The (NOT SO) Skinny Girl

I have a Bachelor of Science in Large Animal (Equine)Science. I studied cows, pigs, llamas, goats, sheep, horses...Even bison at one point! Everything large and in charge in the domestic animal world. I believe my diploma says "Equine Science and Management, specialization in Equine Breeding". What did I want to do?? I was once told the back side of the track was not the place for a "girl", but I wanted that life so bad. I wanted to be the go-to, do-it-all thoroughbred girl: managing the foaling, weaning them at about 6 months, taking the yearlings at the sale, taking the two-year-olds to the track for breezing. I have foaled out many a mare, I have handled many a new foal, I have collected stallions, I have had walked the colic-er all night, I have held a broken leg in my hand, I have pinched ripped skin to determine is staples or sutures or packing is appropriate. I have jogged a "mile back" on the track on a crisp summer morning. I have taught ...

As I sit behind my desk in my collared shirt and sweater with dress pants and boots on, I realize something... This is almost exactly the outfit I had once worn to the barn! I bought the sweater I'm wearing today from Izod on sale because I needed "professional" barn clothes for a barn manager job I had accepted. I was expected to dress to impress every day-- dress to impress high dollar clientele at the BARN. Yes, this is a real thing. I bought 3 Izod polos of various colors with jewels or preppy stripes/plaid on them... I bought barely used second-hand britches to replace the holey and stained ones I had had since I began my riding career. I had wonderful muck boots for when I was doing the dirty work, and I had a brand new pair of paddock boots with shiny half chaps ready to throw on when the clients arrived. I got myself a puffer vest, a Carhartt for the outdoorsy work in the winter, and a sleek fitted black all-weather jacket to throw on if I needed it when cl...