You might find that it's easier to pay attention and focus in a college environment, because unlike high school, you get to choose a lot of what you study. Have you thought of being a vet tech? Usually a two-year program, and those skills can come in very handy in the horse world. Right now I work in a 40-stall barn as a groom. The money isn't too bad, but I work there because I enjoy it and to me it's important to be able to go to work without dreading it. I love my work most of the time. However, I know that I will not be a glorified stall-mucker forever, and I have a degree in another field to fall back on when I'm tired of pulling manes and schooling horses. I've seen too many people still doing this menial labor when they're in their fifties and sixties... no savings, no retirement plans, no skills outside a horse barn. It's NEVER a bad idea to educate yourself as much as possible. Are there any schools near you that offer independent study? Some colleges offer low-residency options where you do most of your work on your own, in contact with a professor on campus, with a few visits a semester to the school to check in. Good luck at any rate!