Posted by Seth Burgess on Fri, May 14, 2010 @ 12:05 PM
Building a Solid Foundation for Change Part 3 - Making an Impact
By Anke Johnson
Jump to Part 1
In the third of three articles in this series, learn how a solid foundation for positive change plays a role in all areas of your relationship with your horse.
If you've ever played the game Jenga, you can readily understand the importance of having a solid foundation. Without it, anything you try to build on is more likely to crumble and fall. In this final article in this series, I'll explain how foundation impacts all areas of your relationship with your horse, including confidence, self-esteem, time management, stress management, your physical self and your horse's performance.
Using the example from the previous article, your challenge might be to build trust between you and your horse. Building a solid foundation for this change requires you to work with your mental and emotional state, even for the less-obvious mental and emotional aspects, such as time management, stress management, your physical self and your horse's performance. We don't often think about those aspects of the process of making lasting change.
Here's an example from my professional life. In the past, when I got more work than I knew what to do with, I'd panic and shut down. Nothing would get done because of my reaction to this challenge. I had to shift my mental state to be able to walk away from the desk for a few minutes and take a break doing something that energizes me. I might take a short walk or visit my horse to mentally prepare myself for getting back to work. I use this time to create a roadmap-just like the one I discussed in the first article-to feel less overwhelmed. The foundation I've built has given me tools to help me reach my goals without retreating to panic.
In building a solid foundation, you learn more about who you are, why you react in certain ways and whether your life is on a fulfilling path. You learn to focus and simplify so you can fully enjoy life and build a roadmap for the future while having learned from the past. We often know what we can do to make ourselves happy in our horse lives, but because of the imbalances we tend to face between family, work, horses, health and personal time, we get "stuck" and don't know how to proceed. Staying in a place of comfort-even if that means neglecting the time with your horse that you really want-is easier than reaching out of your comfort zone and making positive changes.
A Shift in Focus
Even with the best intentions to make time for horses, it's easy to fall back into the trap of putting everything else in life first. When I find myself starting to spin out of control again, I look at what's on my plate and determine what I can simplify. Most of us over-commit ourselves because of society pressures and technological "conveniences." All of those distractions cause us harm because we can never turn ourselves "off." We've never had more opportunities in our lives than today, and without focusing on our goals, these opportunities can easily become distractions that paralyze us from moving forward.
Ask yourself what the consequence is if you don't get the horse time that you need to build your trust. Where will you be in a year if you don't start to make changes? If you were to get this under control, focus and build the trust you want, how would that affect you?
Overcoming Fear
Fear and confidence are universal issues for riders of all ages, levels and disciplines. Building trust is a large challenge for us all. Once a foundation for change is completed, you might realize similar confidence or fear issues out of the saddle as in the saddle! A realistic roadmap that fits into your lifestyle will examine what causes fear, how to build confidence and gives permission just to say, "No," or maybe, "Not right now." The emotional and mental aspects of your relationship are vital here, but also is keeping yourself physically safe.
So often, fear stems from the unknown, and that's when the general anxiety fear-created in our own minds-kicks in (for example, "What if my horse shies?" or "What if my horse runs away with me?"). As equestrians, our partner in this hobby of choice is an animal with prey instincts that outweighs us by about 900-plus pounds; we have to listen to that fear and use it wisely in order to preserve our own selves! But we can become paralyzed with fear that stems from imagination. The "gremlin"-that negative voice inside your head-also comes into play. Controlling your imaginary fears and exposing and silencing your gremlin results in growth and empowerment in every aspect of your life.
With your foundation in place and your roadmap to your goals, you have the tools you need to respond correctly when faced with fear. Our mind, body and emotions work together, so our ability to control our mind will give us the ability to control body and emotions, too. Your foundation will, in an indirect way, impact your body language, your breathing, your focus and the visualizations you're making in your head.
The process of building a foundation to improve your confidence, self-esteem, time management, stress management, your physical self and your horse's performance is as easy as awareness, clarify, simplify and focus! Starting with a solid foundation, developing your roadmap for change, and accepting the support and accountability you need will benefit the relationship between you and your horse forever.
