What do horse colleges and "equine studies" actually teach?

[Grey623]

The Working Students thread in Dressage reminded me of something I’ve always wondered: what do colleges with equestrian or equine studies programs actually teach? Do they do anything that really promotes educated horsepeople, or good trainers?

I’ve known one barn owner that graduated from such a program, and while great with young kids and beginners, seemed to have little understanding of running a business, writing a plan, figuring a budget. Several teens I’ve talked to say they don’t ride as part of their program, and one described a class in starting the young horse, but all theory, no hands on practice.

Just curious as to what these programs provide, and how they prepare someone for a career in the horse world.

Grey

[Spudsmyguy]

I graduated from William Woods back when it was still a woman only college. If I recall correctly, we rode at least 2 to 3 times a week in your choice of western, saddle seat, or hunt seat. Dressage was taught as a separate class. We also had theory in horse nutrition, conformation, farrier science, history of the horse, and a bunch of others. We were also strongly advised to take classes in business economics, business math, etc. I don’t believe we had any classes on how to teach lessons or training young horses. Practical barn skills, like wrapping and braiding, weren’t taught, you were expected to find someone who knew how to do those and get them to teach you.

I also went to Potomac Horse Center and we did learn the barn skills and rode every day. You could be either a paid student which meant your tuition was more but you had 2 riding lessons a day and 2 theory classes. Plus you only had 2 horses to look after. Working students like myself, paid less tuition, had 1 riding lesson a day and 1 theory and had 4 horses to care for. You could also earn extra private lessons by doing evening tack up for local adult students (they had an active lesson program), volunteering at their little horse shows, and other extra jobs.

[OfCourseItsAnAlter]

There is no one answer to your question because it depends entirely on what school you’re talking about.

I went to a state university and got a degree in Animal Science with an equine emphasis. The core animal science coursework included livestock classes like physiology, reproductive physiology, genetics, animal breeding, and nutrition. The equine emphasis included courses that covered those same basic topics but in greater depth specific to horses, plus farm management. Farm management was the nightmare of my senior spring semester - we had to create a complete business plan for running a horse farm (type of our choosing) up to and including filling out all the required tax forms.

I also chose to participate in the riding emphasis, which was optional. That included actually riding and showing university horses, as well as classes in training techniques for both horses and riders. The lesser nightmare of my senior spring semester was a riding/training class in which I was handed a 3 year old horse, bred on the university farm, who had been started under saddle by someone in a previous class and I was told to “advance his training and abilities,” to be graded based on what the instructor thought I should have been able to accomplish over the semester. And they expected you to work with your horse at least 4-5 days/week even though you only got course credit for 2 sessions/week. On top of all the 5 million other things I was doing, including working.

Sorry. I’ve spun off into whining, haven’t I?

So, it is possible to get a pretty rigorous equine education, depending on where you choose to go to school.

[OverandOnward]

@OfCourseItsAnAlter

There is no one answer to your question because it depends entirely on what school you’re talking about.

I went to a state university and got a degree in Animal Science with an equine emphasis. The core animal science coursework included livestock classes like physiology, reproductive physiology, genetics, animal breeding, and nutrition. The equine emphasis included courses that covered those same basic topics but in greater depth specific to horses, plus farm management. Farm management was the nightmare of my senior spring semester - we had to create a complete business plan for running a horse farm (type of our choosing) up to and including filling out all the required tax forms.

I think this is a good generic description of an ‘equine studies’ program at some of the major ag universities.

The ag university nearest me has major emphasis on reproduction science, nutrition and physiology. And options to emphasize farm management. These are areas with jobs for people with equine-related degrees. And they are good background for those who intend to go on to vet school.

These days the big-brand breeding farms and horse feed distributors can be a booming business. They are often hiring.

And some students intend to start their own farms and/or businesses. Or carry on a family enterprise.

[B-burg_Dressage]

I’ll jump off this, because I went to William Woods more recently (only minored in EQS and majored in Accounting and that’s what I do for a living).

You still get to choose between H/J, Western, Saddle Seat, and Dressage. If you major in it, you have to ride in at least one seat other than your main choice one semester. There are opportunities for showing both on campus and at recognized/rated shows with university horses. They occasionally offered a colt starting class over the summer or winter break. Was not part of the regular course work.

They do teach you the practical barn skills now as well. You have to pass these types of things, I believe sophomore year, before being allowed to continue in the program. I specifically remember formal turnout (for you and the horse), basic riding skills in your discipline, polo wraps, standing wraps, and cleaning a sheath. There could have been others I don’t remember or these were different tests at different times. You can learn a lot more if you ask and are eager (driving a trailer or a tractor come to mind).

