Exploring The Benefits Of Careers In The Horse Industry
Are you looking for a career in the horse industry?
In this series of posts dedicated to the exciting world of horse industry careers, we explore the most common jobs and careers. We also cover some you perhaps wouldn’t immediately think of.
Many ‘horsy folk’ dream of a career in the horse industry!. For many, their dreams do become a reality. However, the days of assuming if you want to work with horses you’ll probably spend your life mucking out stables or riding rogue racehorses in the pre-dawn hours (for pennies) are long gone! Today’s horse industry offers a wide range of job and career opportunities. Some of them are quite unexpected, and even well paid.
Why Choose A Career In The Horse Industry
But first – why would you consider a job, or career, in the horse industry? Traditionally, many of the jobs are hard work, and not very well paid. Moreover, if you also own your own horses, it’s quite likely that after spending all day working with other people’s horses, the last thing you’ll want to do when you get home is spend time with your own…
To avoid this type of burnout, some horse owners choose to pursue careers in other fields so they don’t lose their passion and interest in their own horses. But for others, the more time they get to spend with horses (their own and other people’s), the better. Which one are you? Your answer may well determine not only whether a career in the horse industry is for you, but also what type of career.
Working with horses is a lifestyle as well as a profession. If you don’t like them, you won’t be able to work with them, or at least not successfully. Horses are highly receptive creatures and will know very quickly if you don’t like them!
With that said, the horse industry can offer many fulfilling and rewarding career paths. For that reason, it’s a logical career choice if you love horses. You may not own one anymore, or can balance the demands of a horse related career with the responsibilities of horse ownership.
Horses Are Healthy, Or Good For Your Health At Least!
Interacting with animals has many health benefits, and horses are no different. Research in fact indicates that being around horses can:
- Lower blood pressure,
- Reduce stress and anxiety,
- Exert a calming influencer,
- Build self-esteem and confidence,
- Are empowering,
- Build patience and understanding,
- Burn more calories,
- Improve focus and concentration on goals.
Passion Meets Profession
One advantage of pursuing a career in the horse industry is that it provides an opportunity to turn your passion into a profession. Whether you’ve grown up around horses or developed a love for them later in life, working with horses provides the opportunity to spend your days working in an environment you genuinely enjoy.
The satisfaction of doing a job you love has many benefits for your overall health and wellbeing. Conversely, doing a job you don’t enjoy is a major contributor to stress and anxiety.
Diverse Career Options
The horse industry is not just limited to riding and training horses, and mucking out stables! Rather it’s a huge sector offering many, many career options. It is our 4th largest sector and currently contributes some 1.6 billion dollars to the Australian economy every year.
One of the significant reasons for both its size and fiscal importance relates to all the activities associated with horses, specifically their care, which takes in many different types of businesses and industries. This in turn creates a hugely diverse sector from the ground up. Literally…
Horses are herbivores so everything they eat has to be grown. That creates horse-related jobs within agriculture ranging from farming to research and development.
Horse Career Opportunities In Feed Production
Once harvested, crops must then be processed into horse feed products like hay, grains, and pelleted feeds. There are plenty of career opportunities here too –
- Horse nutritionists who help create horse feeds and ensure they contain all the nutrients horses need, in the right quantities. They may also help horse owners tailor diets for their horses.
- People working in quality control in feed production facilities ensure tainted, contaminated products never ever reach the horse population; horses can’t vomit and are very sensitive to toxins in their feed.
- Maintenance workers keep the equipment needed to produce horse feeds operational.
- Truck drivers deliver feed to retail outlets AKA your local feed store.
- The feed store employs sales staff, and delivery drivers, and so on.
All those career and job opportunities come from just one aspect of the horse industry – feeding them!
Horse Career Opportunities In Horse Healthcare
From feeding to overall health care… Horse healthcare provides career opportunities for:
- veterinarians,
- vet nurses,
- farriers,
- horse dentists,
- equine nutritionists,
- equine therapists,
- horse chiropractors,
- equine naturopaths,
- horse acupuncture practitioners…
And many more.
- Horse medical care often involves administration of drugs and use of medical supplies and equipment, which all has to be manufactured. That requires lab technicians, researchers, chemists …
- Horses have to live somewhere and that’s predominantly in stables, fenced paddocks, and yards. These facilities don’t build themselves so we have stable designers, builders, and various other trades that may specialise in horse facilities.
