Do you dream of becoming a highly valued employee in the horse industry? Many people do, but there’s one skill that consistently stands out as the most important—and it might not be what you first expect.
As the host of the Horse Chats podcast, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with hundreds of horse industry employers. I’ve asked them what key attributes they look for in quality employees, and the answer is clear: resilience.
If you’ve worked with horses, you’ll know that challenging situations are part of the job. Horses are unpredictable, weather can be uncooperative, and things don’t always go to plan. The ability to handle setbacks, adapt, and keep moving forward is what separates those who thrive from those who leave the industry saying, “It’s just too hard.”
Some people let problems upset them for days or weeks. Others simply take things in their stride, learning from the experience and moving on. That’s resilience in action.
Imagine if everything always went smoothly. It might sound like luxury, but in reality, it wouldn’t help you develop resilience. True resilience is built when things don’t go your way—and you keep going regardless.
I first learnt about resilience as a child. My aunt once took my sister and me to the shop for ice cream. She handed us money and told us to ask the shopkeeper ourselves.
My sister confidently got her ice cream, but I was far too shy to ask. As a result, I went without. Watching everyone else enjoy their ice cream while I had none was not a nice experience at all.
At home, my mother reminded me that I had been going to drama lessons to help with shyness. She asked why I didn’t just “act” or pretend to be confident enough to ask. That advice stuck with me.
The next time, I put on a brave face and acted confident. I asked for my ice cream, and not only did I enjoy eating it, but I also enjoyed the feeling of overcoming my own hesitation. Looking back, if someone had simply given me the ice cream without me asking, I never would have developed that resilience.
Resilience isn’t something you’re born with—it develops over time. It’s the result of overcoming difficult and ongoing experiences, whether that’s something as simple as asking for an ice cream or as complex as handling setbacks in the workplace.
So, if you’re working with horses and you’re faced with something that feels difficult or uncomfortable, don’t shy away. Treat it as a challenge, step up, and give it your best.
Each time you do, you’ll be building resilience—and that’s exactly what employers in the horse industry value most.
If you want to stand out in the horse industry, remember this: resilience is the number one skill employers want.
Next time you’re asked to do something that seems hard, see it as an opportunity. By pushing through challenges, you’re not just solving problems—you’re becoming the kind of reliable, adaptable, and highly valued employee that every horse business needs.
This is so true. Jo, my wife had never been around horses. She began to learn to ride and create trust with horses when she was 72. That was 5 years ago. She has created a trusting relationship with her horse.
In March of this year, Red, her horse, and her were just beginning a canter. Red stumbled, Jo got thrown off, fracturing 9 ribs. She was back riding in 6 weeks. Her resiliency over 5 years has been amazing as she started with zero experience, she has ridden over 7500 kms.
What an inspiring story! Jo’s journey really shows the true meaning of resilience! Her determination and strength are incredible, and it’s wonderful to see the deep bond she’s built with Red.
this is really inspiring and i agree with her everyone needs resilience.
I’m glad you found it inspiring, Hayley! You’re absolutely right—resilience is such an important skill for anyone working with horses.
I loved hearing this, it gives me a new view on what horse industry empolyers want, it gives me a-lot of confidence knowing that's what they look for, and i can work on my resilience!
I loved hearing this, it gives me a new view on what i need to work on before applying to horse industry jobs!
Thanks, Susan! I love that! Having that fresh perspective is so valuable. Building resilience really will give you a strong edge in the industry.