For many entrepreneurs, a typical day consists of sitting at conference tables or answering e-mails while wearing conservative business suits.  Mud-caked boots and horse saddles are more what Sarah Travis, a Carlson School of Management undergraduate, has in mind. Travis, who began taking riding lessons at age 8, aspires to become a professional horse trainer and possibly own her own stable.

Like many young girls, Travis grew up dreaming of owning a horse.  She decided to go beyond that dream to not only own a horse, but also to train them. At 16, she went to work at Brightonwood Farm in Independence, Minn., where she cleaned stalls in exchange for a weekly lesson. These days, Travis trains the horses in dressage, which is often referred to as equine ballet because of its beauty and elegance. Movements can often take years to perfect, and the most gifted horses do not reach full potential until the age of 10 or 12. Dressage represents the highest level of training a horse can achieve.

But the ability to train horses is not the only skill necessary to fulfill her dream. Travis began her undergraduate work at a small private college in Mississippi, but her mentor, Brightonwood Farm owner Kathy Theissen, advised Travis to seek a business degree. Theissen, who lacks a formal business education, believes she would have had trouble owning her own facility and managing her business's finance without her husband's formal business training. 

The advice inspired Travis to pursue a more academically challenging degree.  She chose to return to Minnesota for the Carlson School’s Undergraduate program.  “I wanted to gain more knowledge training horses while attending a quality business school,” said Travis, who is continuing her experience at Brightonwood farm while working toward a degree in management.

Travis has found her education at the Carlson School to be more than a textbook experience. Through her interactions with students and faculty, she has reinforced her self-confidence in working with clients. “I learn a lot being surrounded by people who share my passion for business and entrepreneurship,” Travis said.  “My experience at the Carlson School has provided me with the necessary business skills to realize my dream of becoming a professional dressage trainer and possibly opening my own stable.”