According to a survey by the American Horse Council, there are 9.2 million horses in the United States today. The horse industry contributes $102 billion to the gross domestic product and pays nearly $2 million in taxes annually. Two million people own horses; 4.6 million people are involved in the horse industry as owners, service providers, employees, and volunteers; and tens of millions of spectators enjoy horse events annually. The U.S. horse industry supports approximately 460,000 full-time-equivalent jobs. Most of those jobs do not include hands-on work with horses but instead provide support to the industry. At MTSU, students study with faculty who have a wide range of expertise and choose from a variety of extracurricular activities as they prepare for the future.

As is true of most multi-billion-dollar industries, there are plenty of career opportunities that involve hands-on interaction with horses; however, there are even more careers that do not—that function more in a support role. Career examples include:

• Journalist for any of the major horse publications (breed or discipline-specific magazines); editor of horse publications; photographer; ad or website designer for horse publications or organizations; realtor specializing in horse properties; equine sales and marketing
• Sales and marketing of support supplies: trucks, trailers, fencing, stables, tack and equipment, health supplies, riding attire, feed, hay, etc.; pharmaceutical representative selling products to equine veterinarians and horse owners
• Licensed horse show officials including inspectors, judges, show managers, show stewards, show announcers, regional representatives and other designated qualified persons
• Course designer for horse events (jumping, trail, eventing, combined driving, etc.); trailer designer; architect or engineer specializing in equine facilities, coliseums, riding arenas and stables; agricultural engineer; racing regulator, racing steward, timing official, handicapper, tattoo inspector, racing secretary
• Lawyer specializing in equine law, liability, equine contracts, environmental law, equine syndication
• Equine scientist; equine geneticist; equine exercise physiologist; immunologist; formulation and testing of equine vaccines; equine behaviorist; equine reproductive physiologist; specialist in artificial insemination and embryo transfer
• Equine nutritionist, equine feed specialist or nutrition laboratory technician; feed development specialist, pasture management specialist
• Therapist specializing in therapeutic riding and equine assisted therapies
• Financial planner specializing in equine businesses; credit agent for horse properties; equine insurance agent
• Horse extension specialist or extension agent (people who teach best management practices regarding horses to new owners); rangeland management specialist, Bureau of Land Management official; mounted police officer
• University professor specializing in horses, technical school teacher, high school FFA teacher, 4-H program coordinator
• Equine or large animal veterinarian or board-certified veterinarian specializing in surgery, ophthalmology, radiology, pathology, pharmacology, clinical nutrition, gastroenterology, osteopathy, theriogenology, and others; equine sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist; veterinary technician, radiography technician, laboratory technician
• You may know already the horse career of your choice, or you may still be searching. MTSU’s Horse Science Program provides a variety of course experiences that will help you decide and provides the tools you need to be successful in the horse industry.