I am currently a college student at Alfred University, even through my season is over I’m still up at the barn most days. I have one or two classes in the morning then I’m off to the barn. I’m a TA for English riding level 1 and level 2. At Alfred students can choose to take a riding class as a gym elective, many students who take these classes have never ridden before so it’s hard for my coach to supervise all six newbies so I help keep an eye on everyone. My coach will consult me when shes on the fence about trying a student with a new horse or if a horse needs to be lounged before hand.

After the classes are over I start my Independent Study. I am bring one of our open horses back into shape after an injury two years ago. While he was out on a summer lease he ended up breaking his leg and was out of work for a year and a half. He was slowly getting back into work last semester but he’s now ready for a full time program. I’ve been doing mostly dressage work with him remind him how to use his body. With the news that he was going to zones for open fences I’ve now started him back into jumping and he missed it so much. He’s not the easiest horse to ride and he’s still building muscle but over the fence he jumps so round and careful one would never know he broke his leg.

Once I’ve finished my Independent Study I’ll help my coach with any horses who need to get lounged or if we have lame horses at the time get them out and check for lameness and tend to any needs they have. Or I’ll ride during our open ring time. We have been asked to bring nine horses to zones and our open ring times will allow these horses to be worked after they had some time off.

One day a week we have workouts at Alfred’s varsity weight room. We have a trainer create an hour long work out for us equestrians. If I’m not at workouts I get a head on homework and try to get to bed at 10. Then I start the day over again.

That’s my basic day this semester filled with school and horses and I wouldn’t want it any other way!