Animal Science - Equine Degree

Program Overview

With more than 50 well-bred and highly-trained horses, phenomenal facilities and low course fees, UW-River Falls has one of the strongest equine programs in the nation. The exciting curriculum provides an excellent balance of science-based classroom work with hands-on experience. Students are exposed to critical aspects of the equine industry, from the latest theories on nutrition and exercise to breeding, raising, training and riding horses.

Students can choose from three emphases:

• 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.
• Minor emphasis: Students can pair the major with an academic minor (i.e. minor in agricultural business or biology) to develop a more in-depth understanding of a second area of interest.

Highlights of the Animal Science - Equine Major

• Students in the equine program have access to excellent facilities, including a heated indoor arena, heated 50 stall young horse training barn, heated 16 stall broodmare and foaling addition, breeding lab and breeding shed, outdoor rodeo arena and a classroom in the Campus Farm pavilion.
• The Colts in Training program teaches students how to start and train young horses. Under the direct supervision of a faculty member, each student is assigned a young, well-bred, unridden horse that they train in ground and riding skills. Upon completion of the program, students market and sell the 2-year-old colts in the annual spring Colts in Training Sale.
  
• Students interested in gaining knowledge in horse breeding can enroll in the equine reproductive techniques course. Students become skilled in stallion handling, semen collection and evaluation, semen shipping methods, artificial insemination processes and broodmare care. Towards the end of the semester, students are paired with broodmares, are present for foal deliveries and manage foal care.
• The equine judging team, Intercollegiate Horse Show Association and rodeo team are just a few of the organizations that equine students are encouraged to participate in.
  

Skills and Learning Outcomes

As a student in this program, you will learn to:

• Become proficient in handling horses.
• Apply course-taught material regarding equine behavior, management and healthcare in hands-on laboratory settings.
• Be introduced to and work with professionals (veterinarians, farriers, nutritionists, etc.) within the equine industry.
• Have opportunities to gain additional knowledge and experience through specialized courses in horse training, reproduction, therapeutic riding or farrier work.
• Have access to information regarding potential internships, careers and research within the equine industry.
  

Career Opportunities

As a graduate of this program, you will be prepared for a career in the equine field. Below is a list of potential job titles and employers that graduates have found employment or internship opportunities with.

Related Programs

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Here is a related program you may also want to consider:

Animal Science - Companion Animal