By: Elese Nicholson
Being a working student is hard work. The days are long; the pay is minimal, but the experience could be life changing for the inspiring professional equestrian if you follow these 5 simple tips!
Visit the farm before signing on as a long term working student
When looking for a working student position it is so important to visit the farm first hand BEFORE you agree to work there. Not only will this be your job, but if you plan on living on property…. It will also be your home. You wouldn’t buy a house without having a tour of it first! So why should this be any different?? Ask lots of questions! Where will you be sleeping? Will you have your own space or sharing a room with other students? Make sure that the place you will live at for the next few months feels like home, your home.
Treat every early morning like another opportunity to learn
I get it, waking up at 6am every day gets old after the first week. You get up, grab yourself some crappy breakfast before you head out to feed the horses and start your day. It can get pretty boring doing the same morning routine! However, there are some ways to keep motivating yourself! Instead of thinking about what you have to do in the morning, ask yourself, What will I learn today? Maybe it will be how to properly clip a horse! Or how to put studs in! Or even how to help a young horse through his very first jump course! Your boss is also your teacher, don’t forget that! They want to teach you as much as you want to learn! So the next time you are struggling to get out of bed, ask yourself! What will I learn today?
Rest when you can!
As you know by now, it is very important to take as many opportunities as you can during your time as a working student, however it is just as important to REST! Being a working student takes its toll on everyone and having a day off is rare! When you finally have that day off, remember to take it! Sleep in, eat lots of nutritious food, get your errands done, get schoolwork done, work on that giant pile of dirty clothes, do whatever you need to do to get ready for the following week!
Remind yourself that it’s okay to mess up!
When you are a working student, you are everything. You are your boss’s personal assistant, a groom, a stable hand, an exercise rider, but most of all, YOU ARE A STUDENT! It is your bosses job to teach you everything you need to know to dive into the professional world of horses. Sometimes you will mess up! And that is okay! You might mess up every day! And that’s also okay!! You are there to learn, not to be perfect. Learn from your mistakes and remind yourself that it is okay!
Do things that remind yourself about your love for horses
When you are working at the barn all day, it’s hard to remember why you did something like this. You are tired, sweaty, hungry, irritable, and the last thing you want to do is spend more time there than you have to once you’re done. This can be dangerous because this puts you in danger of becoming burnt out and forgetting why you developed this passion in the first place! The passion for horses! Battle this outcome by doing things that remind you why you are here. Spend an extra few minutes grooming the horses and giving them kisses on their soft noses. Praise your horse for every success they make because remember, they are usually learning just like you! And if it’s allowed, sneak them an extra treat to them every so often. They will appreciate it and it will help keep the love of horses in your heart, even when it’s hard.
