Equine Studies

This course is designed to create a foundation of safety and knowledge for students with minimal experience with horses.  The course will entail lecture sessions, lab sessions in the barn and mounted sessions in the riding arena.  Students will be introduced to all aspects of safety, equine care as it pertains to riding and to the fundamentals of riding horses. 

This course is designed for the student with no riding experience or with no hunt seat experience. The student will be introduced to the basics of proper position at the walk, trot, and canter; to hunt seat terminology, and to low fences. Advanced Beginner: Emphasis is on securing the rider's position on the flat and over fences, with further exposure to jumping. To enter this level the student should be able to exhibit good basic control over a horse ridden in a group.

Continuation of Equine Studies 101.

This is a mounted course where the student gains practical experience in a competitive setting. The sections will emphasize Show Hunters and Equitation.

Continuation of Equine Studies 103.

Building on principles covered in Equine Studies 101 and 102, this course will concentrate on the refinement of position. To enter this level, a student should be able to ride confidently, with or without stirrups, at all three gaits and should be able to negotiate a sequence of fences.

Continuation of Equine Studies 201.

Students in this course should be able to negotiate a 3'-3'3" course in proper hunter seat equitation form. This course will introduce the jumper divisions to those riders with a solid background in the hunter and equitation divisions. Advanced equitation courses, such as those found in the lower-level jumper divisions, will be dealt with. The United States Equestrian Federation Rulebook sections pertaining to the jumper divisions will be discussed as will methods of course walking and course construction.

Students in this course should be able to negotiate a 3' - 3'3" course in proper hunter seat equitation form. This course will introduce the jumper divisions to those riders with a solid background in the hunter and equitation divisions. Advanced equitation courses, such as those found in the lower-level jumper divisions, will be dealt with. The United States Equestrian Federation Rulebook sections pertaining to the jumper divisions will be discussed as will methods of course walking and course construction.

This course is designed to introduce the student to the basic care of horses. Topics include techniques of grooming, braiding, bandaging, equipment care and maintenance, and basic first aid. Other topics will include evolution of the horse, different breeds and horse activities available to the rider today. Student will be assigned one horse and related equipment to care for and maintain throughout the semester. Three lecture hours and three practical lab hours. 

This course is designed to provide students with a background which will enable them to evaluate a horse, rider and design a program to provide optimum results. The course will address three main areas: (1) understanding the mechanism of the horse and its functions, (2) defining and understanding the rider's position and its use, and (3) applying these concepts in actual labs. 

Emphasis will be placed on developing the riders' seat and understanding the concept of "contact" with the horse's mouth. Additional concepts such as impulsion, straightness, bending and obedience will be explored. Jumping simple gymnastics, lines, and both hunter and equitation courses will be included.

A continuation of Equine Studies 301.

Students in this course should be able to negotiate a 3'3"-3'6" course in proper hunter seat equitation form. This course will give the student the opportunity to ride weekly over a jumper course and jump-off pattern. Students will be able to experience show-ring competition in the jumper divisions by participating in on-campus and away horse shows. Course analysis, techniques of training show jumpers, course construction and United States Equestrian Federation rules for show jumper competition will be dealt with.

Continuation of Equine Studies 303.

This course will be a 2 part course starting with an introduction to the management of equine facilities, stable building and maintenance. The course will also explore many aspects of running a horse facility, including contracts and records, budgeting, insurance, employees, taxes, advertising, client relationships and the development of a professional attitude. The introduction of equine management software will be done in this course. Three lecture hours a week and up to 3 lab hours a week. 

This class will ride four hours a week. Three hours will be structured lessons. The other hour will be either a selfdirected training session or an additional structured lesson. Lecture material may also be included. This course is designed for the serious advanced rider with aspirations toward the show ring in the hunter, jumper and equitation divisions. Basic schooling concepts, flatwork and refinement of position will be stressed. Riders will negotiate different types of courses derived from the hunter, jumper and equitation rings. Riders will also experience riding horses of different levels ranging from "very green" to "extremely well schooled."

Continuation of Equine Studies 315.

This is a mounted course designed to introduce the rider to the basic principles of dressage. The repetition of transitions and training figures at working gaits in regards to the USAE Introductory and Training Level tests will be applied. The main emphasis is the realization that every horse and rider, regardless of his or her discipline, can benefit from dressage training. Students may also learn through lectures and videos on riding techniques. The USAE and USDF rules governing dressage competitions will be studied.

This course is a mounted class designed for the intermediate Dressage rider and to be a continuation for those that have mastered the skills in Dressage I. More advanced figures and tests will be studied and practiced. This course is geared to the Training and First levels of Dressage. The USAE and USDF rules governing dressage competitions will be studied. Students may also learn through lectures and videos on riding techniques.

