Riding holiday centre manager Trekking centre manager, equine tourism manager
Riding centre managers plan and run the centre’s activities, manage staff and develop the business.
1. Entry requirements
You’ll need knowledge and experience of working with horses. You’ll also need to be an experienced rider. You could get this from on-the-job training, or from attending a college course or riding school.
You may have an advantage when looking for work if you’ve got qualifications from the British Horse Society (BHS), the Association of British Riding Schools (ABRS) or The Pony Club.
You could also:
- train as a riding instructor, groom or ride leader and progress into management
- prepare for management by completing a BTEC, foundation degree, HND, or degree in a relevant subject, like equine studies, equine management, or equine leisure management
Lantra has information about becoming a riding holiday centre manager and other careers working with horses.
2. Skills required
You’ll need:
- business and commercial management skills
- customer care skills
- effective leadership and decision-making skills
- communication skills
3. What you'll do
You’ll run a horse-riding school offering riding and trekking holidays.
You’ll be responsible for the organisation, operation and marketing of the centre, and for the care of the horses.
Your day-to-day tasks could include:
- planning and overseeing riding activities
- arranging a daily routine of horse care and stable management
- handling queries, problems and complaints
- recruiting and managing staff, organising work rotas and arranging training
- carrying out administrative and financial tasks
- marketing and promoting the centre
You’ll also develop working relationships with other local countryside and tourism operators.
4. Salary
Starter: £15,000
Experienced: £20,000
Highly Experienced: up to £30,000
Your salary will depend on the size of the centre, and whether extra benefits, like accommodation, stabling for your own horse and use of centre facilities are included.
These figures are a guide.
5. Working hours, patterns and environment
You’ll usually work long hours, including evenings and weekends.You’ll usually work indoors, doing administrative tasks. In some centres you could also work outdoors, caring for the horses and helping out with other activities.
You’ll need to wear protective clothing like riding boots and a hard hat.
6. Career path and progression
With experience, you could open your own centre.With BHS qualifications, you could work overseas. You could also become a qualifications examiner.
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Last updated: 08 December 2016