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Ovation Dressage Tee $13 Features the dressage-discipline horse logo print. Made of cotton/spandex jersey.

Da Vinci Plain Raised Padded Dressage Browband $20.95 DaVinci Plain Raised Padded Dressage Browband Black Horse Size

Mountain Horse Victoria Dressage Boot $287.1 Exceptional craftsmanship makes the Victoria Dressage Boot stand out from the rest. Designed specifically for the serious dressage rider, the zipper is thoughtfully positioned forward of center on the inside of the boot, allowing seamless contact between your leg and your horse, while still maintaining a streamlined silhouette. An elegant dress boot with classic features and made in supple, full grain leather.THE LEG: Moderate Spanish cut topSoft pigskin napa liningStrong and durable full length YKK Vislon zipper on front, inside calfCovered, inside elastic gusset for a comfortable fitTHE FOOT: Spur restErgonomically-designed removable EVA insoleTHE SOLE: Built-in steel shank for increased stabilityDurable and slim-contour designed outsole has dirt repellent tread zones and provides an enhanced grip in the ironMaterial: Full grain leather.Lining: Pigskin napa.

Passier PSL-D Dressage $4719.95 PASSIER PSL Dressage Saddle PASSIER PSL Dressage Saddle: Classic dressage saddle featuring long stretch leather knee panels on flaps and stretch leather seat. This unique stretch leather expands and molds to the rider’s seat and knee providing extra comfort and a self-conforming fit not available in any other saddle. The flexible cutback PASSIER PS tree fits perfectly on the dressage horse. Long billets prepunched for conversion to short billets for long girth if required. Smooth grain German leather. Regular tree width. Fittings not included with Saddle.

Veredus Piaffe Shield Dressage Horse Boot $204.2 Revolutionary overreach boot designed for protection of the whole heel area. Designed specifically for Dressage. The particular anatomic shape and protective material gurantees a perfect fit on the horse’s heel to give total protection.Anatomically designed protection in an elastic material that conforms perfectly to the horse’s foot, therefore eliminating rotation of the overreach boot itself.Extra carbon protection on heel area, which is at particular risk of injury and bruising.Double point fastening to ensure perfect fitting.Quick-release tips in non-deformable FLEXTAN on stainless-steel hooks.

101 Dressage Exercises Book $30 Dressage Exercises for Horse & Rider features a full arena diagram and step-by- step instructions for each exercise. The exercises address all levels of riders, starting with the basics and moving up the levels. Training tips and masterly guidance make this an indispensable reference for all dressage riders. Even Western riders interested in enhancing their performance will find these foundational exercises useful.

Wintec Elastic Dressage Girth $41.25 Two inches of elastic in the center of the this high performance dressage girth allow it to stretch with the horse as you work. Pressure is evenly transferred over the whole surface of the girth with no pressure points or ridges. Elimination of pressure points combined with soft anti galling material makes the Wintec Elastic Dressage Girth one of the most comfortable girths on the market. Girth has stainless steel roller buckles.

TuffRider Dressage Show Coat Ladies $86 Your ladies Dressage show coat will keep you looking polished in the arena with 4 silver, antique horse head front buttons and a rear, two-button vent. Dry clean. 94% Polyester, 6% Lycra.

Puff Pad Dressage Style $24 Puff Pad Pillow Pads. Authentic Pillow Pad. Soft, pillow pad, top and bottom 100% cotton with thick poly fiber filler. A Puff Pad disperses pressure points, preventing many back problems. All horses benefit from the cushioning effect of a Puff Pad because the fiber filling acts as a shock absorber, breathes absorbing and evaporating moisture, molds to every horse and saddle. No straps. Dressage Pillow Pad. Larger 25 x 40 size for longer flap dressage saddles.

Bates Wide Dressage Cair Saddle $1845 The Bates Wide Dressage Saddle is acutting edge dressage saddle specially designed for the wider horse that supports an optimal dressage position for the rider with unparalleled comfort. It achives unprecedented comfort for the rider, supporting and optimal dressage position.Features include uniquely positioned stirrup bar, utilisation of the EASY-CHANGE Gullet System WIDE, adjustable Y-Girthing and Flexibloc Systems.CAIR Cushion system distributes weight across the panel, virtually eliminating pressure points for better performance and freer movement of horseNew Generation Easy-Change Gullet System Wide helps customize saddle fit to your horse’s wither

Wintec Chafeless Elastic Dressage Girth $47.3 This girth has all the advantages of the original elastic girth but with the addition of a curved shape, which reduces the width of material behind the horse’s elbows helping to prevent pinching of the horse’s skin. The equisuede surface of the Pro Elastic Girth looks and performs stunningly when used to complement the Wintec Pro Dressage or Wintec Isabell saddles.