- Horse paddocks must be fenced and again, these items don’t simply materialise out of thin air; they are manufactured (manufacturing facilities require staff across a range of specialities).
- If you’re lucky, you have your own property otherwise your horse is agisted somewhere (agistment owner, agistment staff).
If you want your horse to have green grass to eat in its paddock, it usually means installing reticulation. Reticulation consists of assemblies of pipes, hoses, valves, taps, and sprinklers that have to be manufactured. Then the reticulation itself has to be planned out, and installed.
To keep the grass growing lush and green requires fertilisers. If you don’t top dress with composted horse manure, you’ll need manufactured fertilisers…
Horse Career Opportunities In Horse Breeding
The Australian thoroughbred breeding industry is the second largest in the world, and worth millions of dollars. It employs a huge number of professionals and non-professionals from stud hands through to stud managers, specialist breeding veterinarians, broodmare carers and foaling specialists.
The Standardbred breeding industry, our second largest horse-breeding sector, also employs many people in similar roles as well as AI and ET technicians.
Then there are the non-racing breeding facilities, which also often employ staff, and certainly require healthcare specialists – vets, breeding technicians etc.
Horse Career Opportunities In Horse Training
The majority of horses receive at least basic training. Even if you DIY, it requires equipment, which has to be manufactured. Not all our horse products come from China! We still produce some things locally (job opportunities). Then there are:
- horse trainers,
- stable hands,
- track riders (racing industry),
- jockeys,
- harness racing drivers,
- professional horse handlers,
- coaches,
- stewards,
- judges…
Horse Career Opportunities In Horse Administration
Most equestrian codes and horse breeds have administrative bodies, or equestrian clubs, that are responsible for registering horses, regulating official competitions and administering the sport in general. So – we have registrars, administration staff, event organisers…
Horse Career Opportunities In Horse Showing And Competition
Horse competitions require venues – racetracks, showgrounds, arenas, polo fields, cross-country courses. They all require maintenance. That needs grounds staff, maintenance crews, and perhaps even turf specialists and reticulation. Many professional horse owners also employ grooms, coaches, and other staff to help them care for their competition horses.
Competitions produce winners, who are not only grinners but also the recipients of ribbons, sashes, horse garlands, trophies, prizes… These are all made somewhere, by somebody.
Once upon a time horses were ridden or driven to competitions. Today they arrive in style, having been driven there in horse floats (pulled by an appropriate vehicle) and horse trucks. Again – all these vehicles are made somewhere. They should also be insured, as are many valuable horses = career opportunities.
If you’ve been keeping track of all those various professions and jobs, you’ll have realised there are a LOT of them. Additionally, a whole sector within the industry is involved with media and entertainment.
Connection With Nature
For many horse lovers, the thought of spending all day working indoors is not at all enticing. If this sounds like you, a career in the horse industry might be your ticket to a workplace that feels more natural to you.
It may be grooming horses, guiding trail rides through scenic landscapes, or overseeing a breeding program on a stud farm. Either way, the great outdoors becomes your office. The connection with nature is not just a perk; it’s an integral part of the job.
Building Meaningful Relationships
Horses occupy a unique niche in our society. Although officially classed as livestock, most horses are more than that. They are also companion animals, just like your dog, or cat. They become our partners in competition and leisure activities, and often our friends and non-judgemental confidants too.
Working closely with these sensitive intelligent animals fosters a unique bond that goes beyond the typical livestock / owner relationship. The connections we form with them are often deeply rewarding and can contribute to a very satisfying career.
Continuous Learning And Growth
The horse industry is dynamic and constantly changing and evolving. From advancements in veterinary care to innovations in training techniques, there’s always something new to learn. Therefore, choosing a career in this industry often means embarking on a journey of continuous growth and development. You’ll never get bored ‘on the job’ with a career in the horse industry.
Contribution To Well-being
Finally, people who work in the horse industry are usually contributing in some way to the wellbeing of these animals. From growing their food to contributing to their medical health and wellbeing, or producing the equipment and facilities required to safely train, educate, and house them… A career in the horse industry has an impact on the health and wellbeing of horses in some way, at some point. When this is positive, it can provide an unparalleled sense of purpose.
