THE Australian

equine industry is a dark horse when it comes to economic might.

“The horse industry is so much bigger than people think,” said Marcus Oldham’s Emma Morel.

“It’s not just mucking out stables. It is a multi-layered industry and a huge employer in Australia.”

Emma is director of equine management at the business college in Geelong.

She said the one-year Equine Business Management Diploma was tailored to help students turn their passion for horses into rewarding careers. Industry statistics back up her view that there are plenty of jobs to be had.

According to AgriFutures, the thoroughbred racing industry employs more than 65,000 people – many of these in rural and regional areas – and is worth about $5 billion a year to the Australian economy.