What I want to do…

Posted by Ali on January 12, 2012

As a kid, we all got the “what do you want to be when you grow up?” type questions. They change through time, but until you get a real job, people continue to ask what you want to do and what you’re going to do when you get out of school with your degree, etc.

I’ve thought about this a lot, and struggled with this a lot. I’m still in school, I got my undergraduate degree in chemistry and avoided entering the real world by continuing to get my Ph.D. in chemistry. So, needless to say, I’m surrounded by people in the program and when they are asked what they want to do when they get their Ph.D. they usually say teach, go into industry, work for the government, etc. Me? What do I say… Well, I want to train horses. If I could pick 1 thing to do with my life, that is what it is. Of course, I tell people this and they look so confused. Then I continue to let them know I could also handle being an artist along with training to mix things up, and they get more confused. Not that their opinions matter really, it’s just fun at times to watch their reaction.

The more I think about this, the more confident I am that horses are what I want to do with my life. I would like to incorporate chemistry at some point, maybe making supplements or treats, something along those lines, but I don’t have the time and money to start such a venture right now. I am starting it slowly, but I need more hours in every day, and a bigger paycheck (yep, graduate school in chemistry pays).

In my recent revelation, I have now been thinking more along the lines of “How can I make this happen?” and am going to try to realistically work towards this goal starting now. I have another 2-3 years still in school, so my goals have to keep that in mind. So in this post, I’m going to list some things I feel I need to develop in the next few years to help me when I get out of school. Here is what I’ve come up with so far…

• Be in shape! I’m overweight. Still strong, but overweight and not in very good “shape”. Working out doesn’t fit into my schedule well at all between school, home life and the horses. So, I want to try to think of a quick (10-15minute) workout I can do at the barn prior to working the horses. We recently moved into a house (the people moved this time, not the horses!) and after things get settled I am hoping to get out 3 days a week regularly. This isn’t a lot of working out, but better than nothing.
• Eat better! We’ve already started this at home, cooking more, eating fast food less. Eating smaller meals and more of them. This will take time to adjust, but I feel a slow transition is best so nothing backfires – I’ve done plenty of rapid diet changes without success, this one I want to make sure is one of those “life style” changes, not just a diet.
• Document training! People need to know I can handle a horse, and different types of horses. With this blog I have documented some of our training progress, but I need to document more, preferably more by video, but if I can’t get more video, at least by blogging and keeping entries on progress of the horses. 2-3 years is a great time frame really, the straightness training takes a long time to really develop and advance your horses.
• Annie: Hopefully by then Annie and I can ride in a nice, collected way with both of us in good self carriage.
• Brady: I will also be making some progress with Brady at that point as well. I’m unsure if we’ll start him under saddle this year or 2013, but we will be doing more ground work this year and starting him in straightness training, which is nice and slow, relaxed, I think he will enjoy this much more than the natural horsemanship training
• Angel: Well that all depends on if someone adopts her, but I’m hoping to start her into straightness training within the next few weeks. We really would like to get her under saddle this spring, and would like to have her in straightness training at least 4-6 weeks before starting her under saddle.

For now, those are the big ones: get healthy/in shape, and keep training the horses in my care. This is a big dream, but I have lots of ambition and can be a determined, stubborn person. At least now I feel confident in what I want to do. It’s a great feeling to actually decide, and start taking steps towards your dream

So… What do you want to do with your life?

5 Responses to "What I want to do…"

1. Stephanie Hahn Sinkler via Facebook says:

   January 12, 2012 at 10:30 am

   I would also agree. I would love to be training horses for a living along with the million other things. LOL for instance being a foster, photography, etc.
2. Renee Goubeaux Knapke via Facebook says:

   January 12, 2012 at 11:19 am

   admit it, Ali, you just enjoy confusing people, rofl!
3. Renee Goubeaux Knapke via Facebook says:

   January 12, 2012 at 11:19 am

   My dream job would be to rescue animals and run the rescue correctly. I’d love to be able to rehab and rehome abused animals.
4. Filly Tracks via Facebook says:

   January 13, 2012 at 8:54 am

   I did forget something… I knew it, but didn’t put it in the blog. To always keep learning and stay open to new methods of training, to understand them before I make my opinion
5. Bob Miller says:

   January 13, 2012 at 7:51 pm

   Allison I am still trying to fiqure out what I want to be when I grow up.