I am hoping to become a professional in this biz someday. I have a B.S. in Ag, however, I find the most limiting aspect in becoming a professional photographer not my photographic abilities, but the business side of things (and I actually took a lot of business type classes to get my degree). I can't afford, nor do I want to spend the time, to go back to school for another degree, so I am learning all I can through library books and the internet. In the U.S., in my state at least, the public librarys can find you almost any book you want, sometimes it takes a week or two to get in, but you can read about anything for free. I seriously doubt I would learn as much about photography as I have in the past four months from taking a college course.
I am also trying to arrange working a little here and there with another professional in the equine photography biz to get some experience.
I would suggest that if you are going to work for yourself that you get a degree in business - at least take a small business course. And if you live in the US (this may be available in other countries too - sorry I am very culturally undiverse?) get in touch with your local economic development director or your local SCORE chapter
www.score.org there is a lot of help out there - free small business counseling, help getting financing, etc.
Good luck!
~wannabe