the industry has seen growth in educational opportunities and certifications. However, employers are not necessarily concerned with formal education. They want on-the-job experience. There are some exceptions such as requirements for veterinary degrees and in teaching positions at universities. It’s interesting to note that degrees have become popular with the jobseeker, despite their relative unimportance to employers. It is important to note that college does provide many good things such as communication skill development and the opportunity to mature before entering the job market. But, for the most part, employers don’t go to colleges when they are looking to hire. Certifications seem to be more valuable when they are from an independent organization, because they give the employer something they can promote. 'My instructor is certified' means something to the customer. 'My barn manager has a degree in equine studies' doesn’t mean as much.”
“Computers are becoming more and more important in our society. Many job seekers joke about being computer illiterate but don’t do anything to change that. Learning the basics of computer use is time well spent for anyone in the workforce. Social networking is also becoming more important in a horse industry career. Linked In, Facebook, and Twitter are good ways to stay in touch with your peers. However, even Linked In is better networking with peers than for finding a job. The horse industry sometimes lags behind other industries in matters of technology, and I think it’s because most equine employers aren’t making their living in the industry and have less motivation to learn new things.”
Seth continues, “We’re starting to see inklings of economic recovery. However, jobs are still fewer than in 2008 and the job market is more competitive. The number of job seekers has also not increased, probably because some have given up and looked for jobs elsewhere.”
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