Bio: Anke Johnson began coaching others more than 20 years ago. She's a certified Professional Health Coach, certified fitness trainer, certified Nutritional Consultant and Reiki Master Practitioner. As a lifelong rider, Anke understands how the challenges of horsemanship and the challenges of life interweave. With Anke's help, equestrians and busy career people gain the self-knowledge, confidence and body awareness they need to get them closer to that perfect ride, in and out of the saddle. Learn more about her business, Natural Solutions by Anke, at www.naturalsolutionsbyanke.com or 608-467-0008.
Posted by Seth Burgess on Fri, May 14, 2010 @ 11:51 AM
Building a Solid Foundation Part 2 - Thriving in Change
By Anke Johnson
Jump to Part 1
Making a stronger commitment to horses is challenging, and changing your ways isn't always easy. The strategies in part two of this three-part series can help you through.
In my
first article, I emphasized the importance of a strong foundation for making horses a priority in your life.
By now, you've determined your "why" or your purpose in your current pursuits. You've chosen a goal-somewhere you'd like to be with your horse in a year. And you've charted a road map to get you to that goal, dotted with tiny steps to keep you focused along the way.
As you travel along the road map, you may find some resistance along your path. The resistance will come from outside forces (what I call "life happens")-a sick child, a busy week at work-as well as internal forces-that little voice inside your head that says, "You can't make this change last! Who are you kidding?"
Its human nature to resist change, because making a change is generally more difficult than leaving things the way they are.
I used the example of Walter Zettl's, Pat Parelli's and Mark Rashid's foundation principles in the first article because if I had to start over with a new horse, I would want his foundation to be built by a combination of their principles. Likewise, you'll find that your drive for making a change and making a commitment to horses in your life comes from various sources. Whatever the source, successful change starts here!
James Prochaska, Ph.D., director of the Cancer Prevention Research Center and professor of clinical and health psychology at the University of Rhode Island, authored the book Changing for Good, in which he outlines six stages to permanent change:
1. Pre-contemplation: resisting change, making excuses and feeling hopeless about your situation
2. Contemplation: realizing the potential for a positive outcome, stepping out of your comfort zone and enlisting others to assist you in your quest for change
3. Preparation: becoming motivated by your future self, making tougher choices and turning away from old behavior
4. Action: exchanging your habits and seeing rewards
5. Maintenance: balancing new habits, working with lapse and relapse; this can be the toughest stage.
6. Termination: no longer thinking about the challenge of this change; the "new you" becomes your new comfort zone.
These stages-or steps, let's call them-are the clearest outline for change I've ever encountered. The first three-pre-contemplation, contemplation and preparation-are most important of the six. Without these, your foundation will crumble and you will slip back to old habits, like the yo-yo dieter. Setting a solid foundation of the first three steps requires discipline and-possibly even more so-support and accountability. It also asks you to create self-awareness and asks you to resist springing into action without a plan!
Horse people in general are determined, goal-oriented people. Many can make any change or shift they put their minds to; others realize the benefit of having people support them and provide accountability so they can reach their goals. In coaching people through change, I've found that many view the need for support and accountability in the same way they view fear-as a weakness. We don't, however, view riding lessons with a qualified instructor as a weakness-more as a strength!
One coaching client I worked with, described his experience with support and accountability through an elementary-student tutoring program for which he was a volunteer. His student was unfocused and unmotivated, pulling in Ds and Fs. After several weeks of meeting just once per week, this student began getting As and Bs. The only thing my client did for this student was provide support and accountability. This gave my client a wonderful "Aha" moment! Support and accountability do not show weakness; they exponentially build strength.
Having someone who can support you and hold you accountable-whether it's a friend, family member, trainer or life coach-actually results in a symbiotic relationship. While they support you in your growth, they themselves often learn what they need to reach their own goals.
You might recognize your own story in my personal situation:
I grew up with horses, but when I was married at age 21, I gave up horses as well as the arts-drawing, piano and violin-that I loved so much. When I divorced, I started building a foundation to determine what was most important to me. It was a painful period of discovery but one that's led me back to horses, art and helping others make the same discoveries.
The foundation I built surrounding my horses involved every aspect-the time commitment, social aspect and financial obligations, as well as some emotional and physical fear. The people who got me on my path to a strong foundation allowed me to move past my fears and find my way back to a fulfilling life. A good foundation, plus the people to support it, builds confidence and emotional strength-two elements many riders are seeking.
