ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — There’s something about the connection between girls and horses that psychologists have a hard time explaining. Such is the case with Michelle Phillips, a senior at Robertsdale High, who has been around horses, either from the standpoint of riding, feeding grooming, or cleaning out their stalls, for most of her life.

“Ever since I was a small child, and I began to understand and ride horses, I knew that I wanted to become an Equine Vet,” she said. I know that when you are in veterinary school you are exposed to both large and small animal medicine, but right now I want to specialize in horses.”

Phillips said she had thought about attending USA for her undergraduate education, before going to Auburn for vet school.

“I’ve been advised to look at a number of universities who have a pre-vet curriculum, as they might make me a better offer in terms of scholarship money,” she said.

The daughter of Sally and Wes Phillips, Michelle, who lives in Summerdale, is the next to the youngest of four girls. They include; Sabrina, 24, Chelsea, 23, Michelle, 17 and Anna, 13, who is a student at St. Patrick’s School.

Phillips scored a 23 on the ACT, but said she intended to take it again in December in an effort to raise her score.

“The higher you score the better your chances are of being offered more scholarship money,” she said. “I currently have a 3.8 grade point average. I feel I can do better on the ACT the next time I take it. The first time I took it I didn’t study for it. I just went in cold to see what it was like. Now I know.”

Having a strong work ethic is an important part of being a vet.

“Many of the vets I know are on call at all hours of the day or night,” she said. “Besides chores at the house and with the horses, I also work at Middle Bay Restaurant and Alligator Alley during the weekends. It sort of kills your social life, but that’s the cost you have to pay in order to save money for college.”

At RHS Phillips is involved in Mu Alpha Theta, a math organization, in addition to running cross country for the Lady Golden Bears.

“This season I’ll probably come in late as I was trying to calm a skittish horse and he threw me, dislocating my knee cap in the process. I thought I was bronc busting in a rodeo there for a minute,” she said. “I’m just about healed, but I still have a lot of rehabilitation in front of me. I want to make sure I’m ready to run again before I rejoin the team.”

Phillips said she had been riding since the age of seven.

“I originally took lessons in the English style, which is harder than Western because the saddle is smaller and you have to ride with you back erect,” she said. “With Western there’s no form to worry about, plus the saddle is much larger, and to me, a lot more comfortable.”

Phillips said she began to take care of her instructor’s horses and later moved from English to Western.

“I don’t rodeo at the present time, but this spring I might consider joining the High School Rodeo Association,” she said.

As for a career with horses, Phillips said she felt that going to work would be a joy.

“I made a connection with horses at an early age,” she said. “Now, I want to be in a position to help them with their health problems.”

Whether she becomes associated with race horses in locales such as Ocala, Fla., or Louisville, Ky., or she works with other breeds, such as quarter horses, Arabians, Appaloosas, or working horses, such as would be found on a ranch or farm Phillips doesn’t know yet.

“Right now, my main goal is to get through undergraduate school, and then be accepted into vet school,” she said.