Exactly. And if this is the salary of a professional with 8 years of very demanding education under her belt, can you imagine what the imaginary assistant barn manager gets?
One example: a woman who feeds for me a couple of times a week, in her 40’s, with, yes, an equine studies degree, gets paid $20/hour with no benefits for part time work for her billionaire employer. (I pay her more!)
I’m not sure how many years after undergrad it requires, but equine physical therapists and equine chiropractors can do quite well in the right location.
I know that livestock veterinarians make more money generally, because the economics are different, which is why I mentioned it previously as a more lucrative field where you would perhaps see horses sometimes too (in rural, but not fancy equine communities).
Equine PT would really interest my daughter and Hartpury Uni in the UK has a program similar to this. To become an equine chiropractor, however, you have to be either a vet or a chiropractor to get into the training.
Well this sure puts a damper on the college search. 
Seriously though, I appreciate all of the insight and advice! @cinnamon1212 has been a wealth of information and a real dose of reality. I have taken every one of your posts to heart!
My kid just wants to work “with” horses. And she seems to be open to what that looks like. I’ve told her she has a finite amount of money in her college fund and when it’s gone, it’s gone. So if she can’t earn a living when she graduates and needs to go back to school, the second degree is all on her. I think she gets that, but I don’t think she gets the reality of how low paying a job will be with an equestrian studies degree. To her credit, she is talking about a second major in business and vet school comes up more often so it’s not all ponies and rainbows like it used to be. And as we visit the schools we might be able to have more conversations about how she really intends to pay the bills after college.
This is why you need to ask each school for career outcomes
I’m seeing other schools like Louisville, Morehead State, and WKU.
I’m looking for outcomes - jobs received and salary. That way you can say this job title at place, etc and go why by one. Look at average salaries. Check out housing costs - it’ll cost you this much to live in this city vs. that salary etc.
On the flipside, I’m a HUGE believer in pursuing the dream. I did. While I bombed I’ve done ok. If this is clearly the goal…I put a course sequence from WKU attached to ensure it fits her desire. No one should have to dismiss their desires. If they try and it doesn’t workout and she has to pivot, at least they she’ll know she chased the dream. And maybe it’ll work great.
While they don’t give specific jobs, a few programs state positions such as:
You’ll be prepared for a career in the equine industry as a stable manager, show manager, camp manager, riding instructor, equestrian team coach, farm manager, equine trainer, horse judging, sales, and with government agencies.
This is Louisville - Students have the opportunity to work the Keeneland September Yearling Sale with industry partner Taylor Made, which is a good one to two week immersion in the world of high-end racehorse auctions. Summer-long internships with racetracks like Ellis Park in Kentucky and Monmouth Park in New Jersey give students invaluable hands-on experience in racetrack operations during a live meet. Program Coordinator Terri Burch works with students to find opportunities for hands-on experience that lines up with each student’s individual career goals.
Alumni of our program have gone on to work in a variety of equine-related jobs across the industry. What they all have in common is they used their time at UofL to seek out opportunities that helped them build their resume for the career they wanted.
Our graduates have been employed by companies like WinStar Farm, Calumet, Taylor Made, LoneStar Park, Churchill Downs, Keeneland, The Kentucky Horse Park, The Jockeys’ Guild, TVG, NBC Sports, Zoetis Pharmaceuticals, HBPA, NTRA, United Tote, Dallas Stewart Racing, Elite Sales, J. Stevens Bloodstock, Daily Racing Form, Paulick Report, USEF, USDF, USHJA, and many more.
Example careers by industry segment include:
Finally - no one has a better dashboard than Cornell. I’ve listed Animal Science. Looks like most go to grad school. Unfortunately it doesn’t show the jobs. Looks like the link doesn’t open to the major so you can click in bachelor and animal science to get there.
One out of the box idea: can she take a gap year and be a working student? That would give her great experience and a reality check. Or work as a groom in a big barn? Sometimes working student positions are unpaid, but some are paid a small amount, with housing.
(ETA note the job title – “working student”. That is the classic route in to learning about working with horses, becoming a trainer, managing barns etc)
I was a lawyer, and I left nyc biglaw (which paid off all student loans) to “follow my dream” and become the business manager at a big barn. While I am glad I did it, so I can’t say “what if”, it was the worst job of my life and I lasted 6 months. There was nothing particular to this barn, it was the industry.
