I had an open working student job all summer, and then added another position that I needed to fill this fall. (Both filled, amen!) It meant that it was a summer of resumes and interviews, and of getting down to a science my hiring procures. And it is thus: someone emails me asking for more information about the job, and I write back with a description of a typical day, as well as with what other chores I expect my staff to do. And I also tell them what I offer for compensation.

My working student job does require lots of farm tasks, and long hours. It also involves riding, every day, and almost always in a lesson setting with me. It involves coming with me to clinics and shows, listening to the best of the best teach me and, whenever I can, my working students. It involves opportunities to show client horses whenever I can find them. It involves a day off every week (which is more than I get.) And it involves beautiful housing, fun fellow staff and wonderful clients, and a salary. At the end of the day, it involves being paid to improve one’s education and build one’s skills.

And about one out of every three tells me thanks, but no thanks. “I’m looking to be paid more,” or “I’m looking for a riding-and-teaching job only with no grooming or mucking or mowing,” or both.

Read the rest at The Chronicle of the Horse!

“You know,” my mother said, “I’m just starting to appreciate what hard work dressage is.”

I looked at her like she had three heads. We’ve been doing this a while; you’re only just now starting to appreciate this?

“No, I know it’s technically difficult; I know it requires great skill,” she clarified. “I mean the physical work of it all. I watch you professional riders, and it looks like you’re just sitting there. You make it look effortless. In reality, you’re working really physically hard.”

I’ve been riding for as long as I can remember, and riding dressage since I was 10, and I, too, didn’t really think about what physically demanding work it all is until my mother said that. Allison, fulfilling her role as Dressage Yoda, summed it up brilliantly: Bad riding looks like bad riding. But good riding looks like no riding.

Read the rest at The Chronicle of the Horse!