Equine Studies

Midway College boasts a long tradition of excellence in equine education with degrees designed to prepare students for leadership in the equine industry. Ideally located in the heart of Bluegrass horse country, Midway College ’s equine facilities encompass nearly 170 acres of farmland and include two large modern indoor arenas, an outdoor riding area, 32 stalls and approximately 70 horses. In addition to the instruction of recognized industry professionals in the classroom and laboratories, students pursuing Equine Studies degrees gain the advantage of contact with area experts in the industry, who present educational clinics and lectures, assist in placement of interns and graduates and serve as equine advisory committee members to the college.

Students may pursue either Bachelor of Arts degrees or a Bachelor of Science in the Equine Field.The Bachelor of Arts degrees in Equine Studies offer concentrations in Equine Management and Equitation Instruction. The Bachelor of Science degrees offer concentrations in Equine Therapy and Equine Science. An Associate of Arts degree in Equine Studies with a concentration in Equine Management is also available, as well as minors in Horsemanship and Equine Journalism. Required equine courses common to all majors provide students with a broad knowledge base of various equine breeds, practical horse care and management, anatomy and physiology, diseases and unsoundness, treatment and prevention of illnesses, record-keeping and legal issues, and research methods and trends.

In addition to the majors in Equine Studies, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a concentration in Equine Assisted Learning and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Equine Business are available. Information on these degrees is located in the sections on Psychology, page 131 and Business Administration, page 82 within this catalog.

Equine Studies graduates will be prepared to pursue careers in any number of equine-related fields including, but not limited to, farm management, equine event planning, equine office management, equine insurance, equine law, humane investigation, extension services, horse training, teaching equitation, equine assisted learning, veterinary medicine, equine therapy and equine research.

Students with a major in Equine Studies will:

1. Possess the practical horse experience and technical background necessary to gain employment on a horse farm.
2. Recall facts regarding the horse industry that are important for horse care, farm operations, management, marketing and legal issues.
3. Be able to recall important information regarding horse health, anatomy and physiology, horse evaluation, as well as equine nutrition and metabolism.
4. Have general business skills in accounting, management information systems, records management, organizational structure and communication.

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   Bachelor of Arts Degree in Equine Studies with a
   Concentration in Equitation Instruction

   The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Equine Studies with an Equitation Instruction Concentration is designed to prepare graduates to teach equitation. More specifically, students study the theory of teaching equitation, design of an equestrian school for teaching equitation, proper selection and training of horses, and proper maintenance of school horses. In addition, students are required to complete courses in equitation and horse training. Each student gains practical teaching experience through completion of internships and a senior project.
   During the spring semester of her sophomore year, the student must pass a written and practical proficiency examination in order to continue with the degree program in equitation instruction. The proficiency testing is very stringent.  The written test will examine the student’s knowledge in subject matters related to the care of the horse gained through required course work. The practical exam tests the student’s riding skills, plus skills related to daily horse care and management.

   Students with a concentration in equitation instruction will:
   1. Be prepared to instruct horseback riding through her knowledge of equitation and teaching theory and practical skills in safe handling, training and riding in a competitive environment.
   2. Be able to evaluate horses and assess their needs, including horse shoeing.

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Equine Studies
Concentration in Equine Management

The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Equine Studies with an Equine Management concentration is designed for graduates who may pursue careers as farm managers, assistant managers, equine office managers, foremen or farm owners.  Course work for the equine management concentration includes: horse evaluation, reproduction, disease and lameness, equine behavior, horse shoeing, farm management practicum, equine taxes and law, farm records, nutrition and forage crops.  Through an additional 15 hours of business administration courses, students in the Equine Management concentration are equipped to assume leadership roles in the fast-paced, ever-changing equine industry.
Students with a BA in Equine Studies with a concentration in Equine Management will:

1. Be prepared for a position in horse farm management.
2. Be able to apply information on reproductive physiology in practical management of a breeding farm.
3. Be able to competently and safely handle and care for horses.
4. Be professionally prepared to assess and implement safe management practices and manage all aspects of a horse farm.

Minor in Horsemanship

The minor in Horsemanship is designed to introduce students to the horse industry and to prepare them to care for and ride horses in a non-professional environment. The minor will provide the student with sufficient knowledge of the horse industry needed to obtain a position in an equine-related field that requires a degree or special training in another field of study.

The student must complete at least 22 credit hours of Equine Studies courses from the following list and a major, at the Bachelor level, in another field.  Equine electives may be taken in Equine Studies, Biology or physical science.

Minor in Equine Journalism

The equine industry offers many opportunities for journalists, including work as a staffer or freelancer for an equine magazine, writing for a newspaper with an equine column, working for a breed organization that publishes a newsletter, or writing for an online publication.  This minor will allow students to explore and develop their interests in equine journalism and will help them establish for potential employers competence in this specialized field..