Fast forward 20 years, and we own a 200 acre farm, and I run my own barn boarding retired horses. There are 12 horses and 3 donkeys. I love doing the barn work. I work with horses every day. But. I break even – pay the farm expenses, which are considerable. I am not dependent on farm income for my survival. It has cost well over $1 million to buy and set up the farm, which would never have been possible on a salary of $30,000/year. Fencing alone has cost about $100,000.
Anyway, your daughter is on her journey, and she will get there. I just hope to spare her some bad experiences. Certainly it is good to go into a field with her eyes open.
Perhaps she might consider getting a degree in something that will lead to a different career/better paying job while always continuing to work/volunteer on the side in the equine industry. Over time, maybe that side gig could become a full time gig and/or lead to horse ownership, but maybe having the part-time touchstone working with/being around horses would be enough. Just spitballing!
The only thing is, for pretty much all the jobs listed one does NOT need a degree in equine studies. And in many cases such a degree is NOT the best route into the job.
You touched on this, but I’d really recommend leaning into that last idea.
This wouldn’t be a fun exercise, but it might be helpful, to set aside half an hour or so with her and to create a budget from scratch. Not thinking about the money coming in or how she’d get it … just focus on the money that would need to be spent. Have her pick an area where she’d want to live, and look at Craigslist’s rentals section to get a sense as to the monthly rental cost there. Figure out what food would cost, including dining out, Starbucks-or-whatever, getting lunch or drinks with friends, etc. (Remember that people dine out more than they think they do, and it costs more than they think it does.) Add in a car payment, (or at least the maintenance costs / saving-up-for a car costs). When in doubt, round up. Oh yeah, and taxes! Health insurance! Etc.! The point: help her create a realistic sense of what life-as-a-twentysomething-in-desired-location costs. Then compare that to some of the hard numbers from this thread.
Odds are good that reconciling the “here’s what I’d need to spend” and “here’s what I’d make doing this job” will be tough. But far better to do that now, on paper (or Google Sheets), when she can still make a plan for that alternate degree, rather than in five years, when she has to confront reality, and has far fewer options.
That’s fair - but I would counter you can say that about lot of jobs. When I was recruited with my MBA, I had a boss with no degree. When I started in my current job (with an MBA) - and most have one - a co worker was a GED.
But I also realize those who got in many years ago - it was a different playing field - and that likely played a role.
Many jobs require a degree - but nothing from the degree really impacts the job - so you never know. I have no doubt many of the jobs people list can be done sans a degree - but that is many fields - from hospitality (yet people get degrees) to sales to retail to I’m sure many more.
It’s just all about getting info to OP for her kid- so they can make the best decision. But I’m going to assume that many do find employment or as the Cornell stats show (1/2 went to more school) continue their educational journey.
One thing I do know and I experienced this with my kid in two majors that I personally find - not very practical to life is - if you force someone away from something they’d love or into something they wouldn’t (like if I could have convinced my kid to study business instead of international studies) - the bigger issue would be - you might bring unhappiness or even see the student not want to finish school - so there are reasons to be practical - but there are always reasons to pursue that dream (IMHO).
I wonder if a double major is possible - OP mentioned business. Or perhaps a minor in something else to supplement the equine education. One can even minor in equine studies (when I google, South Dakota State, WVU, and Goucher come right up). U of Kentucky has an animal science minor. So maybe the student decides to do a business major, AS minor and likely can get a part time job at one of the farms out there.
Anyway, just trying to help OP close that gap with her kid - and I think finding specific outcomes (with company names), real job titles and average salaries would help - but since the schools aren’t posting, OP would need to contact the schools to get.
So many parents struggle with the choice of the kid’s major. And it’s fair. People are investing time and want their kids to success like them or do better than them. But at the same time and I had to adapt to this mindset - it is the kids living this life. I kept going over majors with my wife and daughter her school offered - how bout this as a double or minor - no dad, I’d hate that!!!
So it’s not easy to get past -but it can be done 
One last thing to OP - I ran two searches on indeed without choosing a location:
Equine studies bachelor (BA might work better - I didn’t try) and 16 jobs come up.