The students are in charge of the horses.
Work study = lunch and PM feeding/raking/etc.
Riding class = clean the horse’s stall/tack, basic grooming
Then there are two courses where you’re actually in charge of your “string”. Turn out, AM/PM meds/feeding, more in depth grooming (think body clipping and mane pulling type of things), cleaning stalls any day the horse doesn’t get ridden. Basically all other care of the horses. You all work as a group and coordinate these things into your schedule, sharing responsibilities as needed.

It’s not going to take a beginner and make them a trainer. But if you have a good base to begin with, you apply yourself and take advantage of all you can (working student gigs over the summers and business/accounting classes) it gives you a decent working knowledge.

[Arelle]

I briefly was enrolled at a local community college that has an equine studies associates program.

It was a shit show and I left halfway through the semester.

Most of the class was made up of people who I don’t think had ever even touched a horse prior to enrolling, so lots of black beauty types who were fundamentally delusional about what a career in horses meant. The rest of the class were mostly self taught barrel racers, and then there were a couple of us left looking around at what exactly was happening.

The instructors, bless their hearts, tried. We had hands on riding and colt breaking lessons. We also had theory classes that had anatomy, care, nutrition, etc.

After witnessing it in person, I would run - not walk - from anyone who highlighted their equine study degree or said “I went to college for horses”.

[OverandOnward]

@Arelle

I briefly was enrolled at a local community college that has an equine studies associates program.

It was a shit show and I left halfway through the semester.

…

After witnessing it in person, I would run - not walk - from anyone who highlighted their equine study degree or said “I went to college for horses”.

Understand that what you saw is not representative of all horse programs. Just that horse program, in a local community college.

Large, prestigious, well-funded, 4-year-degree ag universities offer something very, very different. They aren’t easy to get into or to stay in. Graduates are well-prepped for vet school and/or careers in the industry.

Equine technical fields in this day and age are expanding, and some are lucrative. Several major universities are investing millions in expanding their equine studies disciplines. They have substantial facilities and prestigious professors.

I think it is definitely worthwhile to look into a program carefully before committing. Quality obviously varies.

[Arelle]

I will agree to disagree.

I’m very familiar with large, prestigious, well-funded universities - I’m currently enrolled in one for my MBA and I joke that one of my horses is a Texas A&M alumni after he was used on the team for a couple of years.

There are certainly ag programs that are very, very valuable and lucrative that feature equine specialties within their coursework. My husband works for a national agricultural supplier and they are constantly recruiting graduates with “Animal Science” or “Animal Biotechnology” degrees - but that’s not what the OP asked about.

I think there are very, very few college degrees that are actually “B.S Equestrian Studies” that are worth their salt. Most of the programs I have seen that are specifically “Equine Studies” are not providing true value and turning out legitimate equine professionals.

[beowulf]

I went to JWU, and studied “Equine Business Management”. Important thing to note — Of my graduating class, nearly all of them returned to college to pursue a different, unrelated degree after a few years. There is not enough money in the industry to sustain your career unless you come from money.

My tuition was $20k+ a year, to learn how pick stalls, scrub buckets, and wrap polos. A few equine oriented classes touched nutrition and evolution, but none of them came close to the breadth of what you learn working your way up Pony Club. Most of the classes actually came out of the lower level (D/C) PC books.

If you want to learn more about horses and horse management, pick up a Pony Club book and skip the college.

I had a few “business” geared classes like economics and business management, but anything I learned was introductory and not at all specific to horses.

There were no classes on managing a barn full of boarders, marketing for horse specific clientele, or other equine specific metrics invaluable to a horse operation.

The business side of the degree was strictly pulled from their Business Degree side of the college with no catering at all for horse related business endeavors.

I was never so angry as I was to learn I had to pay ~2k/trimester for a “practicum” that was 2x week “classes” where we picked the stalls of the college horses and did general barn chores. When I discovered I couldn’t test out using my PC grad credentials, I left the program.

On the flip side — they had some seriously nice horses, many retired small tour or big jumpers looking for a step down. I never rode so many nice horses in my career, and I did learn a lot from riding a variety of highly educated horses. Something to keep in mind is a lot of these horses in these programs are servicably sound — they may not be what most people are accustomed to in home barns or barns that favor lots of turnout or individualized care.

All in, I consider it a waste of my time and an expensive mistake. I entered the program knowing more than most of my classmates because they were new to horses and I’d worked in a barn my whole life. Most of the classes I tested out of if I could. My goal was to get my degree and establish myself as a certified trainer in my state. The school really only provides an introductory education to horses and I was disappointed by the lack of engaging courses or even higher level learning. The program boasted being a stepping stone for young professionals but I did not see that as the case first hand. In my area of the woods that degree was meaningless and promised nothing in terms of quality or education from the candidate.

Anyone who wants to get their foot in the door in this industry, if they don’t come from money, should pursue a lucrative career to offset this as their hobby.

