I couldn’t imagine doing anything else other than working with animals. No two days are ever the same in my job as a Registered Veterinary Nurse and I wanted to combine my love of helping both animals and people with my interest in science and medicine.
While at school I completed lots of work experience in veterinary practice and knew it was the job for me when I didn’t want to go back to school at the end of the placement. I found it so interesting following each animal’s case and the fact that every day is different.
One moment you can be monitoring an anaesthetic in theatre, the next helping a client with their overweight pet. We have lots of different roles in practice, including assisting in theatre, taking X rays, helping with dental procedures, taking blood, processing lab samples, nursing inpatients and advising clients. Very occasionally we get time for a puppy cuddle!
Veterinary nurses are the behind-the-scenes carers for your pets. We’re the ones making sure your pet is comfortable, fed, walked and that all of their needs are met.
As well as a love for animals, you also need excellent communication skills for working with colleagues and clients, you need compassion, a strong work ethic, organisational skills and a strong stomach!
The best thing about my job is seeing a patient that you’ve nursed go home to their family, that wagging tail is everything.
Veterinary nursing is a very challenging career but after 13 years I still enjoy it.
The best way to get started is to get lots of experience in veterinary practice. Places on courses are very competitive and somebody who has already shown their commitment stands out. Of course, getting experience in different practices means that you are trying out the job for real and will know if you really enjoy it.
I did a degree in Biology then a Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing part-time while working. The Diploma allowed me to register with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons as a Registered Veterinary Nurse.
Becoming a Registered Veterinary Nurse is a challenging career but one that is exceptionally satisfying. It can also lead to many other career opportunities such as working abroad, teaching, working for a drug or pet food company or moving into practice management.
I started Castle View in 2009, and it is a riding school and pony club centre specialising in grass root riders and non-riders with installing the correct foundations of horsemanship and the importance of horse welfare.
As well as having completed my BHS II - BHS Senior Eventing Coach and UKCC level 2, I’ve also gained a Post Graduate certificate in Equine Leadership and Management through North Highland College UHI.
I do everything here. Mucking out, exercising, organising lesson times, arranging pony club groups, keeping all paperwork up to date, communicating with regular and new clients, sometimes past clients get in touch for advice, maintenance of the yard and grazing areas.
We run a successful pony club centre and riding school. I also lecture for North Highland College UHI in the Equine department and run flexible learning courses part-time. In my spare time I’m the BHS Highland North Education Officer.
Communication, and patience is a close second and of course perseverance. The ability to reflect on today and look forward to the future.
No day is the same however regimented we try to be. I like the organised chaos, learning on the job and being open to accept situations as they are, then reflect and grow from them.
The best part of my job is meeting like-minded people and having the facilities and the knowledge to give others the best start on their equestrian journey or helping them pick up where they left off.
We share the same passion but not necessarily the same journey. The main challenges are to accept where they are and how they got there, then figure out a pathway forward, accepting that there may be many roundabouts where people get off, and rejoin.
You’ll never look back, you’ll meet all the best people and experience magically things along the way!
Yard Supervisor Jen talks about her job in Busby Equitation Centre along with centre owner Laura Garden.
I studied NC and HNC Horse Care at SRUC Oatridge, straight after I left school. This was a fantastic introduction to a working yard for me and certainly prepared me well for the job I am currently doing.
I wanted to work with horses because as the saying goes ‘Do what you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life’ and it is exactly that. I have always loved the outdoors and animals from a young age so I knew working in an office wouldn’t be the job for me. I am very lucky to be able to do what I do.
The Equestrian Centre offers a ranger of indoor and outdoor lessons for all ages and abilities including, hacking, showjumping, dressage and cross-country.
I have achieved up-to my BHS Stage 2 Teach and also hold an NC in Horse Care.
My day at work starts at 7 am where we work as a team to get the horses fed, mucked out and ready for the day. Then some days I stay on the yard, getting horses prepared for lessons and doing day to day yard work tasks. Other days I have a full day of teaching clients of all ages and abilities. We then finish the day as a team anywhere between 4.30pm and 6pm.
Over the year is very similar to day to day but being a part of the hotel means that we are especially busy during the holidays so during the quieter times we are able to get staff training, which is a massive bonus. The only day we close is Christmas Day... the horses need their Christmas dinner too!
Lots of skills are used day to day such as teamwork, adaptability, planning and time management. However, the most important one in my eyes is good communication skills, this helps the team and the day run as smooth as possible.
My job is very hard work however, it is all worth it because we have such a fantastic team of horses and staff! Being able to give someone their first riding lesson and watch them fall in love with the animal and sport is so rewarding. Also, nobody can complain when they have the beautiful hills of Perthshire as their office!
One of the best parts of my job is that every day is different. Being able to do what you love whilst training and earning money is what everyone dreams of and I am very fortunate to be in that position.
Of course working with animals and customers presents challenges but I feel that is all part of the fun! I love being able to problem solve and see a happy horse and client at the end of the day.
I feel a massive benefit is there is always room for progression. It is one of the most rewarding jobs. It teaches you true, passion, dedication and responsibility not only in the workplace but in your own day to day life. I have had the pleasure of working along side the most inspirational and hard working role models, who have come up through the industry and have shown me the skills to progress and hopefully one day I will follow in their footsteps.