A Specific Career In The Horse Industry
In upcoming posts, we’ll explore specific horse industry careers and provide insights into the responsibilities, challenges, and benefits they provide. From seasoned horse professionals to those considering a career change – we invite you to explore the vast and fulfilling world of equine-related professions with us.
Frequently Asked Questions About A Career In The Horse Industry Answered
Many people have questions about working in the horse industry because, realistically, it isn’t for everyone. Here are some of the most common questions about working in the horse industry answered for your.
What is the highest paying job in the equine industry?
High paying jobs in the horse industry often require specialised skills, training, and qualifications. Therefore, you’ll find that professionals like equine veterinarians who specialise in various highly technical areas, such as surgery, advanced reproductive technologies (AI, ET etc), equine genetics and so on, tend to be in the higher salary ranges.
Horse racing also produces some of the highest paid equine professionals – highly successful trainers and jockeys can earn huge incomes, particularly if their charges consistently win million dollar races. However, they are the exception rather than the rule because million dollar champion racehorses are few and far between statistically. Most trainers and jockeys earn very ordinary incomes!
What industry is working with horses?
A job working with horses falls under the broader category of the ‘equine or horse industry.’ This industry encompasses various sectors such as:
- Horse Healthcare: includes veterinarians, dentists, therapists etc.
- Equine Training and Riding: includes trainers, riding instructors, professional riders.
- Equine Business and Management: includes stud managers, racehorse owners, event organisers, equestrian clubs, and organisations.
- Horse Products and Services: includes farriers, nutritionists, massage therapists.
- Equine Media and Entertainment: includes photographers, journalists, artists, and so on.
In addition, many different sectors also contribute to the horse industry – farming, manufacturing, insurance, and so on.
What degree should I get if I want to work with horses?
This depends on your specific area of interest within the horse industry. Some relevant degrees and certification areas include:
- Equine Science: provides you with a comprehensive understanding of horse biology, nutrition, and management.
- Veterinary Medicine: mandatory if you want to become an equine veterinarian.
- Vet Nursing:
- Animal Science/Animal Studies: provides a broader understanding of animal biology, including horses.
- Equine Business Management: focuses on the business aspects of the equine industry.
- Equine Studies or Equine Management: offers a mix of business and practical skills for working with horses.
- Farriery: these courses each advanced skills around hoof mechanics as well as practical business skills for building a successful business as a farrier.
- Horse Breeding: provides both practical, hands on experience and theoretical knowledge about professional horse breeding.
- Horse Care: provides you with a good understanding of horse behaviour and body language essential for safely interacting with horses. You’ll also learn important equine management skills that provide a platform for further opportunities in the horse industry.
Can you make money with a career in the horse industry?
Yes, it is possible to make money should you decide on a career in the horse industry. You do it the same way you would in any other industry. Namely – by working in a professional capacity and getting paid for your services.
The horse industry is huge and diverse. It provides many opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. However, your earning potential will vary based on factors like your role and position, your expertise, and also the sector you work in.
Veterinarians, trainers, breeders, and people involved in competitive sports or entertainment-related aspects of the industry can potentially earn very lucrative incomes. But, like any profession in any industry, success usually comes with dedication, training, ongoing skill development. There is also the additional requirement of a genuine passion for working with horses.
What are the four main segments of the horse industry?
You can broadly divide the horse industry into
- Recreation – includes pleasure hacks, paddock ornaments, companion animals, and horses generally kept for non-competitive purposes. This is the largest sector of the industry. It includes the vast majority of our horse population.
- Competition – includes horses trained and used for competition. Typically this is dressage, eventing, show jumping, endurance, rodeo events, polo and polocrosse, show horse, etc.
- Racing – includes all aspects of both the Thoroughbred and Standardbred sectors – breeding, training, and racing.
- Working – working horses are now in a minority so this is the smallest sector of the industry. It includes horses used for work related / business purposes i.e. working other livestock (stations, feed lots etc), trail ride horses, wagon tour horses, brewery horses, hire horses and so on.
Interested in learning more about your options for a job or career in the horse industry? Then stay tuned for our next post in this series on horse industry careers.
