Moving on

[foundationmare]

I'm having a crisis of confidence and serious issues with changing my career. This post is equal parts rant and advice driven.

My dream career is to have a string of racehorses that I can be 100% responsible for. I know my stuff and would be SO GOOD at it. Also in the dreamworld is to be a farm manager with layups, simple boarding, mares/foals, etc.

I have a great deal of experience in the racehorse world and have loved it, excelled in it 90% of the time. I will never be out of the loop for no other reason that I have many family members who are engrained. Plus, I have a yearling filly who is the light of my life in the horse world. Gorgeous, classy, correct. I loff her!

I am interviewing for a job tomorrow morning, a position in a medical practice. I have lots of training and experience in the medical field but feel that the pull to horses won't be easily extinguished.

Has anyone else had to move into the non-horsie world?

[ryansgirl]

Has anyone else had to move into the non-horsie world?

Yes and I hate it :no:. But the horse world doesn't pay and the only way to pay the bills is to go into a career that is non-horse related :(. I regret it everyday for not doing vet stuff 20+ years ago. So for now I go to my office everyday... I do go to the barn every morning and every night to take care of my horses. Cheaper than therapy :D:lol:.

[2ndyrgal]

damn near all of us. It's "everyone's" dream job to have a string of horses to care for. We all know our stuff. Oh and our own farm is part of that too. Problem is there are only two ways to get it. Number one (and least popular) work at something else so you can afford to play with horses in your spare time.
Number two>>> Marry well.
Number three is going after your dream job and getting it, living on ramen nooodles and driving an old beater from your crappy little trailer everyday to the barn. See the good horse jobs that everyone wants, don't pay diddly. (ask me how I know??)
Reality really sucks, that's why I play the lottery every Saturday.

[foundationmare]

Yeah, that's what I thought. No surprises. Maybe another thread would entail pissing and moaning about do-nothings who have the best owners imaginable and have NO IDEA how lucky they are!

I hear my mother's voice: "Nobody ever said that life is fair". Touche.

[Bluey]

One more way, work for those that have the money and top horses.
Then save like mad, for many years and eventually you may have your own place and horses and the invaluable knowledge and connections you achieved working with those top people.

A big sacrifice in your life, if that is not your cup of tea, but if it is, why not?
You can work for some of those people happily and think that, even if it was yours, you would not do anything any different and since you don't have the money, you get to do what you want and others pay you for it.:cool:

Now, if you don't want to play unless it is your place and horses, then you are back to needing to win the lottery.;)

[maunder]

foundationmare...we who know you and your work at the track know how invaluable you are to those you work for!

You have both horse smarts and human smarts ;) and it is rare to find someone who is able to communicate equally to both with good humor and intelligence!

I'd hate to see you leave the track because of how good you are to the horses. I had to leave being a groom years ago due to money and I've never fully liked being an office person. For awhile it's nice not to have to get up at four and work in the rain and snow and mud and heat for $75. a week but in the end I think all of us "old" horse people miss it.

I've been able to balance my work and horse fetish with my volunteer work at Finger Lakes and now with my own Finger Lakes Finest, Number, who is a joy to have at my little home farm.

I'm sure your friends and family will support you in whatever you choose to do. :yes:

[AppendixQHLover]

Yeah that part about realizing that paying the bills requires another type of job is hard.

I would love to have a farm for retirees who have done their jobs for years. Someplace for them to live out their lives in burying their face in green grass and taking naps in the sun.

My reality is that in order to have said farm I need to work a office job and pay bills.

[Louise]

maunder said it perfectly. Just please know this -- Those of us who know you, value you. You just keep working towards your dream. It can come true, though maybe in a totally different way than you think.