What Are the Best Careers for Equestrian Enthusiasts?

For many people, their love for horses starts early. Maybe the first time they sit in a saddle and experience the freedom, the first time they smell a stable, or watch an exciting race. There is no doubt that equestrianism runs in our blood, and the horse-human relationship goes for thousands of years.

Once that passion for horses is born, there is no going back. It’s what we think about, what we dream about all day and night. It’s a place where we find peace, joy, and excitement. If you feel that way, maybe you should pursue a career around horses.

But what are the best careers for equestrian enthusiasts? Well, the options are limitless. We are talking about a huge industry that goes from horse breeding, care, and racing, where each branch has many different career opportunities.

The first question is, what would you like? Do you like riding horses or just being around them? Do you like to train them or care for them?

We’ve made a list of the best career options for equestrian enthusiasts, covering the pros, cons, and which is the right one for you.

Professional Riding Careers

Let’s be honest, we all fall in love with horses after we get our first ride. There is something magical about that experience that we all couldn’t get enough of.

However, professional horse-riding careers are difficult; let’s get that straight right from the start. Whether it is jumping, dressage, eventing or becoming a horse racing jockey, you need to train your entire life and maintain great shape.

Most professional riders start young and commit to years of consistent training before entering the pro leagues. The sacrifice is big, but the payoff is also big. Top-tier jockeys are earning millions every year, but that didn’t happen overnight. Most of the professional jockeys we see have spent at least two decades in the horse racing industry before seeing major success.

Talent is another thing we have to talk about. Not everyone is born a professional rider. Some jockeys are just better than others. That’s why handicappers (people who bet on horse racing) always do a deep dive into the jockey’s career before betting. But if you don’t know how to analyze races, you can always check TwinSpires.com for the latest horse racing picks and expert predictions.

This path works best for people who enjoy long days, physical effort, and constant learning.

Horse Training

A horse trainer is another attractive career, especially for horse racing enthusiasts. They focus on developing a horse’s skills, whether for competition, riding school programs, or general handling.

They know how to communicate with horses, and again, this is something that cannot be taught in school. They develop their third sense for this career through practice and just being around horses for years.

It can be a rewarding path for people with patience and confidence, but it requires years of hands-on experience and, ideally, mentorship from an established professional.

Equine Veterinary Medicine

If you are not in science and want to make a major impact on equine health, maybe you should think about becoming an equine veterinarian or vet technician. Vets deal with injuries, lameness, dental care, reproductive health, and preventative medicine.

It’s a tough career that requires formal education and long training, but one of the most respected and steady paths in the industry. There is a constant need for equine veterinarians, and not a lot of competition.

Stable and Barn Management

Most people don’t know, but barn managers are the backbone of most stables. They handle the toughest but most important jobs. We are talking about handling feeding schedules, planning food, having turnaround plans, daily health checks, medication, staff coordination, and communication with veterinarians.

This job is perfect for someone who loves horses and management. So, if you’ve gone to business school, maybe you should try managing a stable.

Equine Business and Administration

Since we are talking about business degrees, let’s talk about the cleanest part of the equine industry - administration and business. This is for people who love being in the office and don’t like riding or being on the stable.

We are talking about administrative workers, marketing teams, event organizers, and everything in between. After all, events like the Kentucky Derby take months to prepare and organize, and these people are the true heroes.

Equine-Assisted Therapy

This is a new, but rather popular career option that is becoming popular right now. Therapeutic riding and equine-assisted therapy programs are expanding worldwide. Studies suggest that there are plenty of mental and physical benefits of being around horses, and people are using them in therapy sessions.

These careers carry a blend of psychology, social work, and horsemanship to support physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges.

Equine Photography and Media

If you are a Gen Z or younger, maybe you are interested in something more modern than cleaning barns and doing administrative work. Fortunately, there are also modern career options like equine photography and media.

These roles involve attending competitions (which is awesome), visiting stables, or working wth brands to capture the beauty and athleticism of horses.

The good thing is that you can treat this as a hobby (while you earn some money). On top of that, there are plenty of job opportunities, and the industry is quite welcoming to freelancers or people with no experience with horses.

Riding Instructors and Coaches

Let’s get one thing straight: teaching riding is different from training horses. Riding instructors focus on helping people develop the right skills and confidence for riding in a safe way. This career is also quite popular recently, since there has been an ongoing trend where people are going back to doing old-school hobbies like riding a horse.

So, since horse riding is becoming popular, there will always be somebody who likes to learn how to ride a horse.

Which equine career is best? Well, that depends on your personal preferences. Remember, you should always follow what you’re passionate about, not chase a career just because it’s trending at the moment.