Hi all!!! My names Autumn and I'm gonna introduce myself like it says I should

First off I am a a college freshman studying Equine Business Management with a Breeding Certificate. I plan on getting my major and diploma in four short years. I own one and a half horses. Thunder who is a registered arapaloosa and Oreo is a mini cross (hence the 'half". I am riding western my first year in college on their horses, next year will be huntseat, the reining, then dressage and driving will split my final year. Thunder is mainly huntseat but in training to be a little western as well. I have owned him for three years and he has never been shown. I will be showing him english this summer and hope to also show him western as long as I find a saddle and a bit he likes. Oreo is just his little buddy, he was abused before I got him but fully recovered now. I was trying to cart train him, but apparently the cart will eat him... So since I have never trained a cart horse I will wait until I have taken a couple driving classes so I don't mess things up. ;-P

Umm... Yeah after graduation I have a plan to find a job as either a colt starter, trainer, or ride for a barn while I start my own business. My friend and I have set the goal that five years after I graduate we have a small backyard barn and begin our breed/training business. We would be breeding and training show mini's for just about everything. After we get settled into that however we are going to move onto the bug guys. Haha, this is all a dream though and is liable to change many many times.

Oh you want to know ME? I thought this was horses... Oh well. I am HORRIBLE at spelling and grammar. Don't judge I'm not an english major for a reason... I hate the teenager stereotype and I never fit into it. I ahve worked three jobs the past few summers to save up for college, my car, my horses, and emergency vet bill money for while I was gone away to college. I never threw fits or did anything behind my parents backs that wasn't for them until I was eigtheen. And that was my personal birthday present to myself. I went and got my tongue pierced, now please don't give me the parent lecture. I have been thinking about this since I was 13, it's not permanent, it has taken WEEKS for people to realize I have it pierced because I'm not sticking it out all the time or clicking it against my teeth. Oh and I have just about the widest variety of music you will ever see!! Try me, I dare you... Haha

Anything else you wanna know that I didn't put into my friggin essay up there just ask!!

Hi, Glad your here.
I'm sure you'll post lots in your spare time
Start now to look at your long term goals for your business, the training is great, just may want to rethink the breeding aspect.
Due to the slaughter -whichI know can start a huge debate- the general horse population now needs to reabsorb 200,000 horses per year EVERY year.
Just look on your local craigslist at all the FREE/GIVEAWAY horses.
Just food for thought.
Looks like your school offers a little bit of everything, you can never learn to much.
Remember the business, public relations and financial side as well.
At 19 training is great you still bounce at 50 you just go splat.

I sure agree with Ltc4h about the breeding - and the slaughter (there is no reason for discussion on the business end).

There are way to many horses out there and no buyers. I am basically giving away 2 year old well ground trained Morgans - and there are no takers. This market will take a loooong time to recover.

Even the training part has seen a very serious dent. A friend of mine used to charge $ 1000 a month and had a waiting list. He has not had any horse in a long time.

Take in mind that 6 horses are the very most you can do at a time. This means, that you have to get at least $ 500 a month plus board to pay for your time and investment.

Not to kill your dreams - just a word from a guy who knows the current reality.

Good luck.

GC