This is something that those of you in the horse community might be able to help me with. As you might already have figured out, I love horses. I love them so much that I want to spend every day of my life working with them, if I can. I've had five years of horseback riding experience, and though I've not had lessons in about a year, I've ridden on and off during that year and hope to go back into lessons soon. So, where I need advice is this. I'm in grade eleven, contemplating post-secondary education. I've looked into going to a multitude of Universities, though I'm mostly considering Olds College in Olds, Alberta, and the University of Guelph in Guelph and Kemptville, Ontario. I'd take an equine science degree, specializing in either riding or breeding and training, if not both. My question is: do you think it's worth it to go get the experience at one of these universities, or would it be better to learn it as I can, being a stable hand and picking up the knowledge as I work? Secondly, if I do go out and get a degree, will it do me any good, do you think? My eventual hope is to own my own stable, just a small one that can support its self, and work there, but I'd be quite willing to settle for working at a stable owned by someone else and just owning a horse of my own. The reason I ask here on deviantART is that I watch a lot of people who work with horses, and I am envious of them and curious as to how they got into it and would love some advice from people in the community here. My mother is apprehensive about allowing me to go into horses in University without me first talking to some people who do have successful jobs with horses so that I know exactly what I'm getting into. Anyone who can help me out, or who can ask someone they know for advice, it would be greatly appreciated.