If you find that you continually try to do things differently but end up in the same place or that you're stuck with habits that aren't getting you to your goals, reach out to a friend, spouse, trainer or life coach so someone can help you get back to the horse life you want. The process of change is not one that takes place overnight, and it's not one that you should be ashamed of asking for help with.
This is not to say that with this support and accountability, you'll never take a few steps backward or run astray of your road map. It's natural to "lapse" into old habits, and that's OK. That's the time you need to call on your support and accountability team, review your road map, reevaluate your goal, make adjustments to stay focused, and get back to work. Certainly, this is the time to make sure your lapse does not turn into a relapse!
In the final article in this series, we'll look at how building a solid foundation for a positive future with horses plays a role in confidence, self-esteem, time management, stress management, your physical self and your horse's performance
Proceed to Part 3
Bio: Anke Johnson began coaching others more than 20 years ago. She's a certified Professional Health Coach, certified fitness trainer, certified Nutritional Consultant and Reiki Master Practitioner. As a lifelong rider, Anke understands how the challenges of horsemanship and the challenges of life interweave. With Anke's help, equestrians and busy career people gain the self-knowledge, confidence and body awareness they need to get them closer to that perfect ride, in and out of the saddle. Learn more about her business, Natural Solutions by Anke, at www.naturalsolutionsbyanke.com or 608-467-0008.
Posted by Seth Burgess on Fri, May 14, 2010 @ 11:18 AM
Building a Solid Foundation for Change - Part 1
By Anke Johnson
In this three-part series, learn how a more fulfilling life with horses begins when you build a strong personal foundation based on your goals.
In following the teachings of Walter Zettl, Pat Parelli or Mark Rashid, you'll find they all have different techniques for working with horses, but they all agree on one thing:
Without a proper foundation, your horse won't progress to his true potential and be able to maintain performance-whether it's on the trail or in the arena.
If you've been away from horses for a few years, don't spend as much time as you'd like with your horses, or find that the time you do spend with them is full of thoughts involving everything except them, you'll find that, just like building a foundation in your horse's training is vital, building a foundation for your relationship with these amazing animals is equally as important.
The concept of "foundation" in training horses is not hard for a lot of people to grasp. The same idea applied to your own life, however, might be less recognizable. How well do you know yourself? Your foundation is really about getting to know more about who you are and working with your strengths and your values. In this article, I'll cover the basics of a foundation and how to get started in making a permanent change toward making your horse a priority in your life.
Your Driver
To begin building your foundation, you need to recognize what's important to you, to figure out your "why" or what drives you. Do a self-assessment to determine how you see horses fitting in your life. Ask yourself why you want horses to be a part of your life, and you'll start to determine your driver-your purpose or motivation.
Determining your driver will help you set priorities and help you to refocus if you veer off your path.
For example, when I was in my early 30s, my driver was to get to know myself better. I'd just gone through a divorce and was determined to find out who I was as an independent person. Now I'm in my 40s, and my driver is to be truly present-physically, mentally and emotionally-for my young son as he grows up. In my early 50s, who knows what my driver will be? Maybe it'll be to check off as much as I can from my ‘bucket list" and to have a blast doing so!
Your Destination
The second step toward building a solid foundation is to determine your main goal. The word "goal" can be frightening to some people because it sounds like "work" or a commitment that cannot be changed. Rather, think of this far-reaching goal as your destination. Where do you want to eventually end up? Imagine what you'd like to be doing with horses, say, one year from now, and paint a picture for yourself.
Now you have something to reach for.
My goal is to ride my Thoroughbred, Murphy, at Second Level dressage. I ask myself: What do I need and what does Murphy need to be able to get there? The answer to this question will take us to the third step: the road map to our ultimate destination.
Your Road Map
To get to your end goal, you'll have many smaller goals along the way, sort of like the grains of sand in concrete mix. You can't pour the concrete for a solid foundation without every grain of sand! So focusing one small goal for this week, you can lay out your road map. What does your picture look like now? I'll bet it's much more realistic, and it probably generates some excitement toward achieving it!
A lot of people lose focus here and return to the "old" way of doing things; they quickly take action with little preparation, inviting frustration, anxiety and failure. Completing each step along your road map, however, will ensure a solid foundation for change. You want your foundation to look like provolone cheese-smooth and solid-not Swiss cheese. A solid foundation is one you can build and depend on.