[anon15718925]

@beowulf

My tuition was $20k+ a year, to learn how pick stalls

Dang. Like. I learned cleaning stalls, scrubbing buckets, etc. as a 10 YO kid. My childhood instructor, who sucked massively in the horsemanship department in later years, made me spend several winter lessons my first year riding, sitting in the tack room taking apart what felt like every single piece of tack and putting it back together. And I def did NOT pay $20k for it. And I know of at least one (and probably more but I’m going by the place I volunteer at) therapeutic riding facilities where, if you’re willing to take the time to volunteer, you can learn allllllll of that very basic barn housekeeping stuff like cleaning stalls and scrubbing buckets for free.

I did not think anyone legit went into these degrees with zero horse knowledge beforehand. Joining an IHSA team w/no real skill, sure, you can compete in whatever beginner classes I assume they have and all, but going into an entire degree?? Yikes.

[OfCourseItsAnAlter]

@Arelle

I think there are very, very few college degrees that are actually “B.S Equestrian Studies” that are worth their salt…but that’s not what the OP asked about.

The OP asked about:

@Grey623

colleges with equestrian or equine studies programs

By my interpretation, that includes schools like University of Kentucky, which offers a BS in Equine Science & Management and places like Auburn University and Colorado State, which offer a BS in Equine Sciences, as well as universities that offer equine programs within their animal science programs.

Lots of these programs are worth their salt and if the OP is a high school student, or parent of a high school-age equestrian interested in colleges with equine programs, then options for equine-focused programs at major state universities is useful information.

The quality of college and university equine programs spans a wide range. You just have to investigate the specific programs you (or your kid) are interested in to determine the value.

[anon15718925]

As someone with no experience in equine degrees but who did take a couple available equine studies courses as electives that I’d half-forgotten I even took, I’d say like anything it’s all dependent on the school and what you plan to do.

But also - I’ve been in the industry in a hands-off/not-in-a-barn role, in a role which has seen me deal with a wide range of folks in the industry.

I haven’t exactly surveyed, but I don’t think many (not talking pro riders who skipped college entirely necessarily, either) have equine-specific degrees, they have broader degrees related to their field, e.g. science or agriculture or whatever. I volunteer at a therapeutic riding barn and I don’t think the actual instructors have equine degrees - believe the owner has a general degree in something related to therapy (not sure what but I do know the owner went to college) and obviously a PATH certification and some of the therapists/instructors there, I’m pretty sure didn’t go to college (not saying that with judgment) and just have a PATH certification.

Again - I would assume it depends on what you want to do but the equine degree probably isn’t necessary for most of the equine jobs out there, as much as a degree in the broader field one’s equine job is in paired with working knowledge of horses/willingness to learn is.

I’m not going to otherwise pass judgment on whether one should get an equine degree - if they think it’ll benefit them, go for it but yes, investigate it all closely first as odds are you don’t specifically need it to work in whatever aspect of the industry you’ve got your heart set on.

[anon15718925]

The equine courses I took as electives, both were when I was studying at community college before transferring for my BA and I was an agriculture major already and need a couple electives to fill in my schedule.

One was online, not through my college but through a larger, decently well-known agriculture college in my state. I barely remember the class, it was just a general horse class and pretty basic at that.

The other was in-person, offered via the community college’s ag program and as the professor lived nearby and had a farm of her own, we would go out there, but again, no hands-on stuff we just sort of toured the farm while she talked about this and that. And it was also very basic. I wasn’t the only equestrian in the class, there was another student who was pretty active locally in eventing and I think a lot of the others were trail riding types, so maybe not super-seasoned, must have slick n’ sleek well-groomed manicured everything at all times show ring types, but presumably people who already had some foundational knowledge to work with.

I really don’t recall learning anything in particular in either class.

Fortunately I was not shelling out a buttload in tuition and my expectations weren’t sky-high for electives.

[endlessclimb]

While I’m sure there are exceptions residing in people I have not met, I’m with @Arelle. Anyone I’ve met that advertises that they have some sort of equine related degree is not someone I would trust to run or manage a business, especially a barn.

[Tha_Ridge]

I live in the NYC metro, where we have a lot of trainers and young professionals who studied at Centenary University’s equine program. I think it’s the one equine studies program that I would say is “worth it,” both for the education it provides and the connections. My trainer is a Centenary equine business management grad. I also like to pick her brain about her coursework—it was surprisingly thorough, from a business and teaching perspective, and the network she gained means that her Centenary-educated staff has a similar foundation and philosophy to hers. Before I moved to the NE and became acquainted with Centenary, I would’ve written off most equine studies programs too.

