Equestrian science minor benefits both CAFNR and Stephens College
by Whitney Gray, posted April 9, 2008
Synergy is a state where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. At MU, synergy also describes what happened when the CAFNR animal sciences program joined forces with the Stephens College equestrian science program to create the equestrian science minor.
“The animal science department approached Stephens College several years ago to see if they would be interested in teaming up with MU to strengthen the equine program of both universities,” said George Jesse, MU animal sciences professor and coordinator of the program.
“Our department has a small horse program that is focused primarily on horse production. Stephens, on the other hand, has an excellent equine program, but their program is focused on equestrian science or in other words, an emphasis on riding,” Jesse added.
According to Jesse, Stephens has exceptional horse facilities such as an indoor arena, but their program lacks students. With 25 percent of the 400 undergraduate students of MU animal science and CAFNR showing primary species interest in horses, both colleges agreed that teaming up would provide equal benefits.
Classes required for the minor range from riding classes to equine management (EQS 130) to horse keeper (EQS 240).
“Equine management is designed to introduce the student to the horse and its basic care,” Jesse said. “Subject matter includes: breeds, conformation, diseases, parasites, lameness and treatment, daily care, first aid for horses, and general terminology.”
The next required class, horse keeper, involves students providing day-to-day maintenance of a horse. For example, the student would be responsible for the daily turnout, clipping/trimming, shoeing records, medication, vet work, bandaging, vital signs, and care of the horse’s tack.
This type of class is typical of the minor.
“I would say considerable hands-on experience with many of the classes and certainly all hands-on in the riding classes,” Jesse said.
Employers look for applicants with equestrian science on their resume, said Jesse. Many companies looking for animal science graduates are also looking for applicants with both interest and experience with horses.
Livestock feed and livestock pharmaceutical businesses in particular look for graduates with such experience. He also adds there will be positions for graduates interested in becoming managers of equine operations.
“I can see some of our students with a sincere interest in riding and horses actually becoming equine instructors at the college level,” Jesse said.
For more information about the equestrian science minor and required courses, contact George Jesse at (573) 882-2644 or e-mail jesseg@missouri.edu.
You can also visit the equestrian science Web page: http://cafnr.missouri.edu/academics/equestrian-sci.php
