Training/Breeding/Owning

Question
Hi, I am a senior in high school and am torn between whether or not to go to college.  I want to become a thoughobred trainer and hopefully work my way up to owning and breeding my own.  Is there any value in going to college to reach my goal?  What should I do to get experience now before college.  I love horses, I love the sport, I just don't know where to start.
Thank you.

Answer
Amanda,

Start with finishing college and getting a degree.  Regardless of how it appears on television, successful (meaning earning a comfortable living) trainers are few and far between.  Most trainers barely eak out a living, always on the verge of going broke.  It is always a good idea to have something to fall back on.

When you are training horses, you don't bill your clients (owners) until after the first month of training has passed.  The they may take a full month or longer after that to send payment.  So you, the trainer, are paying all of the horse's bills, your bills, salaries for your help, insurance, etc, out of your own pocket until the checks come in, if they do.  So things can get pretty slim sometimes.  If you acually get lucky enough to have a good owner who gives you good horses, you'll probably be ok.  But even the best trainers can tank if they lose an important owner.  Racing luck can be pretty fickle.
If you get a decent degree, say in business, you'll have options, and you'll likely meet people that may make good owners and give you horses to train.  It never hurts to network.  And several colleges have degree programs in equine management, which would be a great head start on a training career.  Check out the University of Kentucky and the University of Arizona.  They  both offer equine degree programs.

Good luck with your goals!

Stephanie Frost

www.alchemybloodstock.com
www.stephaniesellsocala.com