Long time reader, first time blogger
Hello everyone! I've been lurking in the shadows for a few months now here at WA and I feel like it's time to introduce myself. During the day, I train horses for dressage. I love it. I couldn't ask for a better job. I could, however, use a better paycheck.
When I was younger, my dad gave me some of the best advice I've ever received: "find what you love and get paid to do it."
Straight out of college, that was zookeeping. It was amazing. I lost count of how many tigers, snow leopards, clouded leopards, and cougars I got to help hand-raise. For a time, I was the one keeper in the United States that had experience with wild-caught giant anteaters. I mean, that sounds super impressive until you learn how tiny their little brains are. But still, it was an impressive job and I have some seriously awesome stories. And scars. Who else can say they have scars from baby tigers?
And then I found horses.
You know, they generally frown on you trying to ride the zoo animals, but they downright expect it with horses. I'm all in. Sign me up for that.
So I followed Dad's advice again and switched careers.
I just wish Dad had specified "get paid WELL to do it." Horse trainers work very, very hard and make very, very little.
Enter WA.
You see, I also like to use my words. And I can get paid for that? I'm all in. Sign me up for that too.
I'm still working through the amazing training available with the premium membership, but I'm so excited for what lies ahead of me. My horse is too. More financial freedom for me means more mommy time for him and he's quite the momma's boy.
I feel very grateful to have found this incredible community and I can't wait to see what this year has in store for me!
Recent Comments
6
Hey, Donna ... great post! I can relate on so many levels. My youngest daughter was an Equestrian Hunter Jumper, so have been through a lot of the ups and downs of the horse world! She has taken a course to become a Coach .. still waiting for the results. Not a big paying job, but the personal rewards are through the roof! That is worth a million dollars ... but does not put food on the table!
Good luck and good fortune here on WA ...
Let me know if I can assist in some way ...
Allan
If there's money to be made, it's definitely in the Hunter world, so she picked a good one! Thanks so much for reading!
See more comments
Hi, Donna.
Paul Mindra here from Ontario, Canada.
Ask Kyle Loudoun here, if he has any scars from tigers.
I remember seeing a picture of him with a Tiger and he was wearing a t-shirt that read 'Future Millionaire.' I think that would be more than fifteen years ago in his legacy.
Welcome and your gratitude is received in reciprocating.
I love horses. I have some fond memories from my late teens. We would go out to ride almost every week. I would ask for the same horse every time. He was known as 'Smokey.' He liked me and I liked him.
He often took me for rides on the 'edge.'
Thank you for sharing.
Paul.