Three Things I Wish I Knew in 2018

I started my equine business straight out of college in 2018. Since then, I have learned things both the easy and the hard way. If I could go back in time and tell myself three things, these would be them: 

1. It's easy to fall in love with your clients. You spend a lot of time with them and put your blood, sweat and tears into them and their horses. They have a bad day? You try to make it better. They're struggling to figure out a portion of your training? You spend all night thinking of different wording, different exercises, and different ways to help them understand. At the end of the day, clients will always do what is best for them. Sometimes that means doing right by you, other times it means finding a new trainer. I have learned that you can love your clients, but have a good network of professionals and friends to lean on. Keep the client interactions as professional as you can and go have a laugh and fun with your peers and friends. This will save you heartache in the end. You are your clients therapist at times because horses do that to people. Horses have a knack for tickling out problems, emotions and other issues that have nothing to do with riding or training. Finding a way to draw a line between helping or making someone feel better and enabling your client to not find more appropriate professional counseling and giving pieces of yourself away will save your business and save you a lot of heartbreak.
2. Find peers in the industry who share values with you and understand that your conversations are between you and them. I can't thank the professional friends I have enough for letting me talk out issues and roadblocks and helping me find answers. They are very valuable and needed in this industry. Finding someone who you can speak openly to is very freeing, but choose your people wisely. Similarly, keep your non-horse friends close. It's easy to fully dive into the horse world and not make time for your friends who aren't with you every day, every show, every heartache. These people keep you grounded and help you keep your professional and personal life separate.
3. Find a way to leave your job at the barn and be you at home. It's easy to let the two muddle in your head. This can lead to burnout, short fuses, and straight up exhaustion. Put work away from when you walk out to when you walk back in (obviously in emergent cases you cannot do this, but let non emergent things wait until the morning) whether this means making a ritual for yourself when you walk to your house or using your drive home to separate yourself, find a way to make a distinction between work and home. Leave the thinking for your working day and be present with your family and friends when you are off the clock.

I hope this finds someone that needs it! I'm always here for anyone who needs a sound board, a shoulder to cry on or a little advice. I'd love to create a more open, understanding avenue for people in this industry so we can build each other up and share experiences to help one another. Thank you for reading, and I hope I helped!