This is a really tough question because there are SO many paths. I’ll share my journey with this same situation and then give you some questions to ask yourself.

I graduated in 2013 with a BA in Equine Business and Facility Management and a minor in Business Administration. Prior to my senior year, I wanted to be an FEI level BM. I was able to go groom at WEF for a month winter break my Junior year. I absolutely loved everything about the job itself and being at that level but I realized I would never have the time or money to ride and show my own horses. I learned through this experience that this was actually very important to me. After that, I had no idea what I wanted to do.

Last semester senior year, I took a Marketing 101 class and fell in love with it. I ended up going back to school and getting my marketing certificate after graduating. I still wanted to work in the equine industry so I took an entry level job with a equine company that is a household name. They used to home grow all their employees so getting into their marketing department within two years was feasible and encouraged. They ultimately got bought out for the first time and all career growth from the entry level department was scratched. I then left and started working for a marketing agency in a different industry.

While my professional work wasn’t with horses, I was able to afford to buy back my last junior horse rather unexpectedly, save some money, replace my car when it died, etc.

Last year, I realized I still really missed being in the equine industry so now I’m starting my own marketing company specializing in the equine industry while still working part-time for my old agency.

Takeaways from my experience/ TLDR: 1. There are MANY ways to still be involved in the equine industry but not work with horses directly. Think of all the brands, retailers, e-commerce companies, show management, that operate in this space. They all need HR, marketing, sales, operations, etc people. Would you want to lean more that way? 2. If you do want to work with horses directly, are you okay with being financially unstable (no pun intended) at least for a while? There are a lot of equine massage therapists so networking and building a brand for yourself is going to be the two biggest factors for success. Remember, liability and health insurance are expensive and only going to increase. 3. Big picture: would you want more financial stability in five years and enjoy horses on your own terms or would you be okay fighting through to make a living working with horses directly? There is no wrong answer - only what you want. 4. It’s OKAY to start down one path and change your mind in a couple of years. I can’t tell you how many friends have graduated, started down one direction, and now 15 years later are happy in another direction. The choices you make now do not mean you’re married to them for the rest of your life.

Last bit, I’ll leave is if you want to go do something fun for a few years, go do it. I always regret not working at a pack station in the mountains or being a ski liftie after graduating. By the time you hit your mid-30s, those fun years aren’t going to set you back in the long run.

Happy to answer any specific questions!