Why Horse Science?

So why should you be an MTSU Horse Science major? What sort of careers are available? Most people consider the obvious careers first: horse trainer, riding teacher, groom, barn manager, breeding/foaling manager, veterinarian, farrier -- those careers that require hands-on work directly with horses every day. Many people do not consider the breadth and scope of the US horse industry. 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 US horse industry supports approximately 460,000 full-time-equivalent jobs. The bulk of those jobs do not include hands-on work with horses every day but instead provide support to the industry. Some possible careers include the following:

Journalist who writes for any of the major horse publications, breed, or discipline-specific magazine.
Editor of horse publication.
Photographer.
Realtor who specializes in horse properties.
Licensed horse show officials, including inspectors, judges, horse show managers, horse show stewards, horse show announcers, regional representatives and other designated qualified persons.
Racing regulator, racing steward, timing official, handicapper, tattoo inspector, racing secretary.
Lawyer who specializes in equine law, liability, equine contracts, environmental law, equine syndication.
Equine geneticist. Coat color geneticist.
Breed registry official. Blood typing specialist.
Immunologist, formulation, testing and distribution of equine vaccines.
Equine reproductive physiologist. Specialist in artificial insemination and embryo transfer.
Equine exercise physiologist.
Equine nutritionist, equine feed specialist, or nutrition laboratory technician. Horse feed development specialist.
Horse feed sales representative.
Equine or animal behaviorist.
Therapist who specializes in equine assisted therapy.
Equine sales and marketing.
Sales and marketing of the support supplies in the horse industry:  trucks, trailers, fencing, stables, tack and equipment, health supplies, riding attire, feed, hay, supplements, and so forth.
Public relations person for a breed or discipline-specific association.
Financial planner specializing in equine businesses.
Horse extension specialist or extension agent, people who teach best management practices regarding horses to new owners.
Website designer who specializes in horse-related sites.
Rangeland management specialist, Bureau of Land Management.
Credit agent for horse properties.
Equine insurance agent.
Ad designer for horse publications.
Mounted police officer.
Horse trailer designer or horse trailer sales representative.
Architect or engineer who specializes in equine facilities, coliseums, riding arenas and stables.
Manager of facilities, coliseums, show grounds, arenas for equine events.
Course designer for horse events (jumps, trail, eventing, combined driving, etc).
Pasture management specialist.
Agricultural engineer.
Pharmacist who sells products to equine veterinarians and horse owners.
Equine sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist.
X-Ray technician. Laboratory technician.
Humane society official.
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, opthalmology, radiology, pathology, pharmacology, clinical nutrition, gasteroenterology, osteopathy, theriogenology, and others.

You may know already exactly the horse career of your choice, or you may still be searching. Our MTSU Horse Science program is designed to provide a variety of course experiences that may help you in your search as well as provide the tools that you need to be successful in the horse industry. In addition to a choice of major area of study, MTSU students also choose a minor area of study that will help support their career goals. Some minors commonly chosen by MTSU Horse Science students include Entrepreneurship, Business Administration, Marketing, Management, Recreation, Mass Communication (journalism or electronic media), and Psychology, to name a few, but the choices are endless. Alternately, some students choose to major in another area of study and minor in Agriculture, and then take primarily Horse Science courses for their Agriculture Minor.

Whatever your choice, with a variety of courses offered in our Horse Science Curriculum, faculty with a wide range of expertise who are available to you daily, and extracurricular activities to keep you involved and inspired, you are sure to find a good fit in our program.