List Only

Need some serious advice on which way to pursue a horse career.?

I'm 17 and currently live in N.Y. and am planning for go out of state for college to become an equine specialist. I'm hoping this will help me to reach my ultimate dream of being an owner/trainer (of horses and people wanting to learn how to ride)/breeder of horses, specifically Friesians but I love all horses. I hope one day to own my very own ranch...However, I have no money saved up for college as of yet and basically no experience with horses. I am hopefully going to get a job and every penny I get from that will go towards my college and career fund. I volunteered to exercise and groom 2 horses and a pony about a year ago now. One of the horses is an ex-thoroughbred trotter who is extremely skittish and the other an extremely aggressive paint horse. I've only ridden about 7 times in my entire life and I've never ridden western style, only english. I would really like lessons but there aren't any around my area and the three that are, are way too expensive. I'm wondering if I should continue trying to become an equine specialist and hopefully learn what I need to about horses on the way and hopefully, eventually work off my college debt. Or should I just get another job and hopefully one day get enough money to reach my dream on a different path. All I know is that I have loved horses since I was two and will do anything to get there. I just would like it to be sooner than later. I know nothing is ever easy and I'm willing to work my hardest. I just don't know which path to choose. Thank you for your time and any advice at all is most helpful. Actually I think I've read possibly everything there is on horses. Like I've said the only thing I'm lacking is the actual experience. I see tons of people out there that have successful ranches, even on here in yahoo questions. How do you do it? The fact that it IS so tough and they made it amazes me. I'm not afraid to live in the gutter, I've lived in it all my life. I just need those darn horse riding lessons xD *joking* Thanks for the advice by the way :)

Public Comments

1. The horse business is tough. Obviously you don't know a lot of things about horses and don't have money. In ur case, I would go after a different money-making career and as you build up that career read about horses more, and maybe save money to have riding lessons and what not. From there you could take what money you have and go back to college with it and start ur own ranch. Just a heads up- owning a ranch is VERY expensive. Be prepared for a crash-and-burn. In the horse world, everything doesn't turn out bright and peachy. That's the hard truth. I hope your dream comes true!! =]
2. theres a bunch of different equine careers you could have, like being a horse trainer, or a horse-back trainer. or you could be a horse specialist. an equine vet. a farrier.