Anyone on here have a career with horses? If so, did you have to go to college, tech program, etc? Also, how’s the pay?
Former equine medical technician. I went to undergrad for biology with an emphasis in pre-vet.
The pay was… not great. I lived at home and saved my money for vet school, but a lot of my co-workers had a second job to make ends meet.
The general concensus is that careers revolving around horses require lots of time (long hours, 6-7 days/week) for pretty lousy pay.
Most jobs riding/barn manageing/training/coaching require lots of prior experience. Most programs, though not all, would rather have someone with prior working student time over a formal equestrian degree
barn work (stalls, feeding, turn out/in) are often by the hour, but generally not much more than minimum wage, and employee turnover is high
training/teaching work is often salary, but still not going to make you rich. The hours are long, and there is generally no retirement plan, paid vactations, or room for advancement.
If you love riding and showing, the BEST job is far away from horses. Get a degree, or advanced. (there are threads on here about good jobs for horse people. medical profession comes up a lot. Also some teachers/professors). Then work full time, and have the money to enjoy riding and showing as an amateur.
I earned a BSN, RN in college. It’s now my part time career. Teaching riding comes first. Both jobs are fabulous.
I agree with ElementFarm 100%. Go to college and get a degree in something that will allow you to have a flexible schedule and make good money, so you can enjoy your own horses instead of riding other people’s horses.
Here’s an example:
I got a nursing degree, work full time 3 nights a week, and have 4 full days off (and since I work nights that means my days are free if I wake up early, too). In the off season I pick up overtime so I can pay for whatever extra trips I want to take (Rolex, WEG 2018, etc), and save to buy any gear I want as well. I have my own truck and trailer too, and while everyone else is working 9-5, I can throw one of my horses in the trailer and go somewhere to school or trail ride or anything, really.
I know a lot of girls who are in their 20’s and 30’s who got into the horse business and have degrees in equine business management, most of them are living paycheck to paycheck.
I agree with many of the above–I think it’s best to find something outside the equine industry. Besides the fact that many equine related fields don’t pay well, I think there’s also a greater risk for burnout. One of my previous trainers decided she didn’t enjoy it anymore and went back to school in her 30’s and now has a completely different career. Another I know is burnt out, but she’s almost 50 and I think feels that it’s too late to change direction. While the risk of burnout is there in any career, I’d hate to feel that way about my hobby. I want to enjoy it, and enjoy showing b/c I want to check our progress, not worry about getting a certain score (I ride dressage) in order to make the owner/client happy.
I honestly think it depends on how you feel about the sport (to be blunt, are you in it for the ribbons or for the horse) and how good of a rider you are. Realistically, it’s going to be a lot harder to get opportunities if you only can jump 2’ and have never shown. The sad fact of the matter is that many of the opportunities go to people who are consistently compete at the upper levels of the sport and it’s very hard to break into unless you have similar resources or are very well connected.
I do think going to college for a degree is a good idea. A major like business can be useful if you decide to go into the horse business but is also a great fallback if you decide that you want to keep riding as a hobby. College riding can also be a great way to expand your network and gain new opportunities if you were not able to show as a junior etc.
I did horses professionally right out of high school instead of going to college. I was fortunate to have two big clients who bred 5 + horses a year, so I had a consistent chain of training horses. I rented a barn, did my own chores and provided care for my training horses instead of hiring someone else. I also was the trainer for another barn, and rode for various other people. I worked 15 hour days, seven days a week.
I got burnt out after doing this for four years.
I cut back. I held on to a few training horses, and started teaching lessons. I got a non-horse job and I started going back to school, slowly. And then I got burned by a client.
And I quit. I quit horses for three years. I sent my only retired gelding to live with his breeder. I didn’t touch a horse for those three years. And I decided I was miserable without horses.
I brought my retiree home. I got a youngster. I went back to school full time. Was already working a decent non-horse job. I got two undergrad degrees, a master’s, and a professional license.
I now work full time making good money doing something non-horse related. I have my young mare, my retiree, and have a small boarding business (8 horses total). My barn and the horses mostly pay for themselves. I wouldn’t go back.
So moral of the story: It’s ridiculously hard work to be in horses full time. Even with a consistent chain of training horses, and financial backing from the owners, I was broke all the time. And it’s tough on your ego, moral, and body.
I agree with everyone else. Get a “real” job. Enjoy your own horses.
Holy god working in horses is exhausting. I’ve been a working student/groom, a “general barn worker” (ie: stall cleaning robot), an exercise rider, and I currently teach.
It is my part-time/second job. I do it so I can keep my horse at a nice barn, close to home, and afford weekly lessons. My “normal” job has a salary, benefits, sick days etc. Things that are in very short supply in many “equestrian” jobs. I love teaching and love my students - but let me tell you, if at some point in the future I can afford my horse habit without this income, I will be drastically reducing my teaching time.
I have a bachelor’s degree in advertising and worked in publications for 15 years out of college before moving to horses full-time. Now, I work part-time at a tack shop, part-time as a freelance instructor, and summers running the riding program for Camp Highlander.
Some years I’ve made a lot of money, and some years I’ve made just enough, but I’ve always enjoyed my jobs and life and that’s very important to me.
I always counsel “education first” because if you want to make money in horses, you need to be able to relate to and communicate well with successful people.
If you truly want a job with horses as a career, I’d say going to one of the Bigger tracks, working for a BNT would be a better start then working in a show barn. You will learn more, get better pay, and if your good enough , and dedicated, have the chance to advance to a trainer or second trainer in less time then it takes to get that degree . JMHO. the caution is be smart about it , do your job, shut up and listen, and don’t go near the windows.