COLLEGIATE Convertible Intellect Dressage Saddle $1097.95 Great quality craftsmanship made from a great company. This dressage saddle will make you and your horse feel at home in both style and comfort. Elegantly designed saddle suitable for all levels of dressage. Features a deep seat, large flaps, large knee rolls, plus the Easy-Change Gullet System (sold separatly) to provide the best fit for your horse.

Equi-Bette PTD Dressage Saddle $715.95 EQUI-BETTE Model PTD Dressage Saddle EQUI-BETTE Model PTD Dressage Saddle: A classic saddle. The EQUI-BETTE PTD dressage saddle style has been a favorite of world renowned professionals and competitors for generations. The EQUI-BETTE PTD dressage saddle features a cutback head to fit every type of horse. The deep EQUI-BETTE PTD tree fits both horse and rider to perfection, keeping the rider deep in the seat for correct balance and perfect control. Long extended flaps are molded over modest knee rolls on the French panels. Made of premium quality German bridle leather in a dark Brown color with a hand waxed finish.

Ovation Dressage Crank Caveson – Black – Horse $72 Made in Italian hand finished leather.           Color: BlackSize:  Horse

Gold Medal Piaffe Dressage Saddle $2319.95 GOLD MEDAL Piaffe Dressage Saddle GOLD MEDAL Piaffe Dressage Saddle GOLD MEDAL Saddlery has taken the similar design of the popular COUNTY COMPETITOR and Crosby Prix St. George dressage saddles and improved and refined the saddle to a superior high level dressage saddle. The Piaffe is made on a deep seat beechwood laminated spring-tree with narrow twist to put the rider into the seat and give close contact with the horse. A genuine pigskin seat is used because of its durability over grained leather seats which stretch and wear through, thus distorting the rider’s seat. French panels are wool flocked to allow the saddle to mold to the natural conformation of the horses back for the ultimate in fit and a correct seat position. Flap and panel have been designed to promote greater closeness and contact. Long chrome leather saddle billets require a short dressage girth. Saddle flap is looped on backside for billets to restrain flap. Made in England of the finest quality oiled saddle leather.

ThinLine Dressage Bridle with Flash Noseband $242.1 ThinLine padding in the noseband and crown provides equal pressure distribution in the areas your horse needs it most to perform at his best. ThinLine’s anti-fungal feature and breathability make it the perfect lining choice to keep your horse comfortable and their skin healthy. Each dressage bridle comes with a pair of standard 54 ThinLine Reins, which are no-slip and aid in creating soft, supple contact and feel, and this combo will provide a one-two punch to increased performance and scores!

ThinLine Dressage Bridle with Plain Noseband $242.1 ThinLine padding in the noseband and crown provides equal pressure distribution in the areas your horse needs it most to perform at his best. ThinLine’s anti-fungal feature and breathability make it the perfect lining choice to keep your horse comfortable and their skin healthy. Each dressage bridle comes with a pair of standard 54 ThinLine Reins, which are no-slip and aid in creating soft, supple contact and feel, and this combo will provide a one-two punch to increased performance and scores!

Breyer WEG Games Stablemate Para Dressage – BH9122 $4.5 Palomino Para Dressage Horse. This authentically sculpted Stablemate horse represents, in miniature (1:32 scale), one of the eight disciplines of the 2010 ALLTECH FEI World Equestrian Games. Some of the bravest and most determined equestrian competitors are the riders. Often competing on borrowed horses, they overcome a variety of obstacles posed by their disabilities to compete in the Para Dressage event of the World Equestrian Games.

Ovation Airform Chafeless Dressage Girth $30.6 The award winning Easy-Care Airform girth is horse and user friendly. Cushioned and textured for air flow, it stays incredibly soft no matter how much use it gets. Can be sponged clean in seconds. Hypo-allergenic. Made with stainless steel roller buckles to extend the use of the girth straps and your hands. Keeps hold the dressage girth neatly in place.

