Job: Horse trainer, McDonough
What I do: When it comes to training horses, Sandi Forester believes in doing what comes naturally. She takes what is unnatural for a horse -- having a person on its back -- and uses the animal's instincts to train both horse and rider.
Horses are herd animals that like to socialize with other horses, Forester, 57, explained. The key to training a horse is for the rider to win the animal's trust and respect. "The first thing you do is bond with your horse," she said.
You also have to be a leader. In the wild, the leader of the herd uses pressure to exert power over the other horses, Forester said. The horse naturally moves away from pressure, whether it's from another horse, a trainer on the ground or a rider on its back. A human gently applies pressure to the bit in the horse's mouth with the reins or presses the horse's sides with his or her legs to get the horse to move in the desired direction. When the horse responds, the pressure is released.
"Our job is to communicate with them," she said. "They didn't choose to do this."
The bronco-busting from TV and movie Westerns is cruel and unnecessary, she said. If a horse bucks or rears, it means the horse is reacting to pain -- whether from an improperly fitting saddle, a bouncing rider or a toothache.
Forester says horse training is an ongoing process, usually in sessions of an hour to an hour and a half. She works one-on-one with both horse and rider at her farm, Powder Forest, near McDonough. A barn and outbuilding provide shelter, and she's building a riding ring in addition to the acres of paddock on the property.
Forester does almost everything herself, including cleaning the stables where she keeps her own two horses.
While she trains for all riding styles, "dressage is my love," Forester said. She uses the basics of dressage training for all the other types, such as Western, hunting or gaited. "Dressage is all about balance," she said, comparing the postures and discipline to gymnastics. "It's like ballet on horseback."
What got me interested in this: "As long as I can remember, horses have held a fascination for me," Forester said. Her first job in the field was at age 19, when she worked at a riding academy. She said she didn't grow up with horses but began by cleaning stalls -- "anything I could do to get the opportunity to be near a horse."
She said she held other jobs to pay the bills while she developed her skill and reputation as a horse trainer.
Best part of my job: "Being able to make a difference in a positive way in a horse's life," Forester said. That goes for people, too. "I help people understand their horse, handle them better and make them happy."
Most challenging part: "Horses that come to me that have been mistreated or abused," she said. For those animals, it can take a long time to rebuild trust with humans. "I love just about every animal that's been created. It's hard for me to see sadness in a horse."
What people don't know about my job: "People think this is a glamorous job. They see the shows and parades and think this is a fantasy," she said.
The reality is 15-hour days and a physical challenge 365 days a year. "The horses need your attention," she said, even when it's cold and rainy.
What keeps me going: "Nothing that I do is like a job to me," Forester said. But "you don't go into this to become rich."
Preparation needed for this job: "There's only one way: that's to be an apprentice," Forester said. "People aren't going to hand their horse to you to train until you've proven yourself."
She also said a would-be trainer should be humble and not mind getting dirty. "You will be learning until the day you stop working with horses."
Some schools teach courses in training techniques and stable management, but "you have to deal with hundreds of horses to learn how to train them," she said. "Every horse is unique, and you have to match the training to the horse."
Forester took courses in horse care and stable management at the University of Connecticut and still attends clinics and workshops.
- By Karl W. Ritzler, for ajcjobs. Got an interesting job that you love? E-mail your story to jobseditor@ajc.com.