Equine

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls has one of the strongest equine programs in the nation, with more than 70 well-bred horses. The curriculum provides an excellent balance of science-based classroom work with hands-on knowledge. We cover all aspects important to the equine industry, from the latest theories on nutrition and exercise, to breeding, raising, training and riding young horses.

As an option within the animal science major, our equine program offers two emphases, which guide students in choosing appropriate course work for their career path:

Science emphasis: For those interested in graduate work or veterinary medicine the science emphasis includes the necessary hours of chemistry, mathematics, physical and biological sciences.
Management emphasis: The management emphasis focuses on business and agricultural economics courses.

Unique Features

Colts-in-Training: Colts-in-Training is a nationally recognized program that teaches students how to start and train young horses. In the training courses, each student is assigned a young unridden horse and, under the direct supervision of a faculty member, they train the horses in ground and riding skills. Colts in the program are extremely well bred, offering students a chance to ride future champions. When the program is complete, the colts are sold in our annual spring Colts-in-Training Sale.
Equine-Assisted Therapy courses: UWRF is a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International certified provider. We offer a certification training course, ANSC 389 (section 20), each fall. This 3-credit course includes two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory. The lab portion is held at Walk-On Therapeutic Riding just outside of River Falls. Students complete the PATH in-service mentoring hours requirement at Walk-On Therapeutic Riding in the spring semester (or over the summer if necessary). The certification exam is then offered at Walk-On Therapeutic Riding the following fall in September or October. Upon passing the exam, students become certified equine-assisted therapy instructors. For more information, contact Ken Giske, owner of Walk-On Therapeutic Riding, or the Animal and Food Science office.
Undergraduate Research: The UWRF Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity (URSCA) Office promotes and encourages students to participate in undergraduate research. Equine students who are interested in undergraduate research can contact the faculty member in their area of interest. Faculty will assist in choosing a project focus. Research can be conducted on campus or off-site. The majority of projects conclude with a presentation to professional associations at the regional and national level.