Creating a roadmap is a unique process for each individual. Because end goals differ, as well as lifestyle, budget and tools available it's best to customize your roadmap so that it works for you. You can choose to create your own, or use one that's already been created from proven masters and teachers such as Parelli, Rashid or Zettl for example.
If you do chose to create your own you can follow a basic guideline that I use with all of my coaching clients.
First, determine your end goal, what do you want to ultimately wish to achieve? Then look at the tools, budget and timeline that you have. Be realistic here as many a great plan has been foiled by being unrealistic about one or all of these factors. Finally fill in the small steps that it will take to get you to your ultimate goal.
For example, if you'd like to be able to canter through an open field with joy and not worry or fear, ask yourself first "where are you now"? 
If you're walking and trotting in an indoor or round pen, then maybe one of your small steps would be to take you horse for a walk with you on the ground out in a wider open space. If you don't have access to an open field, maybe one of your first steps would be to trailer to an open field, and let your horse and you become comfortable and familiar with that location with you on the ground. Next, you would progress to riding your horse at a walk in either scenario. Slowly, step by small doable no-fail step you would inch your way toward that ultimate goal!
And I can guarantee as you get closer to that goal, that you look back and think "wow, this was fast"! If you decide you want to create this roadmap but are looking for some support and guidance, we can certainly do that and put one together for you based on both your and your horses needs.
If you find you're frustrated because you're not progressing along your road map, ask yourself what part of your foundation may be missing. It's possible you've missed a step. Signs that your foundation may have holes in it include procrastination, frustration and excuses, relapse, losing focus, and attaining your goals but not maintaining them to make a permanent change or new habit. You can compare this situation to someone you know who's always had a goal to lose weight but has trouble keeping it off (often called a yo-yo dieter). The culprit here is often a foundation with holes in it.
Perhaps your goal is to build trust with your horse. Your road map may include riding four times each week, but you're only riding twice. By only focusing on the ride, you may be missing the big picture. Your larger goal requires emotional, mental and physical components, which might simply require undemanding time with your horse rather than a strict protocol of riding. Take into account the "full enchilada" as you embark on building that trust with your horse.
Back up a few steps and reevaluate what you can do to ensure you get the time together and, more importantly, the trust that you both need. Once you have the trust, you'll be more productive with your ride time, and you and your horse will have more fun being together!
Once you can relate to the importance of a solid foundation, you can begin to build your own foundation for a positive future with horses. In the following articles in this series, I'll discuss the process of change and the role of a solid foundation in:
- Confidence
- Self-esteem
- Time management
- Stress management
- Your physical self
- Having a positive experience
- Your horse's performance
Proceed to Part 2
Bio: Anke Johnson began coaching others more than 20 years ago. She's a certified Professional Health Coach, certified fitness trainer, certified Nutritional Consultant and Reiki Master Practitioner. As a lifelong rider, Anke understands how the challenges of horsemanship and the challenges of life interweave. With Anke's help, equestrians and busy career people gain the self-knowledge, confidence and body awareness they need to get them closer to that perfect ride, in and out of the saddle. Learn more about her business, Natural Solutions by Anke, at www.naturalsolutionsbyanke.com or 608-467-0008.
Posted by Seth Burgess on Fri, Apr 16, 2010 @ 12:17 PM
In Part One of this article I introduced the false self; the part of all human beings that obsesses about past experiences and worries about potential future problems. We all have a false self and it is not a bad thing. It helps is keep our behavior socially acceptable, it tries to keep us safe, and it contributes to the relationships we build with people and horses. In most of us the false self takes over our thinking to such a great extent that we lose some of our ability to perceive and interact with what is happening in the present moment, including with our horses. Horses don't have a false self and in fact, they react negatively to people who have an "agenda" and are not being present and honest in the horse/human relationship.
In Part Two, I suggest ways in which we can "tame" the false self and by doing so, improve our horsemanship. Let me say again that the false self is not bad. Our objective is not to get rid of the false self, but to tame it and keep it from getting outside of it's proper boundaries.