Associate of Arts in Equine Studies with a
Concentration in Equine Management

The Associate of Arts Degree in Equine Studies with a concentration in Equine Management offers students the combination of a liberal arts background and a solid foundation in Equine Studies.  Graduates of this program will be prepared for an entry-level or intermediate position on a horse farm, equine office or equine-related business.  Coursework is designed to expose students to the equine industry and management practices, while providing practical experience through hands-on horse experience and internships.  In addition, a core of business administration courses prepares students for success in the fast-paced equine industry.
Students who wish to continue at Midway College upon graduation will find an almost exact articulation between the AA degree and the BA degree in Equine Studies with an Equine Management Concentration.  Another option for continued study at Midway College is the BA in Business Administration with a concentration in Equine Business, which also closely articulates with the AA in Equine Studies.

Students with an AA degree in Equine Studies with a concentration in Equine Management will:

1. Be prepared for an entry-level position on a horse farm.
2. Describe the importance of the horse industry and farm operation and management styles.
3. Have skills in accounting, records management, organizational structure and communication.
4. Recall and describe horse breeds, horse health, anatomy and physiology, reproduction and nutrition.

Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies with a
Concentration in Equine Therapy

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Equine Studies with an Equine Therapy concentration, the first of its kind in the United States, is designed for those who wish to practice equine therapy in collaboration with a licensed veterinarian.  Equine Therapy is defined as the use of non-invasive techniques such as laser, electrical stimulation, magnetic therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, rehabilitative exercises, hydrotherapy, heat/cold, massage, and stretching for equine rehabilitation.  The concentration in equine therapy does not permit the individual to perform activities that come within the definition of veterinary medicine on animals in the Commonwealth of Kentucky as stated in KRS Chapter 321 or in the veterinary practice acts of other states or countries.

A student interested in the Equine Therapy concentration should indicate the desire to enroll in the pre-Equine Therapy track when applying to the college.  Students must complete the 63-65 credit hours of pre-Equine Therapy courses listed below prior to making formal application into the professional phase of the program.  Equine Studies graduates with a concentration in equine therapy will be prepared to pursue careers in any number of equine-related fields including, but not limited to equine assisted learning, veterinary medicine, equine therapy and equine research.

The formal application for the professional phase occurs in November of the student’s sophomore year, assuming the student has completed all pre-Equine Therapy courses or will have completed the required courses by the end of the student’s sophomore year. At the time the formal application is made, the student will submit the documentation listed below:

1. Application for admission into the Equine Therapy professional phase
2. Transcripts from all college work (a GPA of 3.0 or higher is required)
3. ACT scores (an ACT of 21 or higher is required)
4. Specific documentation of horsemanship experience including documentation of six months of hands-on experience working directly with horses
5. Documentation of the ability to restrain and handle a horse
6. Certification in First Aid by the American Red Cross

Additionally, the applicant must complete an Equine Therapy entrance exam and a personal interview with the Director of the Equine Therapy program. The personal interview explores areas including personal experience and knowledge of the profession, horsemanship skills, initiative and motivation, leadership and responsibility, communication skills, service orientation and professional potential.

Once accepted into the professional phase, the student will begin professional courses in Equine Therapy during the junior year. The professional courses stress practical experience and include three semesters of supervised clinical work. In addition to professional courses, students will also complete the remainder of required Equine Studies and general education courses during the third and fourth years.
Students with a BS degree in Equine Studies with an Equine Therapy concentration will:

1. Describe the equine anatomy and physiology, joint anatomy and function and their relationship to diseases, lameness and injuries.
2. Be able to select efficient therapeutic protocols and gain skills in the operation and application of therapeutic modalities to horses while working under the direct supervision of a veterinarian.
3. Be professionals as in equine therapy and be able to communicate effectively with veterinarians.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Equine Studies with a
Concentration in Equine Science

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Equine Studies with an Equine Science concentration is designed for students who plan to pursue graduate programs or veterinary school upon graduation.  A core of science-based Equine Studies courses gives students a foundation in equine nutrition, disease, lameness and research.  Courses in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Genetics help students meet the requirements for application to veterinary and graduate schools.  Select courses in equine management, equine law and business administration prepare graduates for leadership in the competitive fields of veterinary medicine and research.
Students with a BS degree in Equine Studies with a concentration in Equine Science will:

1. Understand theoretical and scientific facts about horse anatomy and physiology, and gain practical horse experience necessary to successfully enter and complete graduate studies in the field of animal sciences or veterinary medicine.
2. Describe the importance of the equine industry and the use of horses in today’s society.
3. Describe equine anatomy and physiology, proper care and feeding, health, and management of the horse.