Professionals Choice SMX Dressage Girth $55.95 Perfect in form and function, the SMx Dressage Girth is practical with elastic and roller buckles on both ends. More comfortable for your horse than traditional leather because it doesnt have to be over-tightened. The non-slip neoprene ensures that your saddle will stay secure and the handy detachable neoprene back makes it easy to wash. Great for training or competition. Available in Black only.

Equi-Prene Three Buckle Lonsdale Dressage Girth $35.95 Pro-Thane Anti-Gall Girths. Rubberized fabric girths designed for the ultimate comfort of your horse. Anti-gall girths made from non-irritating, waffle weave poly-urethane foam that is strong, soft, easily cleaned and will not absorb sweat or bacteria. Stainless steel roller girth buckles. Washes easily in bucket of water and soap. Equi-Prene 3-Buckle Lonsdale Dressage Girth. Classic dressage girth with third buckle set for flap girth.

Equi-Bette Grand Prix Dressage Girth $103.95 EQUI-BETTE Grand Prix Dressage Girth. Patent Pending. The finest girth made for the highest level of dressage competition. Made from full grain English tannage leather, padded and lined over saddler’s felt that conforms with the girth to the horse. Stainless steel roller buckles. Double elastic end.

TuffRider Dressage Shadbelly $180 Elegance made affordable. Properly tailored for a superb look, made in 100% polyester with antique silver horse head buttons. Complete with vest points.

Roma Kool Dressage Whip $9 Roma Brand Quality. Products made from the finest materials with a complete line horse. Depend on Roma products for great quality and price.

Roma Warendorfer Dressage Whip $15.15 Roma Brand Quality. Products made from the finest materials with a complete line horse. Depend on Roma products for great quality and price.

Ovation Pro Dressage Girth $40.5 Keep your horse extremely comfortable. Easy to clean removable no-slip hook & loop backing. Stainless steel roller buckles and double elastic at both ends.

TuffRider Ladies Dressage Show Coat Plus $89.95 Our Popular Ladies Dressage Show Coat Is Now Available In Plus Sizes! It Will Keep You Looking Polished In The Arena With 4 Silver, Antique Horse Head Front Buttons And A Rear, Two-Button Vent. Dry Clean. 94% Polyester, 6% Lycra.

Breyer WEG Games Stablemate Dressage – BH9117 $4.5 This Stablemates horse represents, in miniature, one of the eight disciplines of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Dressage requires a specific type of equine athlete with the capacity to perform demanding movements, like the piaffe and the passage. This WEG line was released spring of 2010, then retired at the end of 2010.

Dressage Loverz Stocking $25 Santa’s Holiday Horse Stockin’ Kits. One-stop shoppping for your equine friends and family. Includes 1 of each of the following:Christmas Stockings – Dapple GreyHorse Head Hand Warmers, Red Arena Board with pen, RedClear Rain PonchoBlue Plush Horse CharmHand Warmers – 1pkToe Warmers – 1pkSuggested Retail – $49.95

Ovation Dressage Tee – Sweet Mint with Storm Cloud – Ladies Large $13 Features the dressage-discipline horse logo print. Made of cotton/spandex jersey.Color: Sweet Mint with Storm CloudSize:  Ladies Large

Tekna Contour Dressage Girth $65.7 Shaped to fit your horse, this sculpted girth allows freedom of the elbow and distributes pressure across a greater area for more comfort. It features elastic on both ends, stainless steel roller buckles, center D-ring and soft waffle weave padding for the utmost comfort. Made of QUIK-CLEAN material.

