**Episodes 1-12 were recorded prior to the pandemic, with this episode being recorded on 3/5/2020.  New episodes go into production in May and will change to monthly distribution, beginning with the first episode of season 2 premiering on May 12.  We would love to hear from you!  Feedback and suggested topics can be sent to [email protected]**

In this episode we touch again on trade based careers and why the trades are appealing to more and more young people.  We compare traditional higher education with learning trade based skills and talk about how schools like Meredith Manor are offering students a less costly, less time consuming path into the workforce.

Join us as we sit down with Sam Bucher, owner of Sky High Equestrian in Texas.  Sam’s business specializes in the consignment and sale of horses, a specialized business within the horse industry. She tells us how her business operates, offering trainers and individuals in search of the right horse a wide variety from which to choose.  A 2008 Meredith Manor alum earning a Riding Master VI certification as well as certification in teaching and equine massage, this graduate has certainly turned her passion for horses into a wonderful career!

Potential students often see themselves owning their own barn and running their own business, but what is the process to achieve that goal? In this episode, we talk about the value of trade based careers such as those found in the horse industry and offer ways Meredith Manor prepares students to pursue their dreams - we also discuss tips and methods that have worked for MM alums.

Join us for our conversation with Jess Quinlan, owner and operator of Dutch Pines Equine in southern Ohio, a recreational horse facility that offers boarding, training, riding and more, including day camps and overnight camps. Her passion is bringing horses and people together, whether that’s for a birthday party or therapeutic riding for kids. Jess is a 2013 graduate of Meredith Manor’s Riding Master VI program.

Our discussion of the Equine Science Master program continues, this time concentrating on the teaching and training certifications. In the teaching certification, it's about learning how to impact the student and the horse. The training certification, however, is all about what to teach the horse. These two certifications often go hand-in-hand. Remember, all horses speak horse - if you can communicate with horses you can train them to do any game you want to play out there in the industry. Don't just learn the concepts, test the concepts.

In this episode we discuss the Equine Science Master program at Meredith Manor and a few of the different career areas available: Equine Massage, Leather Working and Farrier. In the horse industry, it's common to learn a variety of skills. After all, the more services you have to sell, the more income you can earn and the more marketable you will be. 

Meredith Manor alum Emily David returns to talk about her role within the Interscholastic Equestrian Association. Students do not need to own a horse to participate and as such, IEA levels the playing field for all young riders regardless of social status or economic resources. Learn about the culture and the community of the IEA as well as other careers available within this national organization. 

We have another guest, Emily David, a Meredith Manor graduate who now works as an administrator for the Interscholastic Equestrian Association. The IEA is dedicated to providing Hunter, Western and Dressage competitions to students in grades 4-12. She takes us on her journey from a student attending Meredith Manor to her current position as a professional in the horse industry. She talks about the people she's met and the obstacles she's conquered along the way.

We welcome our first guest, Certified Ferrier and Meredith Manor instructor John Crothers. The farrier program is one of our most requested programs at Meredith Manor and for good reason - a professional farrier can make around $75,000 a year. Participants in this program collaborate with other students and professionals to learn a "whole horse" approach to the farrier trade.

At Meredith Manor we are all horses all of the time. We are often asked what it takes be successful at Meredith Manor and in the horse industry. You need to have a passion for horses, but formal training helps! Learn about the many programs offered at Meredith Manor and the types of careers our certifications can help you achieve.