When associate professor Susan Conners first pitched the idea of an equine management program at PUC three years ago, her colleagues in the School of Management were skeptical.
"A lot of people just think of riding horses as some fun thing you do," Conners said.
At least that was the case until a committee reviewed an economic report by the American Horse Council analyzing the big money available in the horse industry. They found that the equine industry is a $39 billion industry that is growing by the year. Moreover, only one equine management program existed in the country. It seemed U.S. students simply were not being educated on the big business of horses.
"Most people were very surprised at the amount of money and jobs available in the industry," Conners said.
These jobs include behavioral therapy, breeding, recreational riding, horse shows, camps and, of course, racing. Conners said many of these jobs are simply filled by people who know how to care for their horses, but not those who have actual business training.
According to Conners, Lake County ranks 13th among counties in Indiana in the number of equine enterprises. Add that to the lucrative business of horse racing in Illinois and PUC seems like the perfect location to teach a program in equine management, Conners said.
Martine Duchatelet, dean of the School of Management, said she was one of Conners' first supporters.
"I knew from my past experience in Florida that the equine industry is a huge industry in the U.S.," Duchatelet said.
She said the committee reviewed many testimonials from horse business owners saying they wanted people with a solid business background. After hearing the need, Duchatelet said she began planning to open the program by fall.
"People involved in this industry are crying for people any sort of business training," Conners said.
Conners said most programs at universities exist in the animal science or veterinary departments and focus on care and feeding rather than business.
The University of Louisville was the only university in the United States with a business related equine program before this semester. Conners and Duchatelet consulted Louisville when they were designing the program, though Conners said Louisville's program focuses almost wholly on the racing industry.
Duchatelet said the PUC program takes a more multi-faceted approach by exposing students to horse breeding, horse shows and behavioral therapy.
Professors Mark Russell and Colleen Brady from Purdue University West Lafayette's equine program assist Conners, who is the only professor currently teaching in the program. Duchatelet said Brady and Russell may help Conners by teaching courses at PUC after this semester.
Since the program was designed just in time for the fall semester, Connors said she did not begin advertising until early summer. Eighteen students enrolled in the program this semester, though, and the School of Management expects many more to follow when they begin running national advertisements next month.
"We see this as a national and even international draw," Conners said.
Ray Shroeder, a 47-year-old freshman, said a friend came across an advertisement during the summer and knew he would be interested.
Like many other students in the program, Schroeder owns horses and realized he needed business training to turn his hobby into a potential career.
"I've always wanted to break in as a racing official or work for the state," Schroeder said. "I knew that I didn't want to spend time cleaning stables."
Schroeder is pursuing a certificate in equine management, which he hopes to earn in two years. He takes his classes online, since the program does not require students to have hands on training with horses.
Kate Hodson, a senior majoring in biology, already has one degree and came back to PUC with the hopes of pursuing veterinarian school after graduation. She is taking the equine management courses as electives now, but said the business training is invaluable to beginning her own veterinarian practice someday.
"Too many Americans just view this as a hobby," Hodson said.
And though both live in Northwest Indiana, they both expect the program to draw students from around the nation in coming semesters who seek the business training they do.
"The horse industry is growing," Conners said. "Even with the economic downturn, the industry will continue to be alive and well."
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