(2011 Model) Wintec 500 Dressage Saddle with Cair $623.8 The new Wintec 500 Dressage Saddle sets new standards in comfort and performance helping position the rider correctly. New and improved Equileather provides a super soft and grippy seat for greater security in the saddle.Features: A modern, stylish dressage saddle with performance featuresThe perfect saddle for riders progressing in their Dressage careerExtremely comfortable seat that facilitates a well balanced positionPerformance materials ensure superior fit, comfort and stabilityFeatures include Y-girthing, ergonomic stirrup bar, and flexibloc systemFluidly working with your horse’s muscles, the revolutionary CAIR Cushion System replaces traditional fillings in your saddle with air. The cushioning nature of air encourages your horse to soften, relax and engage. Seated closer to your horse, you become simply an extension of one another.Features the EASY-CHANGEGullet system for a custom fit. Saddle comes with medium width gullet – other gullets sold separately.Ask about our TEST RIDE PROGRAM

(2011 Model) Wintec Isabell Flocked Dressage Saddle $1377.1 TheWintec Isabell Dressage Saddleis an updated model designed in conjunction with World Dressage Champion, Isabell Werth. Designed exactly as the Bates Isabell, but made with Wintec’s Easy-Care, Super-Grip Equisuede.The Wintec Isabell Dressage Saddle features include:Traditional flocked panelsDeep seat with an ultra narrow and low waist to support a correct dressage positionRecessed stirrup channcel to eliminate interference with rider’s legEquisuede Seat is extremely comfortable with a surface softer than leather with the perfect level of gripAdjustable Flexibloc System enables the rider to individually tailor their own knee supportAdjustable Y-Girthing System secures the front and back of the saddle with equal pressure. Position of the Y-Girth Points can be adjusted to individually suit the horse’s shape.Ergonomic stirrup bars facilitate closer contactNew Generation Easy-Change Gullet System provides a custom fit for many different horses so you can change your gullet and not your saddleWeatherproof, durable, and easy care to save time and hassle!

(2011 Model) Wintec Isabell Dressage Saddle with Flock $1377.1 Experience the world’s leading dressage saddle, the Bates Isabell, in a synthetic version with the added benefits of being lightweight, durable, easy-care and an amazing value for the money. World renowned Dressage Rider, Isabell Werth’s high performance saddle.My saddle is one of the proudest achievements of my dressage career. I believe we have created the perfect seat for the rider and unprecedented comfort for the horse. Isabell WerthFeatures: Supports a correct dressage position with an ultra narrow waist and deep seatA seamless transition from your seat through the length of your leg offers ultra close contactIdeal for use in all levels of competition and trainingPerformance materials ensure superior fit, comfort and stabilityIncludes an adjustable Y-Girthing and Flexibloc SystemThe Isabell saddle is also available in BatesFeatures the EASY-CHANGE Gullet system for a custom fit. Saddle comes with medium width gullet – other gullets sold separately.Ask about our TEST RIDE PROGRAM

ThinLine Dressage Girth $189 This girth has elastic in the middle with roller buckles on both ends. Girths are in stock in black and sizes (20 inches to 34 inches). Due to metric conversions, the girths actually measure 1inch shorter than listed. If your current size is a close fit, order the next size up. Breathable Anti-microbial No-slip/no-rub ThinLine lining makes this the best girth to keep your horse comfortable and your saddle in place. Easy to clean and very durable!

Ovation Acugel Dressage Square Pad $126 At last, a pad that conforms to both your saddle and your horse, and takes the shocks out of your ride! ,The natual latex rubber Ovation Acugel pad is loaded with features:-Quick Sweat Evaporation to keep the horse’s back cool and dry. -Messagio Technology to relax the most sensitive areas of the horse’s back.-Total Shock Absorbing System to protect the spines of both the horse and the rider from shocks and jerks.-E-Pressure distributes pressure evenly, reducing hot spots and pressure points.

(2011 Model) Bates Isabell Dressage Saddle with CAIR $2916.1 World renowned Dressage Rider, Isabell Werth’s high performance saddle. Effortlessly aligns rider position for superior performance. A deep and ultra close contact seat ensures improved communication. Maximizes freedom of movement and comfort for your horse. Innovations include uniquely positioned Ergonomic Stirrup Bar, adjustable Y-Girthing and Flexibloc Systems.

Equi-Prene Pro-Thane Lonsdale Dressage Girth $31.95 Pro-Thane Anti-Gall Girths. Rubberized fabric girths designed for the ultimate comfort of your horse. Anti-gall girths made from non-irritating, waffle weave poly-urethane foam that is strong, soft, easily cleaned and will not absorb sweat or bacteria. Stainless steel roller girth buckles. Washes easily in bucket of water and soap. Equi-Prene Lonsdale Dressage Girth. Nylon web facing, 3 1/4 wide.

