My wife studied Animal Science at the Ag School at Cornell and now she runs a riding academy, at least one of her students moved on to studying horse management at Oneonta. I wouldn't knock it.
This article is reaching for negativity.
For that matter Ithaca College trains people in "sports management" which is similarly a real career. I know a young women who was born missing a hand who is a serious athlete nonetheless and not only playes in college but studies ways to help disabled people participate in sports which is one of the best things you can be doing I think.