Jobs That Support Riding and Showing Without Going Broke

[MsJump21]

Hello y’all! I’m currently in college and decided that the job I wanted to study for will not give me enough time to ride and show on a regular scheduled basis. I’m trying to get ideas for possible jobs that pay very well with a 4yr degree that can support owning, riding, and showing, but have enough left to put into retirement, savings, ect. I’m lucky enough to have scholarships, AP credit, and my parents support so I’m able to do a lot of saving and I won’t be bogged down in college debt. I’m particularly interested in finance or business jobs that pay in the 6 figures.

What are some well paying jobs that you have or that someone else has that can support horses?

[afjordlife]

I mean if I could go back in time and do my education all over again, I would have gone for Tech 100%. Comparable money to finance, but a way better work/life balance.

By tech here I do not mean IT, but comp sci engineering or management jobs at big companies like Amazon, Google etc.

[Scribbler]

Most of the top paying jobs demand a lot of commitment at the start. You need to hustle in your 20s and 30s then if you are good, can carve out some personal space in your 40s and 50s.

[luvmyhackney]

If you want to work in tech and want the good schedule: go into programming. Avoid management, I rarely have time to ride before a software release comes out.

The people that do the work make more than their managers. Promise But don’t expect to spend less that 60-70 hours a week between your job and increasing your skill set when you start your tech career. I worked hard in my 20’s so I can own horses and ride in my mid 30’s.

[marmarmar]

What Scribbler and luvmyhackney said. If you want the top paying job and you’re not coming from significant money, you’re gonna have to really grind in your 20s. I know this because I am currently mid-20s and doing so I went into engineering (aerospace) and am about to finish grad school. Job prospects depend on where I decide I want to live (slim pickings for my specialized area of work), but my close friends got high 5 figure jobs right out of school with a Bachelor’s. If you feel like you’re engineering minded, mechanical is a great way to go since you can take that degree and work in any field. Like others have mentioned, computer science is suuuuper hot right now. My undergrad advisor pushed everyone to get comp sci minors because there are so many companies hiring students with comp sci skills.

Also the high paying jobs are typically not ones that are going to be conducive with a busy show schedule. They’re high paying because you’re putting the work in. In my area, that’s 60+ hr weeks for the 6 figure jobs. Doesn’t leave much time for riding in general, much less showing regularly…

[afjordlife]

I also agree with everyone who has said that whether you go tech or finance or really any other lucrative profession, if you want a starting salary over 100k, you’ll have no time to ride and show on a schedule until you’re more established in your career. So many adult amateurs, myself included, have to take a break for basically all of our twenties to get careers off the ground and then return once we’ve either made money or married someone who did.

[Renn_aissance]

Like math, particularly statistical modeling? Study actuarial science. A 4-year degree is sufficient, though you’ll need to complete a series of professional certification exams after graduation. A friend of mine enjoys her work in this field and although she’s not a horse person, she makes horse money.

The best advice I can give you is to choose a school that will give you a good education and minimize the number of loans you need to take out to get it.

[Feathered_Feet]

Like other people have said, computer science/software engineering is probably the easiest way to get a well-paying salary from an undergrad degree. But keep in mind that the top jobs in this field expect you to be a software engineer, which is more than just what they teach you in a computer science BA program. Almost everyone performing at the top levels in that field has worked outside of their formal education to learn various programming languages and learn how to code well, not just do the bare minimum. If you can acquire the skills to be a full-stack developer, the world will be your oyster.

And to echo everyone else, if you want a successful career in any field, expect to hustle in your 20s to get a certain amount of job proficiency, then you can live well and have time and money to show your horses.

[endlessclimb]

Chemical Engineering.

I started out of college in oil and gas technology licensing around 75k, plus per diem and foreign bonus. Made right at 6 figures all said and done, but absolutely busted my buns for it.

I now make high 5s as a production manager at a chemical facility. Way better work-life balance.

[clanter]

I have a business degree, commissioned sells is not for the faint of heart but if the program is structured well six figures is not hard to obtain (and that was thirty years ago when low six figure income was something) Once you know your clients most of the business is handled by remote contact. Plus for me was my sales territory pretty much matched our showing area making many of the out of pocket show expenses business expenses.

[Alterration]

I third the programming suggestion, if you can stay out of management. I keep getting dragged into it and I have much more flexibility as an IC. I have written code in front of my tack stall at shows so as not to have to take alllll the time off for a multi-day show.

