Horse farm management jobs

The following career pathway and salary information was provided by the Kentucky Equine Education Project. Descriptions were written through experience and Internet research. Salary information are averages for Thoroughbred industry-related jobs.

Take a tour of Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky and see several people working in jobs listed below.

Horse Farm Manager
Description: Horse farm managers may be employed by farms or stables, or they may own their own horses and farm. It is the farm manager’s job to make sure all of the work on the farm gets done, such as feeding, horse health care, and farm maintenance. A horse farm manager must keep detailed records. They may also oversee the farm’s financial accounts and all the marketing and sales for the horses and farm services.
Average Annual Earnings: $60-100k
Work Experience Required: 5+ years
On-the-Job Training: Long-term
Minimum Education Required: High School Diploma/GED

Horse Farm Division Manager
Description: Larger horse farms may have several management-level employees that work under the farm manager. A division manager could be in charge of a particular unit of the farm, such as the stallions, mares and foaling, or preparing young horses for sale.
Average Annual Earnings: $40-60k
Work Experience Required: Less than 5 years
On-the-Job Training: Moderate-term
Minimum Education Required: High School Diploma/GED

Barn Foreman or Manager
Description: A barn foreman is generally the leader of a particular barn within a division of the farm. That person would be very familiar with each of the horses living in that part or area of the farm, and is in charge of directing other employees working with that direct team. Foremen (many farms have multiple) would answer to their farm division manager and then the farm manager.
Average Annual Earnings: $35-40k
Work Experience Required: 1-3 years
On-the-Job Training: Short-term
Minimum Education Required: High School Diploma/GED

Groom
Description: A groom is the direct caretaker of one or multiple horses, and is typically in charge of keeping horses clean, checking them for health issues, preparing horses for training or work, and communicating information about the horse to the owners, trainers, and managers. They may also be in charge of feeding the horses and mucking stalls.
Average Annual Earnings: $25-35k
Work Experience Required: Less than one year
On-the-Job Training: Short-term
Minimum Education Required: High School Diploma/GED or equivalent industry training