Animal studies bachelor - and 2,050 come up. You could try other things like entry level instead of bachelor, etc.
It’s just a way to see - what type of roles and salary may be out there.
Best of luck.
Equine studies is like the much derided criminal justice major. Neither is necessary for a career in those fields. I do not think I have ever seen anyone recommending pursuing a degree in criminal justice on CC. The same advice probably would be given re Equine Studies, except that people are unfamiliar with this niche field.
Thanks for sharing your first hand expertise!
Agree. I have also heard that if you kid has a lot of riding and barn experience, they are not likely to even learn much in an equine studies program. My equestrian ended up choosing something else pretty quickly after looking into it. We discussed how there are many aspects to the sport and there are many parts of the business that could be potential jobs (feed sales, insurance, legal, etc.). If you are around the A circuit enough, you see that you do not need a degree to be a trainer, you need to either be the kid of a trainer or have lots of $$$. It’s a little depressing for the kids of non-billionaire and non-trainer parents. But honestly, it’s a fulfilling hobby and can be a lifelong passion even if you do not work in the industry.
Having been a professional in the equine industry I have to say that I agree with everything @cinnamon1212 has posted here. The OP’s daughter would be smart to take a gap year and pursue a working student position. This would help her to truly understand what working in the industry entails. Equine jobs require long hours, hard work, often not much actual riding, and nearly always very low pay. Burnout is a real problem in this industry.
I ran a 38 stall barn, boarded horses, taught lessons and took in horses for training. My business barely broke even, and I am fortunate that I did not have to rely on it to cover non horse related household expenses. I’ve seen many a former student and equine professional lose their love for the horse when they try to make a go of it as a professional. I’ve also known several equine veterinarians who have said that if you really want to work with horses then don’t be a vet. As a vet you see many horses throughout the day, but you don’t really develop strong connections with them because they are your patients. You see them briefly when you treat them, then you leave them to their owners. Often equine vets own horses but have limited time to ride and train because their schedules are packed.
My recommendation to this OP’s daughter would be that she pursue a degree that will offer more career options. She can always find a barn to ride at, perhaps lease a horse, and eventually own one. Sorry to be so harsh, and I wish her well. I hope she finds her path, and that she never loses her love for the horse.
I find this thread to be fascinating as someone who never knew anything about this profession. After reading lots of posts from some folks who have made equine work their life’s work I go back to the idea of why not got to a place like (and clearly not the only place, just the one I know) like Miami of Ohio that has a very competitive Equestrian team (again I realize lots of others) compete, ride, participate spend time with horses on a daily basis and get a degree in animal science or business. It seems to me that would give you more options than spending a bunch of money on 4 year degree in Equine science and upon graduation working as a slightly above minimum wage in a barn after graduation.
After graduation if she still wants to follow her dream of working in a barn with horses it seems like she can still do so. However if she decides that something else as a vocation and horses as an avocation is better fit she will have that option.
Good luck to her and I look forward to following her journey
This one just posted - I noted the criminology major - and remembered what @cinnamon1212 said:
Equine studies is like the much derided criminal justice major. Neither is necessary for a career in those fields. I do not think I have ever seen anyone recommending pursuing a degree in criminal justice on CC.
I wish OP well - it is fascinating to research and I understand both sides - it’s hard to not pursue the dream - even if the data shows it’s difficult.
Here’s hoping OP’s student finds their way equine or otherwise. Maybe OP can remind the student - horses poop a lot - do you really want to deal with that
What you are suggesting is similar to what I did. I went to Mount Holyoke and was heavily involved in the equestrian center there. My major was not equine related. Mount Holyoke does not offer equine studies, but even if the school did I would not have pursued it. I knew that an equine related degree would not offer any advantage should I decide to pursue a career in the industry, and that it would be wise to major in something that offered wider marketability.
My son briefly considered this degree when he was determined to be an equine surgeon. He ended up doing animal science, started vet school after 3 years undergrad and is now in his 4th year. What did he learn? He really wants to be a vet. He doesn’t want to be an equine vet. He wants to be a veterinary radiologist and eventually own and ride for fun not for work. Goes along with what others are saying. My niece has been a barn manager with no degree (recently left the job because she needed more money for less hours). A gap year to figure it all out isn’t a bad thing.