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This interrupts the sequence of my articles thus far, but it is something that has been very much on my mind lately. 

Currently, in the equine industry, we are gripped by a staffing crisis, and we are desperate for fresh blood. 

The last thing any of us want to do is put anyone off, but there are a few home truths that bear telling…

In my current job, my past jobs, and during my time lecturing at university, I have had the opportunity to mentor and interact with a fair number of younger players. 

Over the past few months, I have had eight junior staff members/work experience students alongside whom I have worked with.

They have run the gamut from frighteningly eager and admirably motivated, all the way through to unenthusiastic and barely functional. 

With a junior who is keen to learn and willing to put in the work, I will bend over backwards, and go out of my way to help them along their journey. I will stay late to show them the ropes, I will answer questions until I am blue in the face, and I will forgive them a lot if they are genuinely trying.

However, if you are only starting out in this industry, and you have access to someone who is extending a helping hand, it would behove you to remove your hands from your pockets and grasp that help with gratitude. 

Put your phone away, watch and learn. Ask questions! There is nothing more frustrating to a mentor than a junior who has no interest and takes no initiative. 

Even if a junior makes a wrong call, if they can explain to me why they have done it that way, and they can demonstrate that they will learn from their mistakes, I will do my best to assist them in correcting the misstep, without retribution.

Yes, we need people to join in and work alongside us in this industry, desperately.

But we need the RIGHT people! 

It is a harsh reality that unless you are exceptionally lucky, incredibly wealthy, or phenomenally talented, if you want to carve a path in this industry, you will have to start at the bottom and put in hours of often back-breaking work in order to claw your way upwards.

And as unappealing as it may be, you will be mucking out stables, lugging sacks of feed, slogging through the mud. Very few of us have the luxury of not undertaking such tasks.

This way of life has so many benefits, and I wouldn’t change it for anything, but it is not just romance and glamour. 

And if you’re planning to start off your journey as chief in charge, you are in for a wake up call.

In each and every discipline and facet of this diverse industry, there are genuine people who will be only too happy to help you get your foot in the door. 

Do your research – not every job is for everyone. I thrive on working with mares and foals, and I cannot do more than hack. I would never attempt to get a job on a show jumping yard – it’s not for me.

Likewise, if you can’t stand the thought of sitting awake all night waiting for a mare to foal, but you’d quite like to spend at least part of your day in the saddle, maybe an eventing yard or a training yard would be more your cup of tea. 

You will find the tough aspects of the job so much easier if you find your niche.

And if you have never worked in the equine industry at all, try it out. Find your local dressage trainer, or vet clinic, or stud, and approach them about doing a bit of work experience. They are unlikely to turn you down.

And if you encounter someone along your journey who is more experienced than you are, and is willing to share their knowledge, take their advice.

It does work the other way too – once you are on your way, if you encounter a junior who could use some help, the most it will usually cost you is time. You cannot diminish your own experience and knowledge by sharing it. 

I personally get a huge kick out of watching someone come to love mares and foals as much as I do!

It is vital for the survival of this industry that we all step up to ensure it’s continuation, both by accepting help, and by offering it. 

There is space on the ladder for us all…