When Burnout Steals the Joy from Working with Horses ( Don’t Lose Your Love for the Lifestyle) By Jill Montgomery (Reprinted with permission from Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) www.CHA.horse) I have a friend who is a very successful horse trainer, judge, owner of a beautiful facility and many champion horses. He teaches riding lessons, volunteers for civic and youth groups and seems to be ready to help whenever a person is in need and a horse is involved. He is a great guy. He is also tired, bone tired.
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e says, “Jill, it feels like I am putting 10 days into every 7, and I am still having trouble keeping up with everything that I want to get done.” My friend is at high risk for burn out. People who teach riding lessons, provide boarding services, or otherwise have the care and management of horses as their job are often passionate about their work. For many it isn’t just a job, it is their purpose in life. As rewarding as it can be, finding balance can be a challenge. Many equine professionals work in very demanding environments. Seven-days a week, wearing most of the hats, if not all, for necessary tasks and weather dependent revenue can dampen the spirits of even the most passionate. When your livelihood and lifestyle depend on sustaining this passion, the old saw, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life,” can get a little thin. It can become a lifestyle lacking balance and lead to burn-out.
To better understand what burnout is and how to avoid or reverse it, I reached out to Tara Gamble, Past CHA President, multi-talented horse person from Edmonton, Alberta and Lisa Lombardi, a highly accomplished horse person from Santa Rosa, CA. Both of these women are credentialed in many Certifications CHA has to offer and Certifiers in several specialties. They also both provided talks for CHA Members on this topic. Their research and tips lay out a practical guide to recognize and fight off burnout. I put a set of questions to them. The following lists compress their answers into points you can use for a quick self-check and perhaps adopt some ideas to help fireproof yourself from burnout. What is Burnout? • Burnout is a term usually related to work, most often your regular job. • Burnout is emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by relentless stress. • When you are burned out, the job you used to love is now a chore, it is overwhelming. • Burnout can show up as physical pain, chronic fatigue, irritability, and inability to focus. • Burnout is often characterized by hopelessness, detachment, and resentment. Are Equine Professionals More Susceptible to Burnout than Others? • Few jobs demand the 24/7 responsibilities that can go along with owning and running a lesson barn or boarding stable. Horses must be cared for every day. • Few jobs provide an activity that carries a real risk of someone being killed or maimed for life.
14 • MAY 2023
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