Careers in the Horse Industry 8904

Introduction A career working with horses doesn’t have to involve working directly in a stable or riding horses. The first thing that comes to mind when you think of careers with horses are probably, veterinarian, jockey, or horse trainer. In some jobs you only need experience with horses, but in others, you must attend school for years of formal education.

Not everybody who work in the horse industry work directly with horses. Examples are accounting, law, art, clothes designing, writing and computer programming. 1.4 million full-time jobs exist in the United States’ horse industry. The jobs serve 6.9 million horses and 7.1 million participants.

Primary Careers Primary careers require daily contact with horses and owners. For these careers you need to know about horse behavior, physiology, or nutrition, and be able to ride. You will need to get a college degree for some of these positions, such as a veterinarian or extension horse specialist.

Examples of Primary Careers –Veterinarian –Equine Extension Agent –Veterinary Technician –Extension Horse Specialist –Rehabilitation Therapist –Transportation Specialist –Technical School Instructor –Farm or Ranch Manager –Trainer –Broodmare Manager –Pedigree Analyst –Stable Manager –Mounted Police Officer –Humane Society Official –Riding Instructor –Groom –Horse Buyer –Auctioneer –Equine Nutritionist –Stallion Manager –Breeder –College Professor –Movie Stunt Rider –Artificial Inseminator

Support Positions Support jobs work indirectly with horses. Many of these jobs pay better than some of those where you do hands on work with horses. Salaries depend upon your experience and education.

Examples of supporting positions: Architect Agricultural Engineer Agricultural Researcher Commercial Feed Manufacturer Author-Fiction Land Consultant Agricultural Science Teacher Clothing Designer Reporter or Journalist Feed Store Operator Educational Media Distributor Attorney Accountant Insurance Agent Laboratory Technician Author-Nonfiction Copywriter Film or Movie Editor Advertising Copywriter Horse Trailer Designer Tack and Equipment Maker Educational Media Distributor

Careers with Shows & Rodeos Most of the jobs require you to have at least a high school diploma and one or two years of education beyond high school. But it is difficult to make a full-time career with many of these jobs.

Careers with Shows & Rodeos A lot of people work at horse shows and rodeos on weekends. Many of these personnel have to travel from area to area to follow the competitions schedule while maintaining a full-time job.

On-the-road & weekend jobs: Show Veterinarian Assistant Show Manager Show Receptionist Contractor Fair or Exposition Manager Drug Inspector Technical Representative Steward Course or Jump Designer Test Designer Publicity Director Member Photographer Show Secretary Rodeo Secretary Rodeo Stock Contractor Director of Parking Jump Builder Ring Master Rodeo Clown Rodeo Cowboy Rodeo Pick-up Rider Announcer Labor Crew Member Ticket Seller

Careers in the Racehorse Industry Some jobs require only a high school education and others you’ll need a college degree. I bet the first job that pops in your head when mentioning racing is that of a jockey, or maybe an exercise person. –These jobs are so popular that a lot of people apply for them. –But it is not easy to become a jockey, even if you’re a small person and a good rider.

Careers in the Racehorse Industry Go the apprenticeship route. –Horse owners and trainers will employ you right out of high school, but you have to work for a trial period before they’ll actually hire you. –Not every apprentice becomes a jockey and not every jockey gets to the top races. It’s a long, hard road to the top for a jockey. Photo by Bill Tarpenning courtesy of USDA Photography Center.

Careers in the Racehorse Industry Racing, it is a seasonal industry and tracks are only open for relatively short periods of time. –Unless you’re doing maintenance and grounds keeping, you’ll have to be mobile and willing to move from one track to another around the country.

Racing Jobs Track Veterinarian Judge Timing Racing Steward Handicapper Racing Commissioner Mutuels Machine Publicity Staff Turf Club Director Jockey Driver Mutuels Manager Track Maintenance Minutes Clerk Office Staff Stable Superintendent Starter Grounds Manager Announcer Exercise Rider Attendant Outrider Pony Rider Racing Chemist Equipment Engineer Racing Secretary Director of Mutuels Totalisator Personnel Maintenance Horse Owner’s Bookkeeper Jockey Valet Jockey’s Agent Marketing and Publicity Parking Attendant Paddock Judge Money Room Personnel Patrol Judge Clocker Track Photographer Hot Walker Jockey Room Attendant Security Trainer

Careers Involving Recreation, Hunting, Or Pleasure Employment in this field doesn’t usually require a college degree, although you will need a couple of years of technical training following high school. If you like “hands-on” activity maybe one of these jobs is for you:

Careers Involving Recreation, Hunting, Or Pleasure Trail Engineer Park & Recreation Administrator Recreation Planner Guest Ranch Host Whipper-in Professional Huntsperson Kennel Worker Packer or Guide Parade Organizer Reservations Clerk Field Master Circus Rider Country Club Manager

What Should A Person Consider When Planning A Career? Jobs where you work directly with horses are low paid jobs, because of fierce competition. Be realistic with your salary needs as well as focusing on what you really want to do.

What Should A Person Consider When Planning A Career? To get experience at the outset, you have to be willing to volunteer, –cleaning stalls, –accompanying a veterinarian on rounds, –or grooming horses. You’ll meet important contacts this way, while picking up great experience. –Social, School and community activities. –Your contacts may be able to link you to other contacts at the regional or state live.

What Should A Person Consider When Planning A Career? Job leads from your school’s placement office, classified ads, employment agencies and targeted resume mailings. –You can even find many online advertisements.

Words of wisdom about training for a horse career; look to the future of that job and where it may lead. –What you don’t want to happen is to get stuck in a dead end job that you don’t like and without alternatives. What Should A Person Consider When Planning A Career?

Get the most training possible; diversify somewhat while getting it. –While some employers hire on experience alone, it is usually the combination of education and experience that will get you the best jobs. –A college degree is advisable in many cases, some kind of formal training, technical school, certification through short-term courses, or in apprenticeship.

What Should A Person Consider When Planning A Career? One of the ways you can find out more about a particular career is to talk to professionals in the field. –Ask the professionals what they studied, how they arrived at their current positions, and what they see as good training.

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