(2011 Model) Wintec Isabell Dressage Saddle with CAIR $1377.1 Experience the world’s leading dressage saddle, the Bates Isabell, in a synthetic version with the added benefits of being lightweight, durable, easy-care and an amazing value for the money. World renowned Dressage Rider, Isabell Werth’s high performance saddle.My saddle is one of the proudest achievements of my dressage career. I believe we have created the perfect seat for the rider and unprecedented comfort for the horse. Isabell WerthFeatures: Supports a correct dressage position with an ultra narrow waist and deep seatA seamless transition from your seat through the length of your leg offers ultra close contactIdeal for use in all levels of competition and trainingPerformance materials ensure superior fit, comfort and stabilityIncludes an adjustable Y-Girthing and Flexibloc SystemThe Isabell saddle is also available in BatesFluidly working with your horse’s muscles, the revolutionary CAIR Cushion System replaces traditional fillings in your saddle with air. The cushioning nature of air encourages your horse to soften, relax and engage. Seated closer to your horse, you become simply an extension of one another.Features the EASY-CHANGE Gullet system for a custom fit. Saddle comes with medium width gullet – other gullets sold separately.Ask about our TEST RIDE PROGRAM

Ovation Klimke II Pro XCH Dressage Saddle $1203 Now with the XCH Interchangeable Gullet System.Designed by 5 time Olympic Gold Medal winner, Dr. Reiner Klimke, this saddle provides the perfect position and balance for any dressage rider. With contour panels to provide freer movement to your horse’s shoulders, synthetic wool stuffed panels, secure girthing system and a knee block that provides a secure position yet allows the rider freedom of movement. Made in a natural finish French leather of unsurpassed quality and durability. Lifetime warranty on tree.

Fritz Thiedemann Gripper Shock Pad – White – Dressage $43.95 Fritz Thiedemann Saddle Pads FRITZ THIEDEMANN Gripper Quilted Shock Pads. The world famous Fritz Thiedemann 1-1/4 diamond quilted saddle pad, made with non-slip small rubber pimple grippers on top of shock absorbong and back protecting center. Back comforting rubber is placed under the saddle panel to distribute the rider’s weight and shock without injury to horse’s back. Cotton twill cover, EQUI-FELT center, self-gripping billet straps and girth loop. Shaped and contoured back to fit perfectly under saddle. Dressage Shape Color: WhiteSize:  Dressage

Roma Leather Handle Dressage Whip $31.5 Roma Brand Quality. Products made from the finest materials with a complete line horse. Depend on Roma products for great quality and price.

Roma Shimmer Diamonte Dressage Whip $20.55 Roma Brand Quality. Products made from the finest materials with a complete line horse. Depend on Roma products for great quality and price.

Roma Golden Spiral Dressage Whip $22.35 Roma Brand Quality. Products made from the finest materials with a complete line horse. Depend on Roma products for great quality and price.

Roma Shimmer Crystal Dressage Whip $11.7 Roma Brand Quality. Products made from the finest materials with a complete line horse. Depend on Roma products for great quality and price.

Roma Leather Grip Dressage Whip $12.6 Roma Brand Quality. Products made from the finest materials with a complete line horse. Depend on Roma products for great quality and price.

Roma Rubber Handle Dressage Whip $10.8 Roma Brand Quality. Products made from the finest materials with a complete line horse. Depend on Roma products for great quality and price.

Roma Smooth Handle Dressage Whip $10.65 Roma Brand Quality. Products made from the finest materials with a complete line horse. Depend on Roma products for great quality and price.

High Point Advantage Dressage Saddle Pad $55.8 Advantage Warmblood-size Dressage High Point Custom Saddle Pad. This is the perfect saddle pad for Large or Warmblood horses. It gives you the Advantage in the show ring, by making your leg look longer and keeping your horse cooler. It is made with two breathable layers which lie between the 7-ounce pre-shrunk poly/cotton top and the underside, which is made of 100% cotton. You will not find a custom pad of better quality! Many body, trim, and piping colors available! Average Pad 23L x 40W front, 31W rear. Large Pad 25L x 44W front, 35W rear.