This course will introduce the skills and techniques used to teach riding students of various levels and age groups. This course will analyze the rider's position and its use. Students will learn basic philosophies of teaching and how the student learns as well as develop their knowledge of the materials they will be teaching. This course will be presented through lectures, teaching labs and assistant teaching. 

This course will focus on training the young, inexperienced horse that has never been ridden. Topics covered will include how the horse learns, longeing and long lining, bitting, starting a young horse under saddle and over fences, correct use of training equipment. Introducing the inexperienced horse to new situations, and techniques of choosing young training prospects. Classes will involve lecture as well as practical demonstrations. 

An in-depth study of the anatomy and physiology of the horse. This course will cover the basic evolutionary changes and functioning of the skeletal, muscular, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive and integumentary systems of the horse. In addition, first aid for diseases, unsoundnesses and emergency situations will be dealt with.

A continuation of Equine Studies 324 with emphasis on hands-on experience. Students will be required to teach Fundamentals classes under the supervision of Equine Studies faculty. Class will also meet in a discussion setting to evaluate problems and developments. 

This course is designed to introduce the student to a horse trial. The three phases comprising a trial (dressage, crosscountry and stadium jumping) and the United States Eventing Association and USA Equestrian rules governing them will be studied and practiced. Exercises are geared to the beginner novice and novice levels of eventing.

A continuation of the skills acquired in Equine Studies 343. Exercises are geared toward training level eventing and above. Students will learn to develop conditioning programs for the event horse as well as to introduce green horses to cross-country jumping.

This is a mounted class where students will become familiar with training and riding the show-ring hunter. Techniques to improve the jumping form of the horses will be emphasized. Methods to use in the schooling ring, as well as solutions for problem horses, will be explored.

This course will familiarize the student with critiquing the conformation of the horse. Ideal traits as well as defects will be discussed. The way conformation affects movement and performance suitability will also be covered. Two lecture hours and additional practical work as assigned.

Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies I is a lecture based course that introduces students to the practice of utilizing equines in a therapeutic setting. The course will provide a comprehensive examination of the physical, cognitive and emotional benefits of equine assisted therapy for a variety of populations. Along with studying the history and benefits of equine assisted therapies students will also understand the selection and training of therapy horses, how to provide a safe and appropriate setting for sessions, best practices for case notes and client interactions, and how to properly utilize the EAGALA model of practice. 

The EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) model of practice will be utilized, centering on ground-based activities with the horses, and therefore there will be no emphasis on mounted sessions with clients/patients. 

Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies II is a lecture and lab-based course that builds upon the principles discussed in Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies I. This course provides students the opportunity to practice the EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and learning Association) model through hands-on labs throughout the semester. This course may also include opportunities to travel to other therapeutic equine centers within the local community.

Riders at this level should have an understanding of "putting a horse on the bit" and "seeing distances." Flat work sessions will include work on collection and flexion. Jumping advanced equitation courses like those found in USET classes will be dealt with.

Continuation of Equine Studies 401.

Students in this course should be able to negotiate a 3'6"-4' course in proper hunter seat equitation form. This course will give the student an opportunity to ride weekly over a jumper course and jump-off pattern. Students will be able to experience show-ring competition in the jumper divisions by participating in on-campus and away horse shows. Course analysis, techniques of training show jumpers, course construction and the United States Equestrian Federation rules for show-jumper competitions will be dealt with.

Continuation of Equine Studies 403.

This course is designed for the student wanting to gain an intensive concentration in the areas of the care of the horse, a complete understanding of the rider's position, classical flatwork as it relates to the horse, hunter, jumper and equitation performance requirements, and various techniques to improve each through the conditioning and development of the horse. This class will meet in regular, self-directed and additional group sessions. Lecture material will also be presented.

Continuation of Equine Studies 415.

This course will allow the student to put into practical application information gained in other classes taken in the Equine Studies major. A structured lab session will be used to illustrate concepts that may previously have been encountered only in a lecture setting. Students will be assigned management time at the Riding Center where they will deal with personnel as well as horses and will learn to handle management problems as they occur on a daily basis. This class will also help to prepare students to take the competency/proficiency exams at the end of the senior year.

This course is a mounted class designed for the advanced Dressage rider and to be continuation for those that have mastered the skills in Dressage II. Students in this course should be familiar with lateral work, collected and extended gaits. The student should be comfortable sitting the trot on a variety of horses for the duration of each class. Work in this class is geared at First level and above. The USAE and USDF rules governing dressage competitions will be studied.

Students gain hands-on experience with research by assisting with ongoing equine nutrition and exercise physiology research projects. May be repeated for credit.

This course offers on-the-job experience in stable management, training, or instructing for Equine Studies majors. May be repeated for credit.

This course will stress reproductive physiology and genetics of the horse. Topics include selection, breeding systems, breeding contracts, and keeping accurate records.