The next addition to Living Equine’s Equestrian Profiles, is the diverse, Andrew Rae.
EQUESTRIAN QUICK TEN
1) What made you fall in love with horses?
I grew up surrounded with horses so my love for the animal was naturally within me from a very young age. I grew up on a large farm and my whole family rode horses. I was on the back of a horse before I could even walk. As I got older my riding went from riding around the farm and helping with stock work to pony club camps and competitions and my two sisters and I began to take riding more seriously. I guess I really began to realize just how much I loved horses when I moved away to boarding school and only got to ride in the school holidays. Being away from my horses for so long made me realize how much I loved them and how much I love riding horses.
2) How long have you been riding for?
I have been riding for as long as I can remember. I have done lots of different types of riding and had lots of different experiences in my 25 years. I was very lucky to grow up on a farm and have lots of horses to ride from a very young age and a family that enjoyed and supported riding.
3) Have you done any Tertiary Education in horses?
I have not done any specific tertiary education relating to horses, however out of school I have worked in large breeding and stud farms managing their horse husbandry and breeding programs. I also currently do work as an equine vet tech and chiropractic assistant, so I have had lots of great opportunities to learn a variety of equine specific skills and abilities.
4) Have you broken any horses in yourself?
My career I am building for myself is in young horse starting and training so I have broken in many young horses. I started in my teenage years when I wanted to diversify my involvement with horses from just competing, and the second I started working with young horses to start them under saddle I fell in love with it and never looked back. It has been a passion that has allowed me to work all over the world doing it.
5) What are your greatest Equine Achievements?
Competing up to 1* eventing was a big achievement for me, however I want to get back into more eventing competitions in the future and look to further my achievements. However I would say my biggest achievements in equine has been building a horse training career and reputation that has allowed me to travel to places like England, Japan, USA and Canada and live and work overseas doing what I love.
6) What has been your deepest Equine low?
The equestrian game is all about riding the highs and the lows and there have been many. One of the biggest came from feeling trapped in a bad equine employment situation whilst overseas. It taught me many valuable lessons however and really shaped me as a person and a horse trainer. Another huge blow was missing out on a purchase of a horse I was riding to a higher offer. This horse was the horse of my dreams and I had done a lot of work with it to get him to where he was and he and I had a great relationship and bond. Although he is now a very happy and successful show jumper in North America, I still have a broken heart over him and it took me a long time to find passion and enthusiasm in riding after that.
7) What jobs have you been able to work with horses so far?
I have lived an equestrian dream since leaving school. I have worked in barns as a rider and trainer in Canada and the UK. I also moved to Japan for a while and started and trained race horses there which was an amazing experience. I have worked in breeding barns and equine vet clinics and major competition barns. I have been very lucky to have such great exposure and experience to a wide variety of equine based jobs. I currently am the farm manager and horse trainer for a farm in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada where I also am the vet assistant to my Boss who is an equine vet and chiropractic practitioner.
8) What are your current Equine ambitions?
My current equine ambitions are to buy a young horse and start competing in eventing in North America again. I would like to do a winter circuit in Florida in the next few years. I also hope to buy a property and turn it into a horse ranch. My long term dream is to build a equine based youth rehabilitation centre in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada.
9) What is your favourite movie?
My favourite movie is a documentary on Netflix called Unbranded. It’s about 5 young cowboys from Texas who catch wild mustangs and break them in and ride them all the way from the Mexican boarder to Canada. It’s a horse lover and adventures dream!
10) Favourite accessory?
My favourite accessory currently are my Mountain Horse Sovereign brown leather Riding Boots. They are the most comfortable tall boots I have ever worn and they are durable and look great!
Living Equine thanks Andrew very much for taking the time to be profiled, and wish him all the best with his future equine endeavours!
