The work study program sponsored by the Foundation provides a place where a dedicated person who has the means to support themselves for one year independently can develop the skills to become a professional quality trainer and teacher able to make a living in the field of equitation.

You will need a car. We have room for one work study person to live on site, and there are families in the area who occasionally will host our students in exchange for pay or for barter. There is no income paid by NSAE for our work study students, the work you do is how you pay for your education, and it is also how you become more deeply educated.

Who qualifies to be a work study student?

Some of the common qualities found in any successful professional are that they are emotionally healthy, self motivated, take responsibility for their own life goals, and that they seek help from good people to promote their growth and well being. These are the same characteristics that we look for in our work study applicants.

What makes a good work study student?

You must have a burning passion to learn equitation, to learn to train horses, and to develop as a professional horseman. Horsemanship is not a field for people who “kind of want to do it”—it’s just too much hard work. You must focus on your goals and be ready to address the setbacks that will occur as opportunities to grow.

What sort of work will I be doing?

You are paying for your education by working, and you will work a 6 day week, with early hours and late ones. In addition, staying after hours to put in some independent riding time should be something you eagerly expect to do. If you are planning to count your hours, don’t apply. We guarantee that we will take advantage of you, your job-- and this is an easy one for people to forget-- is to make sure you take advantage of us right back. You will be tired, wet and cold in the winter and tired, sweaty and overheated in the summer. You’ll work with obnoxious clients as well as stellar ones, whiney children as well as remarkable ones, difficult and fabulous horses, and instructors who are fallible human beings. We will work you really hard, and if we’re doing our job, we will push you to your limits both physically and intellectually.

What will I get in exchange?

You'll have lessons, both formal once a week and informal as often as you make the time to make them happen. You have access to Mary Anne year round, and to Craig eight months out of 12. When you're not in a lesson, you'll be on site and observing us riding, training, and teaching others and you're free to ask questions as we do this work. You'll also have one private riding lesson weekly and group lessons as well, and independent practice time which you can take "riding in" with Craig or the staff instructors to get small lessons on the side. You'll work with the staff and with one another exploring the ideas that Craig and the staff presents. What you get in exchange is entirely up to you-- if you put your energy into it, you'll come away with a lifetime's benefit. If you wait for us to teach you, or keep a walkman on, you'll have a fairly useless time here. This is for adults ready to engage in their own education, and it's a powerful program for such people.

Will I have time to take a part time job while studying?

Your hours can be arranged to allow for outside needs, such as children you are raising or part time work, and that split focus will dilute the experience. You can take longer to complete your studies if you need to take the course part time. It's not easy-- you may want to extend the program a little longer if your work interferes with the amount of time you can dedicate to the study of riding. But, we're flexible about extending the time-- just not about shortening it.

Craig travels many of the spring and summer months. What happens then?  

Mary Anne remains on site, and most students find that working with her is equally fascinating. Still we know that Craig is the person people come to work with. When he's on clinic tours, Craig will leave reading and written work for you to investigate.  You'll take lessons from Mary Anne, and work on personal projects. You will also be working with us on non-riding topics (including management, self development, and horse care) and you'll practice what you’ve learned from Craig by coaching one another.

Is this for me?

We often hear "I’m not a great rider" (or now and then, "I’m truly gifted")…"am I going to be out of place here?"

We are fundamentally not interested in who’s “better” at any of this. Riding is a constant learning experience, and people who do not know this get stopped young. Riders at any level and from any discipline are welcome. It doesn't matter how "good" you are, each rider has a difficulty they must overcome to really grasp the work. Often “natural” or very experienced riders have a harder time than beginners as they sort out what is real about the work they do, and how to recreate it intentionally, how to teach it to others. And many of our most successful students have come the farthest in their work.

I'm not from the US-- is there anything I need to know?

First, you must be fluent in english to study with us. At the present we do not have any linguists fluent in other languages on staff. You will need to explore the requirements for your particular country in coming here to work with us. Your work will not displace any paid staff person, but because it is not a common reason for entering the US, in our present climate it's important to know a little about how to phrase your visa application. We have talked in depth with the state department about this process, and it is not simple or straightforward. Talk to us about how to approach the US embassy about the year you'll spend here.

How do I start?

All professionals course students, whether paid or work study, must start with an intensive. We will not accept application materials until that course is completed and you've had a chance to work with Craig on site.

Contact NSAE with any further questions.