
Hello Eventing Nation!
Before I introduce myself, I want to give a BIG thanks to John, as well as all the EN fans and readers for creating such a great place for us eventers to connect and learn! It is an honor for me to be able to share my journey as an eventing working student, and I hope to share some amazing lessons and stories, as well as reveal the tough and, at times, highly unglamorous side of being a working student (sometimes I think I'm crazy for doing this, but then I just remind myself I'm not ready for an office job yet!)
My name is Jenny, and I am a 21-year-old from a suburb outside of Boston, MA. I just recently graduated from the University of Connecticut with a major in Animal Science and a minor in Therapeutic Horsemanship Education. Instead of following the habitual path in my family of carrying on to receive my masters or PhD, I have decided to spend the next year of my life, as well as every penny I have to my name, working for an Advance level eventer in the heart of Kentucky. My sister tells non-equestrians that I'm going off to "Horsey Grad School," which is pretty accurate! I am lucky to own and be bringing with me the sweetest six-year-old gelding anyone could ever ask for, whom I bought two years ago. He is a PMU rescue from Canada, hence his name: Molson. We have not done any recognized events thus far, only a dozen schooling shows, since most of my time has been focused on school, but I hope to be competitive at Training Level by this time next year...which means we have LOTS of learning to do! While I would love to write a novel on Moo (one of his many nicknames!), I would rather not bore you all, plus I know I will get to write about him more later!
Well, that is my background in a nutshell, and now, with a week left until I pack my life up and drive down to horse country, I am preparing-- mentally, physically, financially (or at least attempting to!)-- for the job that will hopefully change my life. The first thing I have already learned is that I am going to be very, very poor for the next year. Actually, I will be poor as long as there are four-legged money-pits in my life, but you all know how that goes! SO, my summer has been dedicated to saving, saving, saving! I have done it all- house sitting, pet sitting, fence painting, selling my organs... just kidding, but the thought did cross my mind. My favorite job, and probably the one I am going to miss the most, is my job as an instructor for the able-bodied summer riding program at Windrush Farm Therapeutic Equitation. I spend my days teaching ten children, and will truly miss explaining that Chester is an "Ap-pa-loo-sa," not an "Apple-Sausage," and will also miss the giggles I get when explaining why Tory and Woody get Tractgard in their feed (the campers are at the age where the word 'diarrhea' is absolutely hysterical). But this all ends in a few short weeks, and my new life will begin. I am absolutely thrilled, anxious, nervous...and somewhat terrified...all at once. However, a new feeling of excitement has come over me as I will be able to share my experience with Eventing Nation! I look forward to my next post and writing about my trip down to Kentucky, as I am sure something will go wrong--doesn't something always go wrong when you absolutely don't need it to??
Until next time :)
xo Jenny








Great writing, Jenny! I LOVE your upcoming adventure and look forward to hearing all the details here on EN. Do be sure to sign up with USRider before you hit the road. Best investment you'll ever make, no matter how poor!
Good luck! :)