"Most people have no idea about the diversity of careers in the equine industry. It's great, I get a chance to work with the animals I love and have a choice whether I want to run my own equine business or work for someone else. And guess what - there are horses all over the world so I am looking forward to some international work experience."
Equine industry
Day-to-day activities include:
- Caring for horses (feeding, housing, grooming, feet care, healthcare etc)
- Working horses (riding, schooling, lunging)
- Managing breeding and foaling
- Soil and pasture management
- Feed budgeting and arranging winter feed
- Overseeing stable/farm maintenance
- Management of staff
- Financial management and planning
Careers in the equine industry include:
- Training horses for racing and competition
- Growing horses for sale
- Sport horse competition, riding and management
- Breeding horses for sale
- Bloodstock agencies
- Equine tourism ventures (eg. horse trekking)
- Educating people about equine matters
- Consultancy
- Equine transport (national and international)
- Managing an equine enterprise (riding stable, farm, breed society, racing club)
- Manufacturing, importing and selling equine products (feed, tack, supplements etc)
- Helping others through riding for the disabled, young and underprivileged
- Equine veterinary nurse
- Equine veterinarian
- Equine research
Training to be a member of the equine industry
New Zealand has all the ingredients necessary to build on its currently high international profile in the equine industry. We have the horses, an ideal environment, and we have the people. The next step is education to ensure the people involved in the equine industry have the knowledge, authority and confidence of purpose to be the world's best.
Massey University offers a Bachelor of Applied Science degree (BApplSc) with an Equine Studies major. The Equine Studies major provides the knowledge base and the analytical skills to allow graduates to excel in the equine industry. It provides a sound foundation in soils, pasture, nutrition, equine breeding and reproduction, equine health, information technology and business management. The degree includes specialist equine papers. Some of these papers can be studied from home.
The veterinary nursing and veterinary science courses at Massey University provide training in equine nursing, health and performance.
