Dr Melissa Greer Ph.D. Enterprises

Life is too short to let it get away. Always reach for the stars as you are never too old to go after your goal(s). Strive for success and do not allow anyone to tell you otherwise. Most important, Keep God First for, as Joel Osteen states, "He will take you places you have never been before". As Joyce Meyer states, "Never Give Up".

  I began barrel racing at the age of 9 and fell deeply in love with the sport and my horses.  Growing up and continuing through life, I notice many people did and still do not understand this way of life. I was criticized for being so involved. Barrel Racing has become an industry in itself and now I am able to utilize my skills, education, and research and put it into the industry that I love.  However, my research can be of value for any type of athlete. 

Women Athletes and Entrepreneurs:  An Exploratory, Comparative Study On Women Barrel Racers And Women Who Own Their Own Businesses

Sports athletes are connected to business entrepreneurship due to the relationships of business strategies, psychological, and motivational characteristics according to authoritative research. Barrel racing has become a limitless opportunity for success becoming the second favorite event in the rodeo. However, the barrel-racing cowgirl faces criticisms, perhaps, due to a psychic prison that society continues to live from the lack of knowledge of this type of culture. It is debated this industry is not an efficient entrepreneurship endeavor. However, the woman barrel racer is a sports athlete who participates in her own activity to obtain capital, self-actualization, and achievement. It is further acknowledged she is responsible for her own financial resources to pay for business expenses in order to continue the venture. Cowboys have been studied and confirmed to be entrepreneurs so why would women barrel racers be different? The purpose of this study was to compare and contrast Women Barrel Racers (also referred as World Athlete Entrepreneurs) with Women Business Entrepreneurs and determine if there is an association between women who race and women who have their own businesses. The main areas of concern were business strategies, psychological traits, and motivational characteristics. This study also investigated the Birth Theory and the Only or Eldest Daughter Syndrome. Finally, barriers experienced by World Athlete Entrepreneurs and Women Business Entrepreneurs were analyzed.

TO ORDER YOUR COPY OF THIS BOOK CLICK ON THE FLORIDA EQUINE ATHLETE LINK AND GO TO THE BOOKSTORE

Conferences are in the process of being planned for next year (2010)

2010 marks 6 years of the Florida Equine Athlete!!!

The Florida Equine Athlete started as a magazine for the barrel racers in the state. It was started in 2004 as part of my PhD work. The dissertation research was an exploratory, comparative study on women athletes and women business entrepreneurs. The barrel racer was used as the target athlete. The ability to communicate the valuable information obtained to fellow barrel racers was needed and therefore, it became an additional factor in the production of the magazine. Articles are written on business strategies that were found while completing my PhD. The vision for the magazine was not to be just an ordinary horse magazine or barrel racing magazine; but, to contain information with barrel racing needs  and with educational articles such as the "Business Side of Things". This magazine contains full calendar of show dates, equine health, training articles, articles written by Sharon Camarillo and Marlene McRae. New sections are established with Personal Health and Fitness articles written by Ty Barnes, and a Fashion section called "Cowgirl Fashion" by Stephanie-Gibbs Walker.  

The FEA now contains a section for Texas called Texas Equine Athlete and for Mississippi called Mississippi Equine Athlete. 

The FEA has expanded services besides the magazine:

1. Its own show circuit called the "Florida Equine Polebenders Circuit".  It contains polebending classes and open barrels.

2. Video broadcasts

3.  Taking videos at barrel races of competitor's run.  These videos are put on DVD and in movie form. Will contain the original run, that run in slow motion, and music is put to the slow motion.

You can go to www.floridaequineathlete.com to see further information.

I am an independent distributor of the StemTech Products, I personally use this on my horses, myself, and my parents use it.  I have seen wonders with this product and it is awesome.  Go to the StemTech (Stemenhance, etc) link and check out the products.  On this link, there is a website link that you can order products from. I am also a distributor for the Natural Science products.

I am also a distributor for the Equisports Massager and use it on my horses and myself.  This piece of equipment is very useful when need that boosting edge to calm your horse's muscles during shows or whenever your equine chiropractor/massager is not available.  See the Equisports Massager link and to order, go to the Product Store's link. 

To purchase, click the Florida Equine Athlete link and the product is on the homepage on the right hand sidebar down toward the bottom.