the same time feels her internship set her up for the position perfectly. “The majority of riders don’t understand what it takes to set up for a show,” says Emily. “But it gives you a better appreciation for the sport.” Assistant to FEI Trainer For Bennington, VT, native Micah Andrews, finding her “dream job” required that a long time mentor gently kicked her out of the nest. Micah, who completed a B.S. in Equestrian Studies at Averett University in Virginia in 2016, worked with German bereiter Harry Diel at ReinDance Farm in Hoosick Falls, NY, beginning at the age of 12. The summer between her junior and senior year, Micah interned with Harry to develop and prepare his homebred youngstock for in-hand presentations and inspections, as well as started several horses under saddle. “I always knew I wanted to ride professionally in some sort of fashion,” says Micah. “But whether that meant going into sales, training, or teaching, I wasn’t so sure.” Focusing on the young horses exclusively gave Micah an unparalleled look at the methodical system Harry used to introduce the animals to handling, showing, and basic riding. Under his supervision, Micah showed a two-year-old on the line as well as rode several animals in materiale classes. “Harry taught me how to properly start a young horse, and he was always in the ring when I was riding” says Micah. “But the really rewarding thing was he let me train them myself, and let me figure a lot out on my own. I really enjoyed helping bring them along.” In addition, Micah was fully immersed in Harry’s system of barn management, including interacting with clients and show prep. After graduation, Micah returned to work for Harry over the summer; he sat her down and told her it was time for her to go explore the broader equestrian world. With his recommendation and support, Micah began to search for jobs and found an intriguing opportunity on Yard and Groom, just four hours after it had been posted. FEI dressage rider Olivia LaGoy-Weltz was looking for an assistant to divide time between Wellington, FL, and Haymarket, VA. Micah applied immediately.“I went and interviewed, and she called me when I got home to offer me the job,” says Micah. “She asked, ‘can you start next week?’” In her current position, Micah works closely with Olivia and another assistant to prepare horses, manage the facility, and support clients’ needs. She believes that her experience as an intern fully prepared her for the role she currently holds. “It is many of the same things, just taken up a level,” says Micah. Working for Olivia has opened up many new opportunities for Micah; among others, she completed her United States Dressage Federation Silver Medal riding a client’s horse. When her boss travels to Europe for training each year, Micah and her fellow assistant are each left with half the barn to keep in work. “I ride so much and on so many different types of horses,” says Micah. Micah recommends that students push themselves to do an internship, especially one that takes them out of their comfort zone. “You have to figure out what you want to do,” says Micah. “You will always learn something along the way, even if what you may learn is what doesn’t work.” Final Thoughts While not every internship will translate into a paid position after graduation, it is clear that making the effort to get out of your comfort zone and work with new people in new places will likely pay dividends in the future. EXCELLENCE. :fdd`kd\ek kf :\ek\eXip Le`m\ij`kpËj

Equine Journal