The first thing to understand about taming the false self, is that you cannot tame your false self with your false self. You cannot set out to change the way your mind works and improve your perception by conscious planning and effort. If you set out to tame your false self by your own strength of will, you will encourage your false self to take over your consciousness even more. The key to taming the false self is to come at the problem indirectly. In the same way that communication with horses is best done using indirect non-linear methods, the human spirit is transformed most effectively with non-linear methods.
The first step is to appreciate how strong your false self is. To do this, find a quiet spot where you can sit with no distractions for twenty minutes. Set a timer, so you won't worry about the time or cut your session short. Sit in a comfortable chair, but not so comfortable that you will fall asleep. Close your eyes and begin noticing your thoughts. Here are some types of thoughts you might have:
- Am I doing this right?
- Is this working?
- I wonder if I should have said that to Mary last week.
- I shouldn't forget to mow the lawn tomorrow.
- I wonder how I can convince my horse to get in the trailer.
- How am I going to pay the bills this month.
- What would someone think if they see me doing this.
- How am I going to make it up to Bob for blowing it yesterday.
- How am I going to do a better job to get the boss off my back.
- How am I going to find a job?
These are normal false self thoughts. Everyone has these types of thoughts. As you sit, you will notice very quickly that something is going on in your mind most every second. If you try to stop your thoughts, one of two things happens, (1) Your thoughts "go underground." (You are actually still thinking, but you don't realize it, or (2) When you succeed in stopping one thought, another one quickly pops up.
The objective of this exercise is not to stop thinking, it is to disconnect yourself from each thought as it comes along; to let the thought go and not get emotionally attached to them. This is not easy and it takes a lot of practice. If you commit to doing this kind of "contemplative sit" every day for 20 minutes, over time you will see a difference in the way you see things. You will find yourself more perceptive of what is around you. You will find yourself less critical of your horses and other people. You will find that you worry less about the future. These changes may happen gradually over several months or even years. You may not have much sense of progress, or much sense of anything at all happening. A sense of progress, or accomplishment is false self stuff.
As you sit and observe your thoughts, think of sitting on a river bank watching your thoughts go down the river in little boats. As each boat comes down the river towards you, let it go on down the river and you stay seated on the bank in your mind. Inevitably, you will not be successful all the time. You may suddenly realize that you have jumped on a boat and are going on down the river attached to a particular thought. As soon as you realize that this has happened, focus on your breathing, and place yourself figuratively back on the bank. If this is not enough, focus on a word or two, such as "in" "out" in time with your breathing.
If you have trouble, getting started with this exercise, try "walking meditation." Pick a place in nature which is free of human noise and distraction, such as a walking path where few people go. As you walk, observe your thoughts in the same way, and let them go when they come up.
Done properly, this exercise should seem like doing absolutely nothing, and that is the point. Doing and accomplishing is false self stuff. Your false self will not give up easily. It may pester you about wasting time. After a day or two your false self is likely to become more and more creative at keeping your attention. Don't give in. Keep returning to the bank and letting your thoughts go. At its heart, this exercise should be not about your "attention" but your "intention". This means don't pay attention to your thoughts, instead put your energy into "intending" to let them go.
Don't expect dramatic results quickly. You may not experience a difference for quite a while. However, one day, you will realize that you are better at perceiving your horses and less anxious about "achieving" things with them. Your horses will notice the difference. You may see their behavior towards you become less obstructive and more cooperative. As your false self is returned to its proper place in your consciousness, you are likely to see differences in lots of different areas in your life.
Leave some comments about what you think, or post your questions. If you missed Part One of this article, you can find it here.
Posted by Seth Burgess on Tue, Apr 13, 2010 @ 02:09 PM
Fast Fixes for Fear
Fast Fixes for Fear
By Ange Dickson Finn
If you're a trainer or riding instructor, I have a quiz for you:
- How many times has your client or student told you he/she was nervous?
- How many times have you responded with a soothing statement like, "Don't be nervous"?
- One more question: how's that workin' for ya?
Chances are, it's not. Probably, in spite of your reassuring words, your client's nerves don't go away. So how would you like to have a concrete plan to help students and clients be more relaxed instead of anxious or fearful?
Fear is the Godzilla of horseback riding. It's a monster that tears up the skills and abilities that you've carefully constructed with your rider and his horse. And nothing seems to stop it.
