Professionalism in the Horse Industry

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Updated:

April 29, 2024

7 Ways To Up Your Game

By Tania Millen, BSc, MJ

The horse industry is well known for its informality. Anyone can coach, train horses, nail on horseshoes, or other imperative services regardless of their qualifications. But as society becomes more risk averse and those who didn’t grow up with horses enter the industry, higher levels of professionalism are expected.

The online Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “professionalism” as:

“1: the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person;
2: the following of a profession (such as athletics) for gain or livelihood.”

Accordingly, charging money and making a living training horses, coaching riders, trimming horses’ feet, offering bodywork services, or anything else is being a professional. Yet acting professionally (professionalism) is different. It’s an action which anyone — not just professionals — can apply to their activities. Professionalism involves integrity — being what you state you are — and having the expertise and paperwork to back it up. Professionalism is synonymous with expertness, competence, virtuosity, skillfulness, and proficiency. It’s the opposite of amateurishness, inexperience, and unpreparedness.

Dressing the part also applies to the horses you ride and train. Presenting them at their best demonstrates your quality standards and shows respect for your horses, your profession, and your clients too. Photo: AdobeStock/Terri Cage

Acting professionally furthers a positive reputation, increases business, attracts better quality clients, may save taxes, and can buffer legal problems when things go awry. In the horse industry, practical applications of professionalism could entail coaches, bodyworkers, and farriers becoming certified to illustrate they can produce as advertised; individuals who sell products or services operating as businesses; boarding barns utilizing signed agreements; and transport companies maintaining adequate insurance. Acting professionally generally supports positive horse welfare, too.

However, upholding professional standards isn’t a box to check — it’s a way of acting every day. Here are seven ways to increase professionalism regardless of your involvement in the horse industry.

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1. Be organized, consistent, reliable, ethical

Together, organization, reliability, consistency, and ethical actions build strong relationships and reflect professionalism. Being organized helps ensure that the important things are taken care of. Top riders and trainers minutely schedule their days to fit everything in. Consistency — acting in the same way — establishes your reputation and is linked to accountability. Being organized and consistent breeds reliability. Acting ethically means doing what’s morally right regardless of circumstances. Exuding professionalism through these attitudes and actions will help build a positive reputation in the horse world — others will take you seriously.

2. Get certified

Accountants, lawyers, doctors, and the like are all required to be certified to practice. This isn’t the case in the horse industry. Anyone who wants to train horses, coach, or trim horses’ feet can do so without certification. Being certified for these jobs and many others indicates professionalism and may help if things go awry and a client pursues legal action. Certification proves that you’ve mastered skills that experts have judged, and you can perform to an acceptable standard. It shows competence and commitment to your chosen field. Certification also promotes lifelong learning and up-to-date knowledge. The horse industry is changing rapidly, and potential clients are becoming more particular about the credentials of the people they hire. Certification is increasingly necessary to attract and retain paying clients.

professional horse people, how to be a horse professional, great equine coaches, best traits horse coach

Being certified indicates that you have mastered skills in your chosen field to an acceptable standard, and shows professionalism, competence, and commitment. Certification is an increasingly necessary credential to attract and retain clients. Photo: iStock/EyeCrave

3. Communicate clearly

Clear communication, whether in person or electronically, means both parties understand messages in the same way. This promotes trust and prevents frustration and misunderstandings — important attributes when building a professional image.

Maintaining confidentiality is also imperative and means setting boundaries on information sharing, which can be difficult in our digital world. However, being known as someone others can safely share with builds trust and confidence.

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4. Use contracts

The horse industry is notoriously lackadaisical about contracts. However, written contracts for boarding services, hauling horses, purchase and sale of horses, training, leasing, and breeding prevent confusion and clearly indicate what services or products will be provided. Contracts should include a price, the length of time the contract is in place, the terms of the contract, names of those involved, guarantees (or lack of), signatures, and agreement by those involved. Contracts provide clarity for individuals and businesses, can reduce potential disputes, and enhance perceived reliability. They separate professionals from fly-by-night operations.

Gone are the days of friendly handshakes to seal the deal. Written agreements, contracts, and waivers prevent confusion and misunderstandings and are necessary to protect yourself and your clients. Photo: AdobeStock/Sonja

5. Track finances

Many purchases in the horse world occur “under the table” via cash or e-transfer without proper accounting. But when buying a service (e.g., equine chiropractic work) or product (e.g., hand-made tack), purchasers generally expect an invoice and/or receipt. An invoice is a type of contract describing what’s promised in exchange for money; a receipt shows what was paid for. Using invoices and receipts is standard practice in business and an indication that the seller takes their operations seriously. Laws in Canada also require businesses or those acting as a business to keep records of all transactions to support income and expense claims. Tracking finances is legally necessity, indicates professionalism, and helps determine whether the work being done is actually creating a profit.

6. Insure, correctly

Unexpected events are common when working with horses and insurance can provide a buffer when life throws a curve ball. Appropriate insurance for vehicles, horses, property, tack, and business assets can provide a financial cushion if those assets are damaged. Liability insurance provides financial protection if you damage someone else’s horse or property. Adequate insurance coverage, which takes individual situations into account, is an expectation of clients when dealing with a professional. Even if the service you provide isn’t regulated, clients will expect that you’re covered by insurance in the event something goes wrong.

7. Dress the part

You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression is a well-known adage. Dressing the part implies congruency between what you’re saying and doing. The clothes you wear and how you present yourself subconsciously communicate your standards and whether you “fit” the person you say you are. Unconventional, haphazard attire may put potential clients off. Neat, clean, appropriate attire exudes professionalism and is just as important in the barn as in the office. It indicates self-confidence and respect for your clients, too.

Many activities in the horse industry are unregulated which allows shady characters to flourish. Those within and external to the horse industry expect horses to be ridden and cared for in a professional manner. Professionalism raises industry standards, elevates the quality of services provided, and inspires confidence in those within and beyond the industry. Increasing professionalism can be financially beneficial, and help ensure that horse sports continue to enjoy social licence to operate. Make time to up your game. It will undoubtedly pay off.

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Photo: AdobeStock/Terri Cage