Hi Everyone,

 I am a junior in high school and I am looking into colleges (finally!). I ride hunt seat now, but I am very interested in learning Western and using both disciplines. I would like to become a horse trainer. If you know of any good equestrian colleges, please let me know! I have been looking into William Woods and possibly, University of New Hampshire. I can use any advice you would like to share. Oh, and I am interested in becoming a working student. Would that be in my best interest? I think I could gain a lot from that experience.

I am currently a student at the University of Findlay. Findlay has both an english and western equestrian program. I am in the western program. The western program focuses primarily on showing at the breed level with Quarter Horses, Paints, and/or Appaloosas. The western program covers western pleasure, reining, cutting, and roping, but also includes hunter under saddle and hunter over fences riding. The english program covers hunt seat and dressage. It is an amazing school, I am learning so much. Check out www.findlay.edu keyword equestrian.

I am an aspiring horse trainer and horse farm owner. I am just a freshman so as far as classes go I've only had a few. Beyond general education courses I am taking Introduction to Equine Science (required freshman course, prerequisit for all other equine courses) and also spend 3 hours a day at the farm riding/cleaning stalls/feeding/attending demos/etc. In the spring I will be taking a Horse Judging course as well as my barn time. Findlay is a very nice school, you ride 5 days a week, with the option to ride on the weekends as well.

It's great to hear from a UF student!! I'm a senior and just got my acceptance letter there, and it's currently my top choice school out of the ones i've applied to; I'm looking into the English program, but love what I've seen so far!

I tell this to all aspiring horsey college students -- riding during college is great and I was lucky enough to have a very nice riding program at the undergraduate college I attended -- but I strongly encourage aspring trainers/breeders/horse industry workers to NOT major in equine studies, but instead choose a major in business or some other related field --- this will also help you a LOT when you are seeking jobs in the horse world or anywhere.  The horse industry is VERY tough to make a living in and you should not limit yourself -- an undergraduate degree should be a broad one that gives you options for the future, not something that limits you. 

Great point Solaris! I agree with this completely. I am double majoring; Western Equestrian and Equine Busniess Managament and I may still add a minor of some sort. Another cool thing is the the University of Findlay will soon be offering a minor in equestrian studies! (starting in fall 2009?) A lot of students at Findlay are double majoring. Lots of Pre-vet and Equine, Animal Science and Equine, etc.

 I absolutely agree with you Solaris.  I, too, tell this to all my friends who want to go into the horse industry NOT to major in equine studies.  The truth of the matter is, you don't need a degree to be successful in the horse industry.  People do not look at an equine degree as much of an asset.  What employers and clients want to see is experience.  

Pursuing a business degree is exactly what I'm doing as a precursor to entering the horse industry.  Most businesses (especially equine businesses) fail because the owners do not fully understand how to manage the business' finances.  This is why I chose to major in accounting and learn how to train horses as a working student under my trainer.  Accounting is "the language of business" and I am basically guaranteed a job should I not be sucessful in the horse industry.  With the market the way it is now, this is definitely something to think about!

That is not to say there is no value in an equine degree.  If you are getting the degree just to learn more about the industry or to learn other perspectives, that is a great idea!  The more knowlege you have, the better off you are.  However, I really recommend that you do not rely on an equine degree to get you a job. 

OK, so at Equine Affaire I found an amazing sounding college, VermontTech. It has great sounding Equine Studies program, but it is fairly new. Has anyone heard of it before? Please check it out and tell me what you think. Thanks for all of the great advice!!

