5 minute read
Stevens, Paula: Barn Rats
By Paula Stevens | MSU Horse Management Program Student
I started out working in a barn, cleaning stalls, feeding, doing turnouts, and riding horses and helping give lessons. When I was not doing that, I was bagging groceries at the store and restocking canned peas on empty shelves. I enjoyed my job at the barn, riding all the horses, and that is the one thing I miss most – riding.
I did not mind cleaning stalls, if anything there was a sort of relaxation felt from methodically cleaning each one each day, and a lot of thinking and learning was done in those stalls. I watched many training rides while cleaning stalls and heard lots of lessons of varying difficulties given, little things that wound up aiding in my riding in different ways. I had plenty of time to think while cleaning stalls, about where I wanted to be in the future and what I wanted to pursue in the horse industry as a potential career. I did a lot more than just “shovel manure” when cleaning stalls.
I liked turning horses out and feeding, as that gave me a few minutes to spend with each individual horse on the farm; I could look them over for any potential physical problems and just spend a few moments getting to know them better. Morning feed time was my favorite, I would usually get there before the sun was up or as it was coming up, and it was always very peaceful during those times. The deer were still out, rabbits would still be sneaking in final snacks before they would take cover and I would even see an occasional fox out and about. Early morning, I was the only one on the farm most times and as an introvert, I savored those moments. The riding aspect of the job was what I enjoyed most; I learned a lot riding all the different horses and that is something I miss the most.
Opportunity presented itself, and I opened the door and took the leap. That leap led me to Oklahoma where I got to experience life on a breeding farm where I foaled out nearly two-hundred mares and learned all about what goes into the breeding world. It was a sixmonth long endeavor and some days were definitely harder than others, but it opened up a lot of doors for me and presented a lot more opportunities.
From that experience I have gone to work at a barn I have always wanted to work at – Silver Spurs in Oklahoma – where I spend my days doing part of what I have always wanted to do. I halter break and fit up the weanlings, teaching them to lead, stand to be bathed, load onto a trailer, be willingly caught when turned out, groomed, and generally handled. When I first started out, I wanted to be a horse trainer who rode colts, fit up yearlings and halter broke weanlings. Today I am halter breaking weanlings and foals, grooming yearlings and am part of the collection process for the stallions that call this barn home. Is it exactly what I want to be doing? No, but it is a step in the right direction towards meeting my goal and “dream” job. I have faith the riding aspect will present itself when I am ready for that chapter to begin, but until then, I will soak up all that I can here. I will greet each day asking “what opportunities will present themselves and what skills will be utilized and learned today?”
While doing this job and the breeding job previous to this one, I learned to take control of my anxiety instead of letting it be in control. That is a big deal for me. The biggest thing I have learned, while in Oklahoma, however, is that it is only possible to turn “dreams” into reality if you put forth the effort, dedication, and commitment and sprinkle in patience and a sense of humor along the way. It is possible to put down the manure fork and do bigger things if you are willing to work for it. You can spend time cleaning stalls thinking about how boring it is and how much you would rather be elsewhere riding, or you can spend that time cleaning that stall thinking of ways to reach your goals.
I am grateful for the time I spent cleaning stalls and feeding and turning out horses. I am grateful for the colts I have ridden and lessons I have received and lessons I got to give. I am thankful for the support system I have back home, cheering me on every step of the way, and I am even thankful for those who can do nothing but be toxic and petty – if anything they taught me what not to accept from those I wind up working with in the future – a valuable lesson, and even more valuable, they taught me how to never behave.
Barn rats, young equestrians, boys and girls, you might have aspirations to work at and someday own and run a big fancy barn. Maybe you want to ride at the biggest horse show you can think of or find ways to impact lives around you using horses. You have big goals. I got out of the stall when I was ready and opportunity presented itself – if I can move across the country, learn a whole new skill set and then utilize that skill set daily, you can too. If it is possible for me, it is absolutely possible for you, you just have to put in the effort.
Paula Stevens is a student at Michigan State University and manages blog and Facebook page CitifiedCowgirl. Paula also manages and operates CitifiedCowgirl Photography, and works at Silver Spurs Equine in Oklahoma.
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