[NancyM]

Those who “can”, “DO in the equine industry”. Those who “can’t” go and teach at an equine college.
If you want to learn about keeping, riding and training horses, find an entry level job with a good quality, successful rider/trainer/barn who will teach you “hands ON”. A “mentor”. If you want to learn about top horsemanship, go to work at a racetrack, as a groom. They will still “mentor” youngsters at the track, teach them to be horsemen- in time. If you can ride a bit already… even better. This industry has been doing this for a long time, and is rich with talent and knowledge, and experience, and (IME) is happy to pass it on to someone who wants to learn.
The Godolphin groom school program would be interesting, if you are brave enough to travel the world a bit. I don’t know how much actual “hands on” work you get in the program, but I believe they just use it to get a chance to take a look at interested youngsters, get to know you a bit, and, if they think you are intelligent, committed, honest and talented, they may offer you a job as a trainee groom after the program is complete, and begin to actually put an effort into educating you. And you can progress from there, up the ladder of success in the equine industry, while being taught by the best in the world. I would choose that education over any “equine college” I’ve seen.

[eightpondfarm]

Those who “can”, “DO in the equine industry”. Those who “can’t” go and teach at an equine college.
[/quote]

One of my teammates’ husband is an associate professor at WWU. He has excellent equine veterinary credentials, and from what my teammate tells me, his students love him.
Here are his classes:

Courses Currently Teaching:

• EQS376 Equine Anatomy and Physiology
• EQS300 Lameness Independent Research
• EQS306 Practical Equine Anatomy & Conditng
• EQS404 Veterinary Medicine & Reproduction
• EQS416 Veterinary Techniques Practicum
• EQS417 Veterinary Techniques Practicum Lab

Both my sister and my cousin went to William Woods. My sister was in the equine program, cousin took a few of the classes as electives. Neither one of them went on to do anything with their education, though my sister has pretty much always horses of her own.

I have another teammate who is an associate professor at SIU. In terms of nutrition i’d say she is one of the greats. She has personally not managed a stable however…so, i suppose you may rest your case with her credentials. She SHOULD be teaching nutrition and wound care, as i know no vets as good. Here is her current course list:

CLASSES

• ANS 219 - Introductory Horse Management
• ANS 409 - Equine Science
• ANS 419 - Stable Management
• ANS 429 - Equine Enterprise Management

[moonlitoaksranch]

Maybe there’s difference between “equine studies” and “equine science” programs? My 4 year college had the science side and one of the top vet schools. Worked well for those so inclined towards vet school. I tried it and switched to science after a single semester because I knew I wasn’t going to ever own or run a boarding/breeding/training barn. My goals were much heavier on the science side. Those that stayed in the program were either wealthy enough to pursue that dream, or highly competitive in showing (and frequently both). More power to them. Most people end up switching to another major, or adding on a second major that would pay the bills.

I have one friend who got the equine studies degree, even though she didn’t come from money. She successfully taught lessons and ran a boarding barn for decades. It was tough because she had to rent the barn and live in a trailer on the property, but she owned some really great horses and enjoyed some higher level competition. She’s semi-retired now and still struggles a little financially, but I don’t think she has any regrets.

[Paint_Party]

@Arelle

I briefly was enrolled at a local community college that has an equine studies associates program.

It was a shit show…

While I realize that the main topic of this thread is about large colleges and universities, I think it’s important to point out that there are young adults who get lured into courses like this at community colleges, expecting to come out prepared for some kind of a job with horses. It happens out here, in the middle of Arizona.

The former barn manager of the place where I boarded for a while had an Equine Studies degree from our local community college. Yet she forgot to feed my horse several times and on one occasion knowingly fed hay peppered with mummified chicken parts and feathers, did not seem to grasp how to longe a horse properly, had no idea how to attach a stud chain to help control a naughty horse, was fascinated by how I poulticed my gelding’s hoof abscess (never seen that before), and pondered why I put boots on my horses’ legs (she didn’t understand the purpose of bell boots). So yeah, that “education” was worthless.

@NancyM

If you want to learn about keeping, riding and training horses, find an entry level job with a good quality, successful rider/trainer/barn who will teach you “hands ON”. A “mentor”.

^^^ This would’ve served the young gal I mentioned above, well. She lacked any side-by-side working knowledge of hands-on horse care. Plus, she went straight from that dipshit certificated course of studies to a salaried job at a rather posh stable without anyone ever really holding her accountable for making mistakes that could’ve had tragic consequences.

[Grey623]

Thanks for everyone’s replies and input. I’m not researching for enrollment, just interested in what such programs offer, and what folks think of them. The Working Student thread touched on “How do we train new trainers, instructors, barn owners, etc.”, and I wondered how a college program might apply. I’m glad to hear that some, at least, provide useful skills.

I was thinking along the lines of Johnson & Wales and Centenary, so I also appreciate the mention of Animal/Equine Science and technical/agricultural courses, as I hadn’t thought about that aspect.

Grey