Equine Business Management

The equine industry is a substantial and diverse sector of the UK economy, encompassing sport and racing, leisure riding, breeding, welfare, therapy, and a significant supply chain of feed, equipment, veterinary, and event management businesses. Managing any part of this industry effectively requires both a genuine understanding of horses, their behaviour, physiology, and performance, and a solid grounding in the business principles that determine whether equine enterprises succeed commercially. Equine Business Management at Hartpury brings these two dimensions together in a programme tailored specifically to the sector.

At Hartpury, a specialist institution with extensive equestrian facilities and strong industry connections, this three-year full-time programme gives you practical engagement with horses alongside business education. You will have opportunities to explore areas such as equine nutrition and performance, as well as the planning and organisation of equestrian events and competitions. The business strand covers accounting, financial management, commercial decision-making, and the management of equine sport and hospitality businesses, giving you the tools to understand and improve the financial and operational performance of equine enterprises.

The programme benefits from Hartpury's working equestrian environment, which allows theory to be tested in direct contact with horses and the operational realities of the sector.

Graduates are well placed for management and commercial roles across the equine industry, including yard management, event organisation, equine business consultancy, sport management, and related areas. The business skills you develop are also transferable to the broader rural economy, including agriculture, land management, and rural tourism. Further study at postgraduate level or professional development in business or equine specialisms is an option for those wishing to advance in particular areas of the sector.