TRAINERS’ POINT OF VIEW Working Student:
An Underestimated Education By Amber Heintzberger
I
f you strive to have a career with horses, there are numerous ways to learn the ins and outs of the horse industry. One of the more popular venues is to
become a “working student” for a successful professional rider and trainer. While each arrangement varies, from working a few hours a week in exchange for the odd lesson to spending almost every waking moment at the barn, a working student position should provide a solid education on how top riders and breeders go about their business on a daily basis and what it takes, physically, emotionally and financially to succeed. A working student should also learn what it takes
to get horses to the top of their sport and how to keep a high-performance horse sound and competitive. Working students can expect to spend long hours working at the barn, and in exchange the professional guides the student to learn many aspects of the horse business—not just training methods. A smart working student will take on any challenge or responsibility, roll up his or her sleeves, and work very hard no matter what the task. Show jumper Will Simpson has represented the
United States five times in World Cup Finals and in 2008 won the Olympic Show Jumping Team Gold Medal riding Carlsson vom Dach. He says, “One of the best ways to learn the business if you have the time and that’s what you want to do, is to go out and find a really good working student position. If you’re willing to work—that’s the key word—you should be able to find a good quality instructor that’s willing to teach.” Will reasons that a good working student could
Will Simpson and Carlsson Vom Dach competing at the 2008 Olympics. Photo courtesy Anke Magnussen
offer any number of services. “You could clean stalls, drive the truck, maintain the vehicles, take care of the kids—anything that’s going to help the instructor’s situation,” he says. “In turn you’ll learn good horsemanship. All situations are different and there is no excuse not to be able to seek out good information.” Four-Star eventing competitor Dorothy Crowell (nee Trapp)
was an alternate for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain riding Molokai. Based in Frankfurt, Kentucky, her most recent upper-level partner was Radio Flyer. Dorothy says the
difference between a working student and a paid employee often comes down to experience and finances. “A working student is usually someone that financially needs to work off their bill. They typically don’t have ‘grooming’ experience; I pay someone with that experience. Often it takes less time to do the work yourself than to take the time to teach the working student how to properly muck a stall, clean tack, groom a horse, wrap a leg, tack up a horse, pack for a show, pack a foot, shut gates, sweep, medicate, set jumps, and drive a truck and trailer. If you find someone who can do all that and more up to
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