The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

A future in the horse industry?

2K views 5 replies 6 participants last post by  gunslinger 
#1 ·
Hello,
So I have always been in love with horses, and can't seem to get away. Well I since college is coming up quickly, I would like to go to somewhere like Findlay or Meredith Manor and become a breeder and trainer (maybe farriering?). Sadly though, my parents don't believe that anyone can have a career with horses and yet make enough money to support a family. We are from a small town and all the "horse trainers" around are just small time, backyard riders, and so my parents think that, that is the only type of business around (they are not horse people AT ALL!)

So, my question is to all those horse breeders, trainers, and anyone with a career in horses, would you suggest getting a job with horses? If you're in the industry, do you make enough to support a family? In what area would you suggest going into (breeding, training, equine vet, farrier, barn manager ect ect)?
Thank you!
 
#2 ·
I would not go into breeding, that is a really tough business right now, there are more people selling horses than people buying horses. I would say the vet is probably the best business out of all of those.
 
#3 · (Edited)
I'm not in the horse industry, but I know a lot of people who are. Here's my life plan: Go to college, become either an OT or a Pharmacist. Train horses and give riding lessons part time. Being an OT or a Pharmacist would give me enough money to sustain myself, and my horses, and I would train and instruct on the side for a little extra $ and because it's stuff I love to do :) If horses were your main income, I would suggest being a vet or maybe a farrier. Since the economy is down, people are just looking at the library or on the internet instead of going to a trainer for most of their horse problems, and they're not gonna pay 10k for a foal with a super pedigree. I hope I didn't discourage you..But if it's something you really want to do, you will make ends meet :) I wouldn't suggest going to a horse college such as meredith manor though. If you want to be a farrier or a trainer, become an apprentice to someone highly respected in your area. You'll get much more hands on and experience, and it's cheaper.
 
#4 ·
I went to Meredith Manor. Had everything all set up. As far as starting a family, that wasnt going to be an option for me, let alone getting married for quite some time. Plans changed ;)

But anyways, I was planning on grooming TB racers at prestige barns such as Three Chimneys, and Lane's End. Lane's End was my dream place, thats why I went to MM, just to add some more knowledge, and to make my resume look that much more impressive. From what I was planning, that job was going to be my life. No exceptions. A lot of my friends did go into training from MM, and they seem to be doing fairly well, not making the big bucks, but they have just started so.

I guess it depends what you want to go into, where you want to go into it. Good Luck!
 
  • Like
Reactions: xxGallopxx
#6 ·
I had a game warden friend who told me he used to love hunting and being in the woods......until he did it 40+ hours a week.

Says that's the last thing he wants to do now....
 
  • Like
Reactions: csimkunas6
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top