I know that I'm super late to this post and wouldn't be surprised if nobody even saw this haha... I'm also a junior in Highschool. I'm also and aspiring Horse trainer. I've been looking at colleges for the past year and a half so I've seen quite a few although I've only found 3 that I'm actually considering. One is my local community college where I can get an associates degree in Equine Sciences, the other closer one is Southern Illinois University. They have a great program but it's only in Equine Sciences. The third college is the furthest away from home but my favorite. It is Meredith manor in West Virginia (just across the Ohio river by ohio) This school it TOTALLY about horses, absolutely nothing else. The only problem is that it is only a certificate (Which I just realized  ) It's an awesome school that sounds really interesting. http://www.meredithmanor.com/  I'm just not quite sure what to do now. I've also found a good college in Kentucky(Midway college). good luck in chooseing your college

Heather - I know a trainer who graduated from Meredith Manor, it may be only a certificate but they teach you to RIDE. It is intense. I don't know how much has changed since she went there, but it was complete immersion, very different from Findlay, Lake Erie, etc, where they have a huge variety of programs. But the trainer I know is definitely amazing, just not sure how practical this is if you don't have a degree in something a bit more lucrative. If you're willing to live frugally for what you love, though, Meredith Manor will really improve your riding.

I agree with what Solaris and Nicole have said. One thing that is a very good option for people looking to be trainers that almost guarantees a job is an equine veterinary technician program. Many community colleges offer this option, it is a two year associate's degree rather than a four-year degree, but you learn a lot about horse health and taking care of injuries, and though the salary isn't too high, it does provide a good plan and foundation, especially if you hope to own a barn one day.

University of Wisconsin River-Falls also has an animal science major and a very good equestrian team, with plenty of horsey classes and options.

 While I do really love the atmosphere of Meredith manor I was also looking at UF and really like their program. I'm just not quite sure what I'm going to do  I've still got a couple of years to figure it out though. I just started in a online highschool type of homeschooling. Originally I had planned to go to the local community college for two years get an associates degree in Equine science and then get an aprentenship with Clinton Anderson, so that I could do clinics that focused on his methods. But researching more into the aprentenship I wouldn't be able to bring my own horse and he said that if you want to be a horse trainer then don't bother with his program. It is four years and I wouldn't be able to be away from my horse that long, plus the more I learn about it, the more it just doesn't seem like what I want. Also the other problem with Meredith Manor is that I'm not sure that I want to spend that money just to get a certificate it's kinda frustrating. But I will just have to keep thinking things over and at least I still have plenty of time to figure things out. 

 Get a real college degree -- a community college, associate's degree, or four year, whatever is right for you.  But get a college degree.  Those of us on the other side of it can tell you -- life takes you where you least expect it, the horse world is very fickle and very few people can make a living off of it.  Those that do generally do so because they have a good head for business.  If you want to learn how to ride, trainers abound everywhere, you don't need a special school to teach you that.  I will repeat -- get a degree, even if it's in something general like business or education.  You never know when you will need to use it and it's awfully hard to get someone to give you a job so you can pay your mortgage or buy groceries when all you have is a horse certificate or some equine science classes.  

Yeah I'm really leaning towards UF, I can get a Bachlors of science concentrated in english riding/training, also you can combine majors there so I was thinking that I would also take the classes for equine bussiness management. It's nice to hear from people who are on the other side but don't know you really closely, peoples minds get kinda warped when they know you too well . Thanks again.

I am actually going to be attending this school next year!  I went to an open house and looked at there equine science program and it seems really good, a lot of it is business based and it also helps you to set up a plan that will start your business.  The facilities seem fine, but the only thing that I did not agree with was that they put the horses out to pasture alone to prevent injuries, which means that they only spend a partial bit of the day outside.  If the horse is friendly and plays well with others they are allowed to go out with a small group of horses.  I will be going to this school for business, but I'm going to try to take some horse-related classes because I would also like to eventually have my own farm.  Also, there is almost nothing else to do outside of the campus, which shouldn't be a problem if your going to be a the barns most of the time, but I thought I would let you know.  I know some people who go there if you have any other question.

Also, Centenary College, Casanovia College, and the University of Vermont(UVM) have good equine programs if you would like to check those out also.  I don't know much about the first two, but UVM is another school that I looked into if you have any questions about that I could try to help you.