But I had chosen to apply and then accept the job anyway, thinking that as long as I was working with horses I could withstand anything. It is here that I have to go on a brief tangent on the state of the horse industry in general as unfortunately proper pay is an issue with horse jobs in general. While there are a few jobs in the industry that pay what they should, most jobs in the industry do not even pay experienced adults a livable wage, instead taking advantage of their love of horses to pay sometimes less than minimum wage and occasionally throwing in the “bonus” of housing. But what’s the point of that housing if the employee cannot avoid food, clothes, medical bills, and other basic needs? If they have to work so many extra jobs they cause their own mental and physical health to suffer? In my honest opinion, the entire horse industry must pay a true livable wage to all people of all ages and genders that are in the industry.