That's because fear in humans, just like in horses, occurs at the non-rational level. You can offer rational reassurance or advice, but the rider's rational brain is not in control. His reactive brain is. When he's afraid, he's experiencing the flight/fight/freeze reaction.
To handle fear effectively-whether you are helping a rider regain his confidence after a horse accident, or coaching a client facing a big competition-you need to have techniques to short circuit your rider's flight/fight/freeze reaction before
the fear Godzilla does a number on all those carefully practiced skills. Relaxation Tapping can do the job.
Three of the most common types of fears for riders are:
- Physical fear
- "Social" fear/show nerves that usually arise when the rider is in competition, being judged or is fearful of making a mistake in public, and
- Performance anxiety which, for this purpose, means the anxiety associated with having difficulty performing a certain skill on horseback.
In this tip, I'll discuss physical fear, explain the typical "signature" of physical fear, and give you some very quick, effective tools based on acupressure, neuroscience and biofeedback techniques, to help your rider fight it. These tips are from Relaxation Tapping, a self-help method for taming fear and reaching peak performance. To learn more about it, and get tips for handling all three types of common fears listed above, visit www.ride-without-fear.com.
Make sure your rider is well hydrated
before doing this work, for the best muscular and mental function and stamina. Our body's electrical system depends on water to carry the communications of the nervous system to muscles, and also for nerve impulses to work correctly in the brain.
Which Kind of Fear Are You Dealing With in Your Rider?
Physical Fear
What It Is: Bodily fear of being in danger. This brings out the strongest flight/freeze response in the rider. Occurs at a completely visceral level, and involves the autonomic nervous system.
What causes it: Usually, a bad experience, extreme inexperience, or being overfaced for the rider's skill level. The body is warning you that you're putting yourself in a dangerous situation.
Typical signs: Racing or pounding heart, sweaty palms or cold hands, holding the breath, moderate to extreme bodily tension in the rider. Eyes fixed or glazed, may not make eye contact, may focus only on the horse. The more afraid the rider is, the less he or she will be able to hear your instructions or act on them. This is because in a physical fear situation, the rational brain (frontal lobes of the brain) stops working while the reactive brain (limbic system) takes over, to facilitate quick reaction time if needed (much like a horse!).
Fast Fear Fix: Typically, treating physical fear issues requires many small steps as you build the rider's confidence. While teaching him/her to be safe on the horse, you can speed up the process with one breathing technique and one acupressure technique
First, try to pin down exactly when the rider's fear peaks by talking her through what she's going to do on her horse before she does it. Have her tell you, or take care to notice from her face and body, when the fear reaction kicks in as you're talking.
As soon as the fear reaction begins, have the rider do two things.
1) Take deep slow breaths, concentrating on getting the breath all the way to the belly and on dropping the shoulders
on the exhale. If the rider is standing, have him pay special attention to feeling his feet on the ground while breathing. If mounted, have him concentrate on feeling his seatbones in the saddle and feet in the stirrup. This interrupts his fear response and gives his rational brain a chance to begin functioning again.
2) Using the first two fingers of one hand, have him tap the inside wrist on the other hand just below the wrist creases (or about one inch below where the palm ends) several times. This can be done on either wrist or both. Keep breathing while tapping. This is an acupressure technique to calm fear. If the rider has become so afraid that he's frozen and not hearing you or carrying out your instruction, you might try gently taking his wrist and tapping the point for him.
The rider should feel less afraid after these two exercises and should be able to move on to the next step of what he's doing on or with the horse. At each point where the fear reaction peaks, have him stop and repeat the above steps before moving on.
These tips are drawn from Relaxation Tapping, a self-help method that can help defeat fear and remove performance blocks. To learn more, visit www.ride-without-fear.com
or email info@ride-without-fear.com.
Ange Dickson Finn biographical information
Ange Dickson Finn is a freelance writer, and Relaxation Tapping technique teacher. She shows a half-Arabian palomino in Western Pleaure, and is learning to ride English and jump. Visit her at www.ride-without-fear.com. View her profile on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/angefinn.
Posted by Seth Burgess on Sat, Mar 27, 2010 @ 01:16 PM
Deciding about college when you want to work in equestrian jobs is not a black and white decision. Most employers with horse jobs are more interested in experience than they are a particular degree or certificate. However, there are some good reasons to go to college. Here are some thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of college education vs. on the job training when building a career in jobs with horses:
Advantages of Formal Education and Training
1. An organized course of study may provide more concentrated and complete training.
2. You will be exposed to the theory behind industry practices (the "why" behind the "how").
3. Formal education may provide "broader" schooling as you interact with the faculty, gain authors' views, attend clinics, or enter competitions.
