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Equine colleges

2K views 15 replies 7 participants last post by  .Delete. 
#1 ·
I was curious what colleges are available for horse related things? I'm only a freshman but wanted to know.... I live in Minnesota, so colleges closer to there would be good.
Thanks
 
#3 ·
I'm going to say to you what I say to every young kid looking to go to college for horses, don't.

I have a degree in Western Riding and Equine Science. It was probably the biggest mistake I've made in my life thus far. I am no longer in horses because I went to college for them.

I would suggest working in the field you want to work in and getting a degree in business. A degree in business will go a lot further than a degree in horses
 
#4 ·
Ditto Delete! I, too, am currently working in the corporate world to pay off my Equine Degree, lol.

The hands-on horse work I had access to with some top trainers in the business was AMAZING, and I know I'd never have progressed so quickly as a rider without attending my college! It's just that the paychecks you receive when horses are your career just won't pay off that tuition! The trainers who make the big bucks have been in the business for years and years and years, so they are well known, experienced, and PROVEN; a degree just isn't the same.
 
#5 ·
I too hold an absolutely worthless equine degree-these are never worth the wasted time and money. You will never get a job (except the most menial low paying ones) with this degree and then you have to start over with more student loans and time spent to get a degree that will get you a good job!

Almost no one in my class actually ended up getting a job in the equine industry; for the few that did those jobs were strictly stall cleaning and doing farm work. Most dropped out when they saw what was happening to the graduates.

I earned my reputation as a trainer/instructor through many years of doing the day to day hard work, working with a lot of horses/good horse trainers and gaining experience. Even so, I do not depend on it for a living.

Colleges all over are coming up with equine degree programs only because there are so many horse crazy kids susceptible to it and there is money to be made. What they won't tell you is that a degree is worthless to 99% of the horse people who might employ you.

I strongly suggest that you spend your precious time and money on a degree that will get you a real job-wracking up those student loans twice will kill you financially down the line and then you won't be able to afford to own even one horse!
 
#7 ·
I'd like to second everything that has been said already... I don't have any experience myself, but everyone I've spoken to that has gotten any sort of Equine degree (unless it's vet related) has regretted it. Your best option, truly, is to work under a BNA.
 
#8 ·
HA, I must be the only one on here who is actually using my Animal Sciences degree! I loved my major, but I was Pre-Vet so my major was basically a biology degree, which is slightly more marketable then straight Equine. I also got to take some really cool classes like horse training, riding, horse production, horse industry, etc. I thought college was fantastic. Now that's said.... It had NOTHING to do with me getting a job as a trainer or my success since. THAT was totally based on my pre-college contacts, riding history, timing, and pure luck. Not to mention hours and hours of hard work. Basically, it's all about experience, not the diploma.

The reason why so many people tell you not to do it is because 99% of the people who think they're going into horses either change their minds (no matter how gung ho you think you are right now) or don't have what it takes, and you need a back up plan. If you are determined to do something horse related in college I'd find a good college that has a strong animal science department (like Michigan State) but does other things well. Major in something marketable but minor in animal science, or maybe vice versa. Or if you are determined to do a more horse focused school find one like William Woods and major in Business. That way you can maintain your connection to horses but you aren't ONLY doing horses. Good luck!
 
#10 ·
HA, I must be the only one on here who is actually using my Animal Sciences degree! I loved my major, but I was Pre-Vet so my major was basically a biology degree, which is slightly more marketable then straight Equine. I also got to take some really cool classes like horse training, riding, horse production, horse industry, etc. I thought college was fantastic. Now that's said.... It had NOTHING to do with me getting a job as a trainer or my success since. THAT was totally based on my pre-college contacts, riding history, timing, and pure luck. Not to mention hours and hours of hard work. Basically, it's all about experience, not the diploma.

The reason why so many people tell you not to do it is because 99% of the people who think they're going into horses either change their minds (no matter how gung ho you think you are right now) or don't have what it takes, and you need a back up plan. If you are determined to do something horse related in college I'd find a good college that has a strong animal science department (like Michigan State) but does other things well. Major in something marketable but minor in animal science, or maybe vice versa. Or if you are determined to do a more horse focused school find one like William Woods and major in Business. That way you can maintain your connection to horses but you aren't ONLY doing horses. Good luck!
False. We are telling her this because a degree in training means nothing in America. Absolutely nothing. It's a waste of time and money. Also, the other reason is because cost VS profit. Training pays next to nothing, unless you're lucky. Most equine colleges that offer training degrees are incredibly expensive. An if you pay for it yourself (like me) you'll find you won't afford to do what you went to college for (like me).
 
#9 ·
LOL, I just reread... You're from MINNESOTA not MICHIGAN. Well either way find a school around you that has an animal science program.;) I know UW-Madison does but their program is not very horsey. i visited in high school and loved it but not as hands on as I would have liked.
 
#12 ·
University of Findlay has many majors, including a well-known Equine program. Makes it easy to dual major, if you can stomach the tuition (and handle all the time required at the barn!)
 
#15 ·
I ADORED my 4 years at Findlay! Truly loved them! And I found a fantastic pre-graduation job at a high-end reining facility because of it. And those reiners really did compensate me well, just not quite enough to handle ALL of my out-of-state student loans (I worked both on and off campus 3 of my 4 years so I wouldn't have to get loans for everything.)

But, like I said, I also received a "standard" Business Degree as well, in case I needed something non-horsey to fall back on. Thank the heavens I did that, lol!
 
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