Finishing Touch Oval Locket With Dressage Cabachon Gold $26.95 Dressage cabochon 25 x 18mm size on oval locket with 18 petite rope chain 14kt gold platedFinishing touch takes a great deal of pride in offering a high-quality product at a low price, and they stand behind their products. Finishing Touch is a 34-year-old Lexington Kentucky corporation located in the heart of Horse country and Horse Jewelry is their specialty. Finishing Touch Jewelry is all costume jewelry and is plated in either durable karat gold or imitation rhodium (gives a nice silver finish without the problem of tarnishing) over white metal or brass. Many items are manufactured right in Nicholasville, KY. Jewelry from The Finishing Touch of Kentucky withstands the test of time when cared for properly.

Aerborn Elastic End Dressage Girth $17 With double elastic at one end, and stainless steel roller buckles. Aerborn girths are made from an extraordinary material knitted from pure Polypropylene yarn. This material provides superior moisture wicking and anti-bacterial properties far beyond that of any other girth material. In addition to having a super soft feel, this fabric gives the body of the girth a natural stretch that provides extra comfort to the horse. The stretch that is built into these girths does not adversely affect the fit of the girth but rather helps the girth conform to the horse and gives a slight stretch when the horse expands its girth.

TuffRider Lanyard Dressage Saddle Pad $17.95 Cotton Quilted Pads With New Unique Quilting Patterns For You And Your Horse. Features Wither Relief, Contour Cut, Billet Straps And Girth Loops. Machine Washable.

I Love Horses: Riding Academy Collection – Double Pack $7.99 It’s a dream come true when you begin a new and exciting life at the riding academy in two new riding sim adventures. You’ll compete in tournaments, care for horses, and discover much more as you work your way to the winner’s circle! The fun begins in riding academy 1 as you compete for a scholarship to start your first year at the academy. Once you enter the academy and get to know…

Riding Academy 1 [Download] $2.99 …

StarSHine Legacy: The Legend Of Pandoria $3.19 Anne is a young girl with big dreams – she wants to become a model and a successful dressage rider. What seems like the opportunity of a lifetime arises when a famous perfume company comes to her school scouting for their next model. little does she know that this is the beginning of an adventure that will take her and her trusted horse Concorde into another world. The time has come for Anne and C…

Horse Life Adventures $19.99 Pending…

My Horse and Me: Riding for Gold $19.99 This sequel to My Horse & Me is packed with exciting new features, brand new graphics and animations, and an engrossing storyline to give fans the most complete equestrian experience and the most realistic horse simulation ever seen in a game. The My Horse and Me series are the only games in the world to earn the exclusive license from the FEI, the world’s leading horse sports organization….

Equine Fitness: A Program of Exercises and Routines for Your Horse $10.99 Get your horse in shape and maintain his overall fitness, regardless of his age or abilities. Equine Fitness shows you how, with a simple conditioning program made up of fun exercise routines specifically designed to enhance your horse?s strength and agility. Clear, step-by-step instructions and detailed illustrations make the exercises easy to follow, and the book includes a handy set of pocket-s…

Mary King’s Riding Star $2.99 8 stunning different colors of horse to choose from. Realistic horse and rider animation. Training arena to practice with your horse. Interactive task of feeding, watering, grooming and care of the horse’s stall….

Learn to Build an Ideal, Secure Lifestyle

Do you already enjoy an ideal, secure lifestyle?

Here are a few questions to help you check on whether you do:

Think back to 6:30 p.m. on your last day of work. Were you at home? If not, why weren’t you at home with your loved ones? What could possibly have been so important at work that it took you away from your family?

How do the hours you spend commuting each week compare to the number of hours you spend in loving conversations?

What things frighten you? Why are you frightened?

Will your children and grandchildren have more loving childhoods while they live at home than you did?

Will you be able to retire when you want? Why would you ever need to retire if your work is enjoyable and an ideal complement to your family life?

How is your relationship with God? Do you always have the freedom to follow His ways?

How much energy and enthusiasm do you have when you awake each morning?

If you were to die tonight, how would you assess the quality of your life in the last year?

Those are the kinds of questions that people with careers sometimes ask themselves. While it’s good to ask the questions, it’s far more important to answer the questions and then act on what your answers tell you should be done.

For as far back as anthropologists can describe daily human life, most people have had to work hard and for long hours. However, unless someone was a slave, work usually involved being close to family and friends.