4. Your education will be the primary goal of your instructors.
5. You may have the opportunity to take courses in subjects not related to horses.
6. You may receive training in basic skills such as planning, research, task completion, and communications skills, which will be valuable no matter what path your life takes.
7. You may have the opportunity to develop leadership skills in clubs or while supervising other students.
8. You may receive a degree or certificate that will prepare you to seek work outside the horse industry if you decide to change careers later in life.
9. You will be in a "protected" environment where you can interact with your peers and the teaching staff without fear of losing a job. This environment may sometimes extend to "internships" that provide some on-the-job training with farms or other businesses.
10. There is no substitute for maturity. A college experience can provide an environment that encourages personal growth and maturity.
11. Formal program graduates may advance farther and faster in a career, if they work at it.
Disadvantages of Formal Education and Training
1. It can be expensive. Student loans can present an obstacle to starting a career in a horse job.
2. The teaching staff will have much to offer you, but teachers are unlikely to be major, current horse industry operatives or competitors who have national reputations.
3. Intercollegiate competition does not enjoy a major reputation among employers in the horse industry like it does for professional football, for example.
4. Some programs may be deficient in training you for very basic skills needed to compete for some jobs, such as driving a horse van or trailer, operating farm equipment, doing maintenance tasks (plumbing, carpentry, welding), etc.
5. There is no substitute for the "real thing." Some programs may stress theory when practical hands-on experience is what's needed.
6. The views of the faculty and the views of the authors of textbooks you use may not reflect the views of your future employer or the views of your chosen division of the horse industry.
7. Any leadership or supervisory roles you take on in the protected environment of the educational program may not fully prepare you for the same role in an employment context.
8. Some programs may give you the impression that they will help you build your career. Remember: career building is your job, not theirs.
You will note that many of these disadvantages can be offset by doing your homework, selecting your program carefully, and having realistic expectations about what that program can do for you. For help with this, spend some time with The Career Game, it's free.
Advantages of “On-the-Job Training”
1. Instead of paying for someone to teach you, you may get paid for working while you are learning.
2. If you select your position carefully, you may end up “rubbing elbows” with someone who has a well-respected, national reputation in the horse industry as a competitor or successful business person (or both).
3. Your training will be almost entirely hands-on, which will give you experience with “the real thing” in a way that training from an institution cannot.
4. If you are given leadership or supervisory roles, you will be learning "real world" techniques that will always be valuable to you.
5. Learning the theory behind an activity may not be important to building a career, as long as you know how to perform the activity well.
6. Some activities (like studying specialized techniques or attending clinics and competitions) are available for anyone to pursue independently, and they do not require a formal educational setting.
7. If your position is with a widely respected operative (a person, farm, business, or association) in the division of the horse industry you have chosen, a good reference from that operative may impress your next employer more than a degree or certificate.
8. You may be exposed to the “politics” and “tricks of the trade” in many valuable ways.
9. You may have further opportunities to get to know the people in your part of the horse industry, including interacting with clients in real situations.
As you can see, many of these advantages depend heavily on finding the right opportunity. For more help with this, spend some time with The Career Game, it's free.
Disadvantages of “On-the-Job Training”
1. Some employers will promise apprenticeships or on-the-job training as a way to take advantage of people and get them to work for less money.
2. Your training may consist of philosophies and techniques that are not widely proven or respected.
3. Your training may not be as comprehensive, broad, or complete.
4. You may select certain activities, such as attending clinics or studying subjects on your own, that may waste your time and energy because you lack the experience to choose and exploit these activities effectively.
5. It may take longer to obtain the skills you need because part of your time will be spent working.
6. You may not be as free to try new things, because your job and your employer's success may depend on consistent good performance.
7. Your training may not be the primary goal of your employer.
8. You may not have the opportunity to study other subjects or to lay the groundwork for an alternate career.
Choosing a college education is a very individual decision which should be researched carefully. For an indepth look and how to build a career in the horse industry, spend some time with The Career Game, it's free.