Tomorrow’s Front Runners: Amplify Opens Door for West to Pursue Passion Professionally

[Wandering Eyes]

Growing up, Rebecca Thompson West found herself fully immersed in the agriculture industry, from taking care of her mother's retired show horses to later joining the Future Farmers of America (FFA). Through these experiences, she developed an appreciation for working hands-on and developed a skillset that would serve her long-term.

However, when it came time for West to head off to college, she felt an opportunity had revealed itself to break the mold from a life she'd always known and branch out on a new path. Attending West Virginia University (WVU), she spent two years pursuing a degree in biology before coming to the realization that a life spent in the company of horses, based in the agriculture industry, had been the best fit all along.

“I was trying to break the idea of 'I grew up doing it, I have to keep doing it,' but I couldn't ignore my passions. After a break year, I came back to school and when I took my first equine class, I thought, 'I have finally found my niche.' From there, I dove in headfirst,” said West.

In May of 2023, West graduated with a degree in Agribusiness Management, accompanied by a minor in Equine Science, and worked throughout the summer at WVU's equine studies farm. It was during this time that West was introduced to Amplify's mentorship program, which piqued her interest as an opportunity to expand her professional network in the horse industry while learning more about potential paths.

Not longer after applying, West was accepted and paired with Anne Litz, working at the time as the Field Marketing Specialist for the Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB).

“Growing up in the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry, I had an outlet to be involved and to work within that industry, so I've always respected it. However, I know there are barriers to entering it,” explained Litz. “When Amplify started this program and reached out to me, even though I wasn't working directly in racing, I saw it as a chance to connect with people that wanted to be a part of the industry and support it from the inside.”

The format of Amplify's mentorship program, a three-month hybrid experience which makes long-distance mentorships possible through the flexibility of meeting virtually or in-person, afforded West an opportunity to get involved in something unlike anything to which she had had access previously.

Before being accepted into the program, West's horse experience had given her access to the animals she loved, but didn't necessarily offer any upward mobility in terms of long-term career potential. She was not only ready to apply what she had already learned to a more advanced experience, but also grow her abilities beyond the collegiate level.

“The Thoroughbred industry and racing in general are something I've always been interested in, but didn't have the inside knowledge to get more involved. While in college and thinking about what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, I considered the Kentucky Equine Management Internship [KEMI] program, but that's six months and it's not free,” said West. “I appreciate Amplify's goal of improving access to, not even just the Thoroughbred industry, but the horse industry in general. So many people know about the Triple Crown, but they don't know what goes into the industry itself.”

Anne Litz and Rebecca Thompson West | courtesy Rebecca Thompson West

Staying in touch through Zoom and FaceTime calls, Litz and West developed a progressive mentor-mentee relationship built upon a foundation of question-and-answer sessions, discussions, and take-home projects that culminated in a day spent together at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale in Timonium, Maryland.

“Each call we had, we would dive into more specific parts of the industry Rebecca was interested in. I would give her things to look into, sales to watch and events to look out for, and each time she would come back more immersed in the industry, with even better questions each time,” said Litz.

The experience also opened West's eyes to the expansiveness of the equine industry and the opportunities within the state of Maryland.

“With most of my equine education coming from college, it was really nice to see how Maryland made such an effort with their horse industry. It inspired me to see that they have their own Horse Industry Board, along with the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center,” said West. “I enjoyed learning about the sales, witnessing the back-end of things and seeing the numbers behind it all. Maybe in the future I could pursue a career in Thoroughbred sales.”

Following her time in Amplify's mentorship program, West relocated to Mississippi to support her husband, a member of the military, as he attended tech school. When it came time for him to submit a request for the location of his first duty station, West's husband posed the question to her and the answer was simple: Maryland.

Things have come full circle for West, who now works full-time in the horse industry as the Office Manager and Assistant Barn Manager at historic Meadowbrook Stables in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

“All you can do is benefit from Amplify's mentorship program. You'll gain knowledge and make those connections, not just in the Thoroughbred industry, but within the entire horse industry. Then, you can utilize those connections to branch out,” said West.

For Litz, who is now the Executive Director of the MHIB, nothing has been more rewarding than watching West come into her own within the industry.

“Rebecca has really developed into a wonderful leader and teammate in the horse industry. I'm just so impressed with how much she's accomplished,” said Litz. “I credit the Amplify team with how willing they were to have me take on a mentee and explore other aspects of the horse industry, outside of racing. Being able to teach my mentee how it all works together is very forward-thinking, not only in our state, but in the country as well.”

West's love of horses inspired her to build the foundation for a potential career, but it was Amplify's mentorship program, and her mentor, that opened the door to reveal the opportunities to make that dream a reality. It's something West is now passing on in her current role.

“I love seeing the kids that are serious and dedicated to it. They're the ones that give me hope for the horse industry. I pour my heart, time and effort into them, trying very hard to provide them with information to create that pathway if they're interested in working with horses,” said West. “We wouldn't all be here if we didn't love horses and I'm just trying to make sure that there is another generation to come.”

Tomorrow's Front Runners is a TDN series spotlighting young people who got involved with horse racing through Amplify Horse Racing and are now pursuing careers in the industry. Amplify is a 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to amplifying education, mentorship and career opportunities for young people in the Thoroughbred industry.

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