University of Louisville

Mar 5

Written By jennifer glass

Equine Industry Program

LOCATION

Louisville, Kentucky

WEBSITE

uofl.edu/equine

MISSION

The Equine Industry Program is unique in its exclusivity in the collegiate space, as well as its focus on a particular industry that is also a signature of the state of Kentucky. With our focus on a type of business not a business discipline, we are able to spotlight practical application of business theory in a real-world model for our students to learn in an experiential format and be career ready. Where other business majors choose a discipline to study the nature of the horse industry tends to be small businesses where employees must have multiple skills and be able to handle various aspects of the business. Therefore, we take a multi-disciplined approach where our students become familiar with all parts of running a business with the ability to tailor their specific interests through open ended project-based learning that allows them to research and dig into areas that they see themselves in the future. Students complete an academic program that is business specific, industry focused, and multi‐disciplinary in nature, requiring students to gain a strong business background along with fundamental industry knowledge, problem solving capabilities, good writing and verbal abilities, and the capacity to appreciate and acknowledge cultural and diversity issues. Their ability to interact in the community reflects the critical thinking skills they develop while becoming aware of the global reach of the industry and the society they will be part of in the future.

The Equine Industry Program exists to serve one of Kentucky’s signature industries by educating students to be business leaders with broad knowledge of the horse industry so that they may help to innovate, lead, and provide sustainability. The program offers an BSBA in Equine Administration, an Equine Business minor, a post-baccalaureate certificate in Equine Administration through our undergraduate courses and has recently added a graduate certificate in Horse Racing Industry Business that can be a stand-alone certificate or taken in conjunction with the online MBA program.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Undergraduate students, career changers, and those with and without prior horse experience.

TYPES OF COURSES AVAILABLE RELATED TO THE THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

● Applied Racetrack Operations (meets at Churchill Downs)

● Horse Industry Overview

● Equine Marketing

● Equine Commercial Law

● Equine Economics

● Equine Capstone Seminar

● Equine Management

● Equine Operations

● Equine Financial Management

● Equine Current Issues

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE COURSES

● Horse Racing Industry Overview

● Strategic Communications for the Equine Industry

● Management and Leadership of Equine Enterprises

● Racetrack Operations and Related Activities

● Equine and Sports Analytics

● Regulatory Law in the Thoroughbred Industry

CAREER PATHWAYS

Students have an array of internship opportunities within the equine industry, due to the location, industry connections, faculty connections/current work in the industry, and alumni.

● Broadcast and Media: on-air tv personality, sports and racing production, journalist, photographer

● Racetrack Management: track announcer, simulcast coordinator, steward, secretary, sales/advertising, marketing strategy, event planning, player development

● Farm Management: farm operations manager, stallion manager, yearling manager, broodmare manager

● Bloodstock/Equine Sales: bloodstock agent, season sales manager, stallion sales manager

● Administration: office manager, fundraising, client/guest services, operations manager, human resources

● Training: racehorse trainer, sport horse trainer, coach, show judge, show secretary

● Event Management: hospitality/guest services, facilities management, sponsorship coordinator, marketing, trade show/vendor coordinator

● Regulatory/breed/sport organizations: social media/marketing manager, breed registration coordinator, membership coordinator, racing commission member

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

● Multiple networking events on and off campus

● Equine Majors Meet-Up event

● Field trips across Kentucky throughout the year (no Friday classes)

● International equine study abroad course

● Annual alumni and awards celebration at Churchill Downs

● Galbreath Awards

SCHOLARSHIPS OR FINANCIAL AID OPPORTUNITIES

Need and merit based scholarships for Equine Business students ranging from $1,000-$10,000/year. Both incoming freshman and continuing students are eligible, as well as graduate and undergraduate certificate students.