Horse Career? Advice Needed

As some of you may know I go to Findlay University for Western Riding and Equine Business Management.

Ever since I was 11 I wanted to be a show horse trainer. This summer I got to work for 2 QH trainers and travel with them on the QH circuit. They let me ride everything, and prepare some of the 2-3year olds for futurities during shows. They let me show for them twice. They also let me babysit their business while they were away at youth worlds. Which included riding everything and giving all their clients lessons. Heck, they even let me bring my dog to every show.

But, the more I traveled with them the more I begun to dislike it. What I saw and the people I dealt with put a bad taste in my mouth. In June, we were at a 2 week show a few states away. I received a call from my dad saying that my mom was put into at home Hospice and I needed to come home to take care of her while he was at work. My bosses knew the situation with my mom since day one. I kept them updated with how she was doing regularly. They knew she was going downhill and that I would have to leave eventually.

A woman, who is also a trainer, was headed home the next day and promised me a ride to her house where my dad would come get me. At the last minute she cancelled claiming that she didn't have enough room. I saw her and her hubby pull out at 7am with 2 huge empty trucks. Instantly I broke down crying, she even knew why I had to leave. I only had days left with my mom and I was wasting them trying to get home. The next day I found a ride with 2 other trainers. My bosses were clearly annoyed that I was leaving. They didn't say goodbye, and they didnt pay me for the week I was there.

That really chapped my ***. I started to seriously think about if the QH show world is where I want to be. Even tho AQHA has been trying to crack down on humane treatment at shows since the Shirley Roth incident. There is still alot of things that make you go .

By the time Congress rolled around I was certain this wasn't where I wanted to be. I ended up losing my job during Congress. I was not told why and probably never will be.

So this leads up to my question.

I have been thinking about getting my Masters in Business, instead of a associates in Equine Business. It will be alot more money in loans, but I feel it will open up more doors for me in the long run. Because right now I have no idea what I am going to do with my life. All I know is I want to train horses everyday. What do you think? Should I go ahead and get my MBA?

Go for the MBA! Then you can do what you want with horses, whether it be showing, working for a horse organization, or simply having your own to enjoy as pleasure mounts.

I can tell you, as a groom, that everyone I work for has an upper level degree. Heck, I have an upper level degree and groom as a hobby and for fun money.

I'm terribly sorry to hear about your mother's illness and passing and the jerks you were associated with at the time. What a horrid time in your life.

There are nasty, selfish people in every area of life, but when you are not dependent on them you can a) tell them to take a hike, and b) help other miserable workers to get away for them, too. I do.

Get the best degree you can-make money, be independent. It's easier to support the horse owning when you have the $$ for it.

Go for the MBA. You don't have to have horses as your full time career or you can find something that works well with the MBA. You could become a business consultant for example and help revitalize failing horse businesses or help people get started.
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It's strange how you can dream for something and find out it is not what it was cracked up to be. I did almost the same thing. I found a big fancy trainer in the QH circuit and APHA and got a huge distaste for the top where the real dirty work can happen. (I was just mentioning this very thing in another thread) I had nothing but horse stuff under my work history and before it was too late I worked my way through a more standard 9-5 office job on the side. It gave me the freedom to explore new areas that are less political and well shady (though every discipline or job has its down) and now I spend my freetime putting horses into harness.

I definitely think your MBA would be a great asset. :) and you may find a new direction in the meantime.

People like that are not exclusive to the QH world. Showing is very, or can be I guess, there are some good people, no matter what you are showing or where.
I trained horses for years and still get calls, went to college and got my Horsemanship Major, but I'm a pipeliner. I love my horses and will never not have any, but I would never consider them as a careeer choice now that I have been there.
I really hope you made it home and everything is okay with you and your mom. I can't imagine.. ((((hugs))))

I am just very unsure because I know I want to train for a living. Every horse trainer I have ever talked to has told me that I should either drop out and go work for someone or graduate with the least amount of loans possible. I don't need my MBA to train, I don't even need my Bachelors in Western Riding to train. Degrees mean nothing in the training world if you don't have the talent to begin with.

A degree always helps.

I know a couple trainers who sit on the boards of their respective disciplines. Do you think they would get that kind of position without their degrees?

Are they the best trainers? Naw. But they sure get fantastic exposure through their association with the organization.

But, you are right, you sure don't need a degree to train.