So you wanted to have a career in horses, huh?

Words of wisdom from my favorite farrier, Bill Mills. Yes, in fact, I do want to have a career in horses! It's exhausting, the hours are long, the pay is minimal, the expense is outrageous- but let's face it, some one has to do it!

All joking aside, I've wanted a career in horses for roughly 23 of my 27 years in existence. God bless my poor mother for starting the downward spiral that was my first riding lesson. My father still to this day chimes in with "are you sure you don't just want to do horses for a hobby?" 23 years, countless dollars (I'd hate to actually count), 7 years in Pony Club, and 4 years in college studying horses.......yes dad, I'm sure!

I've been operating under the business name Close Up Show Stables since 2005. CSS has never been full time until this month, although I'm sure I've put in enough overtime hours throughout the years to already retire early. It has survived 8 barns, 2 states, 3 boyfriends (one who I think is finally in for the long haul), college, 5 part time jobs, and my own mistakes along the way. Just two weeks ago I made the move to quit my part time job and make CSS and the horses my full time job.....talk about scary! Today marks the day that all my work, learning, and time has been leading up to: I became Close Up Show Stables, LLC!

I'll tell you right now they do not prepare you in college equine business classes for filling out state business licensing documents, or FEIN (federal employee income number) forms, or that you need both these things to open up a business checking account. Or that if when filling out said documents that if you're filing for LLC you need to actually write LLC after the business name- as opposes to assuming they know you want to be Business, LLC- or they will let you fill the whole thing out and pay for it, only to email you roughly 3 hours later to tell you you've been declined because you're an idiot and of course you need to put LLC after the name- NOW FILL IT ALL OUT AGAIN! Ooops!

But, after all that, today is a landmark for Close Up Show Stables, LLC! After 9 years, I am officially a business! I have my fantastic and loyal clients to thank for this, because without them it would be impossible! More landmarks to come this year, I can feel it!

Cheers!

Many thanks to Julia for submitting her blog post to be featured here on Collegiate Glamour! Guest post written by Julia Jesu, owner and trainer of Close Up Show Stables. You can see her original blog post here.

How to Choose a Collegiate Riding Program

Back when I was in school (Centenary College Class of 1998) there were fewer

For the record, it didn't look like this when I was there!

choices, and a lot less disciplines and programs to choose from but that has certainly changed today. When it comes to finding colleges with riding teams and even riding classes, the choices have expanded significantly over the years.  There are English and Western options, the ability to focus on teaching, training, riding, therapeutic programs, race programs, and barn management. There's even equine marketing, product, and other great areas you can choose to focus on. And then of course there's the best part - the riding.

Different schools have different options and while it is always important to review your choices and find a program that best fits your needs and goals.

While some schools are more hands on and include horse care and grooming in their programs, some schools focus more on the riding aspect. Does it matter to you if your school has their own facilities, or are you okay with riding at a barn that is privately owned or separate from your college or university? Some other important things to look at are the facilities themselves - do they have the types of courses and rings you need to work in to excel in your discipline of choice? If you want to take riding classes to work on your rodeo skills, do they have the equipment necessary?

Want to get to the finals? Make sure the riding program has the equipment you need.

There's a lot more that goes into finding the right program than who has the nicest barn, or the best horses. I remember back when I was in Centenary, all of our horses were at the time, donated. We had some good ones, but some that were not as good, and while at first I thought it was a drawback, I soon realized it was an advantage. After years of riding everything from the good, to the bad, and even the ugly, there's few horses today that I encounter that I can't relate back to a horse I experienced in some way, shape, or form as I did in college.

And of course there's the trainers and coaches. Finding instructors that you mesh well with is important, and making sure that they have the knowledge and ability to teach you will help you succeed. Keep in mind that you don't have to get along with every training you meed - sometimes riding with someone outside of your normal comfort zone can take you to new levels or make you look at things in a different way and get you over that hump. I remember being "forced" to take either 1 semester of dressage or 2 semesters of eventing at Centenary and thinking, pshhh, I am a jumper I'll do eventing. Dressage will be boring and useless. Well I learned so much I ended up focusing more on eventing, and taking a few semesters of dressage as well, once I realized how much it can improve all areas of my riding. So always remember to keep an open mind!

It's not just about winning ribbons, but about building a
foundation for success in your riding goals and future.

Everyone is different and by knowing your goals first, you can review your options and ask the right questions to ensure you will be happy with your decision. So where did you decide to go to school, and what kind of riding program are you in? Let us know in the comments or email us your story and you may be featured on our blog!