[kwpn_01]

I have a bit more of an unconventional route (depending on your area) which is mining and mineral processing engineering. I am a Mining Engineer, and required a 4-year bachelor of engineering + 4 years of experience to be licensed (sometimes +/- a few years depending on the province and/or state you are being licensed within). I am comfortably making 6 figs in my mid-late twenties with plenty of room for growth, however sacrifices were made in the beginning and I have pretty well eliminated the chances of ever being able to live in a large city and am pretty restricted to rural areas. So it really depends on the lifestyle you are comfortable with. That being said, I am minutes away from my show barn and we travel long distances to rated shows (which this job allows me time for).

[S1969]

@MsJump21

I’m particularly interested in finance or business jobs that pay in the 6 figures.

LOL who isn’t?

But - that’s such a random, arbitrary ask. “Finance” or “business” - that’s about a million different job titles, many of which will start paying in the $40Ks or less with a BS, and some will pay more. And it depends a lot on where you live, and whether you are good at “it” - whatever “it” is. And whether “it” requires a master’s or other advanced degree to achieve the higher salary levels.

The better way around this question is - what are you good at? What do you like? No one can really answer those questions but you.

I have a Master’s in Public Administration, and I work in the state capital. I am an Administrative Director for a state funded education program. It makes sense for me to have this degree here; the job market supports that degree easily. I make high 5s and work a reasonable 37.5 hour week - but the starting salary for this position is lower…and it requires a Master’s degree. But…more importantly - lots of people (including most of my co-workers) would hate my job. (And I would hate theirs). So it works out.

[Nova2000]

I don’t know that it’s a 6 figure job, but I read an article once about high pay low stress jobs. Optometrist was fairly high on the list.

[Scribbler]

Yes a big part of the horse equation is being able to do your high paid job in a lower cost horse friendly place.

For instance, top finance people, hedge fund managers, etc in New York City make huge salaries. But it is difficult to impossible to ride regularly if you live there.

[Mersidoats]

Well, where do you want to live? Do you want to own a house, as well? Will you work while you are in school?

@MsJump21

I’m lucky enough to have scholarships, AP credit, and my parents support so I’m able to do a lot of saving and I won’t be bogged down in college debt. I’m particularly interested in finance or business jobs that pay in the 6 figures.

Six figures in finance and business will require a lot of your time and additional education. Ex-boyfriend was an investment banker, had the title of VP. He had an MBA from an ivy league school. He was regularly at the office from 9am till midnight. He made decent money, enough to pay cash for a BMW and live alone in NYC. His work-life balance was awful. He ended up quitting because he burnt out. Most of our dates were at midnight - thank goodness last call was 4am, lol.

Software engineering will eventually get you to 6 figures. Data science (strong statistical modeling background) will also get you there, but you might need a graduate degree. You will not start at 6 figures. You will probably start in the mid-high fives, and be expected to hustle, work 50+hr weeks, and when management says jump, you say how high.

I work as a policy and data analyst for a large state university, and I have side-gigs doing data management on my own time that I bill hourly or monthly, depending on the type of work. It is not a flashy job, but someone has to do it, and since I am good at it, I can basically name my hours and have a flexible schedule. Having time to ride both horses at my convenience is worth a lot to me. I do not make 6 figures, but I can support two horses and a mortgage payment, and I show 4-5 times per year. I live in a low cost of living area. I made some lucrative (albeit highly risky) investment decisions in my early 30’s that afforded me the capital to buy a house and buy a nice horse. My salary just pays the bills.

[afjordlife]

Software engineering absolutely can start at six figures for graduating engineers good enough to be recruited by Big Tech and willing to live on the West Coast.

Source: my wife is a senior level engineering manager at a big tech firm and hires regularly.

The flip side of this of course is that it’s expensive to live on the west coast and even more expensive to board a horse within driving distance of the major city you’ll need to live in.

[clanter]

@MsJump21

I’m particularly interested in finance or business jobs that pay in the 6 figures

Rita A. Crundwell did better than that … averaged seven figures without even having a degree

[Mersidoats]

Sure - the size of the company makes a huge difference in salary, as well as location. Definitely something to consider during the job search.

Management consultants hired into a big 4 firm will also get a competitive salary - I had classmates who were hired right out of school at $80k-$100k, depending on experience. But, they work long hours. And pre-COVID, usually out of a hotel room 4-5 nights a week. That may be changing.

Early in my job search, I talked at length to a woman who was a mid-level consultant with I think KPMG, and she had horses. She made enough money to put her horse in full training board at a fancy show stable, but only saw him 2-3 days a week. The rest of the week she was travelling.

[Vyce]

These are all good things to know, but also are making me second guess myself since I’m hoping to afford a horse on a paralegal salary lol. (No showing here- I just want a nice little grade trail horse/ pony with brains for trail riding and maybe camping).