It's all business for Alliance Stud manager
Posted: 7/30/2009
By James Mulcahy
Mary Burks photo
Erin Yates' equine aspirations weren't exactly what one might expect. She loves horses -- she raises and shows hunters and jumpers -- but isn't interested in saddling up for the Kentucky Derby or in the Shelbyville Horse Show.
Erin Yates sees horses as a business.
When it was time to choose a career, the former Cincinnatian looked around at college programs that might fulfill her needs, and settled on U of L's Equine Industry Program. There she learned the ins and outs of the horse industry.
"I knew I wanted to go to school for horses, and I knew I wanted to stay more on the business side of it," she said. "U of L seemed like the perfect fit for me. It wasn't too far from home, and as soon as I looked at the campus, I knew that's where I wanted to be."
The training she received at U of L qualified her for her job: she runs the show at Alliance Stud in Simpsonville, and owner Dr. Scott Bennett couldn't be happier.
"She's wonderful," he said. "She has given the needed personal attention to clients. She's a good addition."
As farm manager, Yates oversees all aspects of the 100-acre, 250-head breeding, training and sales facility. Almost all the horses there are saddlebred, including two owned by actor William Shatner.
Yates said U of L's four-year program was a perfect fit for her.
"My goal was to become a farm manager," she said. "The program differs from other (college) programs because it is a business degree. It's business-based -- marketing, finance, law, all centered in equine, where a lot of others are for training or equine science. A lot of times our graduates will beat out graduates from other schools for jobs because we have the business background."
Which is exactly what she did.
"Dr. Bennett has been my vet for a number of years," she said. "When I knew I was graduating, I sent him a resume since I thought maybe he'd have a spot for me. I interviewed and got the job. I started this job within three weeks of graduating. I love it." Yates has been farm manager/business manager for a year and a half.
To her surprise, the farm hasn't felt the effects of a sluggish economy.
"We haven't seemed to be hit by the economy at all," she said. "I don't know exactly why, but I'm thankful. The horse industry has taken a major hit. We're lucky we have been so busy. This year, we've been breeding as many horses as last year, if not more."
After a year and a half of being farm boss, Yates still considers it a dream job.
"I feel so fortunate because every day I drive up the driveway and think, 'This is my job. I get paid to do this,' and that's amazing. I love Simpsonville and Shelby County; it's horse farm after horse farm."
Erin Yates sees horses as a business.
When it was time to choose a career, the former Cincinnatian looked around at college programs that might fulfill her needs, and settled on U of L's Equine Industry Program. There she learned the ins and outs of the horse industry.
"I knew I wanted to go to school for horses, and I knew I wanted to stay more on the business side of it," she said. "U of L seemed like the perfect fit for me. It wasn't too far from home, and as soon as I looked at the campus, I knew that's where I wanted to be."
The training she received at U of L qualified her for her job: she runs the show at Alliance Stud in Simpsonville, and owner Dr. Scott Bennett couldn't be happier.
"She's wonderful," he said. "She has given the needed personal attention to clients. She's a good addition."
As farm manager, Yates oversees all aspects of the 100-acre, 250-head breeding, training and sales facility. Almost all the horses there are saddlebred, including two owned by actor William Shatner.
Yates said U of L's four-year program was a perfect fit for her.
"My goal was to become a farm manager," she said. "The program differs from other (college) programs because it is a business degree. It's business-based -- marketing, finance, law, all centered in equine, where a lot of others are for training or equine science. A lot of times our graduates will beat out graduates from other schools for jobs because we have the business background."
Which is exactly what she did.
"Dr. Bennett has been my vet for a number of years," she said. "When I knew I was graduating, I sent him a resume since I thought maybe he'd have a spot for me. I interviewed and got the job. I started this job within three weeks of graduating. I love it." Yates has been farm manager/business manager for a year and a half.
To her surprise, the farm hasn't felt the effects of a sluggish economy.
"We haven't seemed to be hit by the economy at all," she said. "I don't know exactly why, but I'm thankful. The horse industry has taken a major hit. We're lucky we have been so busy. This year, we've been breeding as many horses as last year, if not more."
After a year and a half of being farm boss, Yates still considers it a dream job.
"I feel so fortunate because every day I drive up the driveway and think, 'This is my job. I get paid to do this,' and that's amazing. I love Simpsonville and Shelby County; it's horse farm after horse farm."
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