It has only been since the factory system arose in the last few centuries that long hours meant long periods of separation from family for most people. During the post-industrial age in economically advanced countries, most work continues to involve separation from family.

Fighting against that separation, many people are finding that there are rewarding careers that can be engaged in at home or in a business where the whole family can be either present or nearby. Examples include creating art, farming, online sales and services, psychiatry, software development, tutoring, and writing.

In fact, many creative jobs can be better performed in friendlier environments. The extra nurturing such environments bring can improve emotional stability and encourage creative risk-taking.

However, most people fall into a way of earning a living, rather than choosing a lifestyle to live. That’s a mistake.

If you realize you’ve made that mistake, how can you adjust? Let me share an example with you of someone who has designed and is creating an ideal, secure lifestyle that many people would enjoy.

Leon Holtzhausen holds an MBA degree from Rushmore University where he is now a Ph.D. candidate. He became interested in academic studies late in life. As a youngster, Mr. Holtzhausen was far more interested in sports and exploring the world. For instance, he hitchhiked through 16,000 miles of the United States after graduating from college.

Mentors played a big role in his life by suggesting what kind of jobs he should seek, what experiences he should gain, and what kind of career he should aim for. We should all be so lucky to have such good mentors.

But the biggest and most positive change in his life came when he married a woman with a deep passion for horses and a well-grounded sense of right and wrong. His wife’s character became a bed rock on which Mr. Holtzhausen built his life choices. After their children were born, the Holtzhausens moved from South Africa to Germany, believing there were opportunities there for a solid career and an ideal family life. After the move, Mr. Holtzhausen found corporate life to be a bit disappointing in terms of his colleagues’ ethics. He therefore switched to management consulting where he was more frequently able to act with personal integrity. Unfortunately, his consulting assignments were hard work and frequently took him far away from home. He recently returned to corporate life, leading a large change management initiative for a major company.

When he’s home, life is wonderful for everyone in the family. The Holtzhausens own a farm near the Baltic coast where they are exploring Mrs. Holtzhausen’s interest in breeding Trakehner horses (large, intelligent, well-tempered, and sturdy horses developed from the original breeding stock at an eighteenth century East Prussian farm that perform well in dressage competitions). Their horse farm is in a rural setting that permits their children to grow up away from the tensions and traumas of an urban neighborhood. In fact, Mr. Holtzhausen likes to dream about what it would be like to retire there:

“I picture myself on a Sunday afternoon, sailing down the Peene River with a basket of goodies, a good book, and a fishing rod with no hook, never wanting to catch anything, but simply enjoying the occasion.”

Mr. Holtzhausen enjoys some aspects of business and doesn’t want to quit altogether after he retires from the corporate world. Instead, he imagines making the breeding farm pay and supplementing that income with a small business operated from home.

We all have dreams, and this is a nice one. Why might Mr. Holtzhausen be able to grasp this dream at a young enough age to enjoy it with his wife and children?

First, the ideal home is owned and at-home occupations have already begun through buying the farm and starting to breed horses. The home, farm, and horses are enjoyed by his family while he is at work and by him whenever he is home.

Second, by earning an MBA degree, Mr. Holtzhausen built the knowledge and credibility base that has profitably boosted his current career through gaining a solid business understanding and becoming a more informed supporter of his wife’s breeding activities. In the future, he intends to use this knowledge to start a new business. The degree was also a personal milestone in light of his earlier academic limitations. He is excited about the new learning that his Ph.D. studies are bringing, and he looks forward to the recognition and respect that a doctorate will bring him.

Third, he has set specific goals and dates for gaining this ideal life . . . dates that are not too far in the future.

Let me ask you these questions to help you gauge how well you are doing:

1. What is an ideal, secure lifestyle for you?

2. What plans do you have to gain that lifestyle?

3. Do you have goals and dates set for accomplishing this lifestyle?

4. Are you accumulating the knowledge and resources that can speed fulfillment of the plans?

5. Are you ahead of or behind schedule in meeting your targets?

If you aren’t satisfied with your progress, step back now and develop the necessary plans, knowledge, and resources to accomplish what you want in the near future. You and your family won’t be getting any younger.

About the Author

Donald W. Mitchell is a professor at Rushmore University, an online school. For more information about ways to engage in fruitful lifelong learning at Rushmore to increase your success, visit

http://www.rushmore.edu