Good luck and happy riding!
CJ & The Collegiate Glamour Team

Calling All Intercollegiate Riders: We Need You!

Collegiate Glamour is thrilled to announce the start of a new series on our blog, that will follow the life on Intercollegiate equestrians around the country.  Starting in February, we're going to be inviting any and all Intercollegiate riders in all disciplines, from any school, to submit their stories to share on the CG Blog.  We want to hear it all, the good, the bad and the ugly (or better yet, they funny).  Ever have a brilliant ride where it just all came together? What about that show where you drew the worst horse and ended up tossed in the mud over that tricky fence? Or what about the time that you nearly overslept, barely made the van in time to get to the show only to realize you left your show coat at home and had to borrow your friends?

I know I used to show intercollegiate back in the day (I feel old haha!), and have some great memories from finally nailing the ride on that tricky horse, getting the perfect canter transition right in front of the judge, to having one of the best rides ever only to realize I was so absorbed in how great I was doing that I completely forgot the rest of my course. You know how it is - you can't pick your horse and you never know how the luck of the draw will play out.  You can get that show winning warmblood, or that sassy appy, and it's all about what you're able to do once you set foot in that show ring.  Even more than just the horses, Intercollegiate riding is also about having fun with your friends and spending time together as a team in a sport that usually is measured by individual success.  There's something to be said for the camaraderie that comes from working together as a team and the memories you make both at the shows you host as well as on the road. And of course, it's all of this together that makes this the experience of a lifetime.  Intercollegiate riding is the only sport where you draw your horse out of a hat, don't get to practice or school before hand, and ride, show, and compete as a team to represent your school.  Pretty cool stuff if you ask me.

These days there's more to Intercollegiate than just the traditional hunter jumper world, but also dressage and western teams - and we want to hear all of it.  Personally my experience was back in the late 90s (I told you I'm old!) riding the Intercollegiate H/J team with my alma mater, Centenary College.  For those of you that have been there, this was long before the USEF arena, the remodeled barns, and the big name show horses.  At the time we had all donated horses, a small indoor with deteriorating footing, and everyone worked their tails off praying they didn't get the old stubborn QH who could barely pick up a canter even when carrying the biggest motivation stick AKA crop you were allowed.  So much has changed since then, and we'd love to hear from each and every one of you on what a day in YOUR life is like.  Get odd looks from classmates when you show up with hay in your hair and your tall boots track manure into the classroom because you just rushed in from team practice? Tell us about it!  Write whatever you want, about a day in your life, and as thanks we'll send you an offer to use on the Collegiate Glamour site.  Even better, once each quarter, we'll be doing a drawing from everyone who's had a blog featured on our site, giving away a saddle pad with their team's logo, along with a matching halter and lead rope so they can show in style!

So what are you waiting for? Get writing and send those blog ideas and submissions to blog@collegiateglamour.com about a day in your life, and be sure to include your favorite pictures with each blog.  We can't wait to hear from you!

Best,

CJ & The Collegiate Glamour Team

CG’s Road to Collegiate Riding

Happy New Year!  We have a new addition to Collegiate Glamour, and our pursuit to provide collegiate fans with new ways of showing their pride – a new blog geared for riders who are pursuing riding in college.  We are calling all riders – English (hunter/jumper and dressage), Western, and Polo to take part in this new journey to help promote riding and each other!  If you know any individuals who would like to share their story with us, and be showcased please contact us at info@collegiateglamour.com.

Did you know that there are vibrant riding programs all over the continental U.S.A.?  Programs are opening up at colleges and universities consistently every year with hardworking folks behind the wheel.  The *Department of Education estimates that there are over 6,700 colleges and universities (two year and four year) in the US.  So more than likely you have a college or university near to you or in a day’s drive, and you might be pleasantly surprised that they have a riding program.

For all those folks that are already a part of a riding program.  How did you discover your school, and what made you take the leap?!

Stay tuned for more information, student highlights, and news from major shows in the next couple of weeks!

Let us know your thoughts on this subject!

All the best,

Fans at Collegiate Glamour

*Department of Education - http://www.ed.gov/

Collegiate Glamour ® provides collegiate fans an exciting way to show their passion with clothing and apparel for themselves and their pets.  www.collegiateglamour.com

Happy New Year from the Fans at Collegiate Glamour! And YES its the year of the HORSE!