Not sure where to post this ... Equine Science

[Luanne]

My daughter has decided she possibly wants a career in Equine Science. She doesn't want to be a vet though. What other job opportunities are available in this field and have any of you had any experience preparing someone for this? By the way, she would be able to attend CSU (Colorado State University) at some point in the future (which is supposed to be the best Equine Science school in the U.S.A.).

Thanks,
Luanne

[Laurel-in-CA]

Stable management, breeding, training (horses or riders), broker/sales, breed-specific associations & publications, racing/event planning, research (might require veterinary degree), or there's always grooming & mucking out.

No experience whatsoever myself, except reading Equus and Modern Arabian magazines, LOL. A year or so ago Equus had aprofile of 2-year CC programs that led to employment in the horse industry.

[Cindyg]

She could be a horse trainer in any number of specialties.

She could give riding lessons in any number of specialities.

She could work for tack shop. She could manage a tack shop. She could own a tack shop. Ditto for a feed store. Ditto for an equine catalog.

She could manage horse shows and/or horse show facilities.

She could work in a veterinarian clinic without being a vet.

She could get into equine chiropractic, massage, or accupuncture. And if you don't think these are big right now, think again! :p

She could design, manufacture, repair, or fit saddles or all sorts of equipment. I know of two women who have cottage industries making saddles. They do this as their full income.

She could design riding clothes, safety equipment, horse blankets.

She could design, manufacture, or sell horse fencing, barns, and arenas.

She could run a horse-sitting business.

She could become an equine nutritionist. These people study what horses eat and how to improve feed. New feeds and supplements are on the market every day.

She could be a disease researcher.

She could be a jockey, an exercise girl, a race track manager.

She could run a rodeo.

She could buy and sell horses. She could match people to horses.

She could manage a barn.

She could become a certified instructor under one of the big names like Parelli or John Lyons.

She could get into specialty shoeing or barefoot trimming. She could design new horse shoes. Don't laugh. There's plenty of new stuff going on in this industry. She could become a scientist specializing in horse feet!

She could be an equine artist.

She could be an equine photographer.

She could make marketing videos. She could video tape horse shows.

She could sell jewelry at horse shows.

She could work for RFD-TV or the other horse channel, whose name slips me just now, filming horse TV shows.

She could transport horses cross country.

She could be a writer for an equine magazine. She could start her own equine magazine.

She could be an author writing either fiction or non-fiction about horses.

She could develop websites for barns.

She could run a retirement home for horse.

She could get into therapeutic riding for handicapped kids.

She could run the equestrian program at a summer camp.

She could design trail systems.

She could be a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom who is obsessed with her horse. :)

You get the idea.

[Jan P.]

One of the biggest movements in health is actually equine therapy. Handicapped or other special needs youngsters are being placed on horses for therapy. My dd's riding instructor is certified in this, and she actually has had a student who has ridden in the Special Olympics. This student was going to be a top qualifier for the next Olympics, but unfortunately she fell a few weeks ago and broke her femur.

Another good school is St. Andrews which is located in NC. One of the riders at our stables is going to try to go there. It is a small college but has quite a good reputation of helping students of all talents.

FWIW,

[Margaret in CO]

CSU is tops for breeding, but if she's interested in racing, AZ is the place!

[Rebecca in TN]

My daughter thought she wanted to be a horse trainer (5 years ago). She went for a year to a wonderful junior college in Iowa Falls, Iowa called Ellsworth Community College. They have a program in equine science/management. The students take a wide variety of equine courses and receive experience actually training several horses. They went on some great field trips also. My dd did not apply herself and decided that is not what she really wanted to do so she came home. We were very disappointed because we loved the school, the people, the program, the state, etc. Our experience with the school was a good one and I highly recommend it. You can read about it here (click on "programs of study"):

Ellsworth Community College (http://www.iavalley.edu/ecc/about/)

[Soph the vet]

I started out as an Equine Studies major and eventually I ended up becoming a veterinarian. If your daughter wants versatility I would say go to vet school. She can then go into practice, teaching, research, any number of disciplines and still afford to have her own horses. It is a great part-time profession if she ever decides she wants to stay home with children or start a different horse related business. :D