EQUINE COURSES equine science at virginia tech Animal & Poultry Sciences Department, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061

We are proud to offer our students a tailor-made Equine Science program designed to fit their individual needs and career goals. Our dedicated faculty work with each student to turn their dreams of working with horses into a reality! The equine emphasis in the Animal & Poultry Sciences curriculum was completely redesigned in 2006, and is designed to prepare students for success in veterinary or other professional schools, for employment in top-level jobs within the equine industry, or as skilled horse owners.

We offer a unique combination of science-based and hands-on courses for the Equine Science Student. These include:

Six Levels of Equitation. From beginner to advanced levels, we offer instruction in hunter seat and dressage fundamentals and techniques.

Introduction to the Equine Industry provides an overview of the horse industry as well as basic information on anatomy, physiology, nutrition, genetics, husbandry and diseases of horses.

Horse Management Laboratory allows students to master many of the basic hands-on skills needed to work as a professional in the veterinary field or in the general equine industry.

Equine Conformation and Biomechanics teaches students to effectively evaluate horses with respect to breed standards, soundness and suitability for a given discipline. Special focus is placed on modern scientific research in this area, European methods for evaluating sporthorses, and students in this course also help organize our annual ISR/Oldenburg NA Mare and Foal inspection, held on campus each September.

Advanced Equine Evaluation is for those students who are interested in learning more about judging specialized classes, or who are interested in competing on Virginia Tech's competitive Horse Judging Team.

Equine Behavior and Training allows students to participate in training of horses while studying the science of behavior. Students are also responsible for preparing and presenting horses in the annual ISR/Oldenburg NA Mare and Foal Inspection in September and the annual Hokie Harvest Sale in October.

Horse Production and Management is a senior-level course which further prepares our students for their careers with horses. This class combines economic and market considerations with the basic skills covered in Introduction to the Equine Industry and the Horse Management Laboratory courses, and the training students received in Animal Anatomy, Animal Breeding and Genetics, Animal Nutrition and Reproductive Physiology to "put it all together". A special feature of this class is the Mare and Foal project, in which groups of students are responsbile for following a mare through her late pregnancy and working with her newborn foal.

Summer Equine Science Program in Germany. Every two to three years, 15-20 students travel to Germany for two weeks to experience the German sporthorse industry. This program was initiated in 2008 and included instruction in riding and training, interaction with some of Germany's top professional horsepeople, and tours to the world's top breeding and training centers.

Also available in the equine emphasis are various independent studies, undergraduate research projects and special studies. These classes are designed to help students meet their specific needs and goals, and allows them to further explore a area of interest to them.

OTHER COURSES

In addition to our equine-specific courses, there are several other classes which concern other species, but have a strong equine component:

Introduction to the Animal & Poultry Sciences exposes freshmen to the wide variety of species studied in this department. There are classroom and laboratory sections, including a two-week section on horses.

Livestock Merchandising teaches students about the business of selling horses and livestock. Students in this class have the opportunity to learn from top industry leaders who participate as guest speakers throughout the semester. This class is also responsible for organizing and conducting the annual fall Hokie Harvest Sale.

EQUINE MINOR

Students that are majoring in an area other than Animal & Poultry Sciences may elect to minor in Equine Science. The classes mentioned above, as well as equitation classes, may be used to fulfill the requirements of a minor in equine science. For more information, select: Equine Minor.

To obtain more information on the Animal & Poultry Sciences undergraduate curriculum, please visit the APSC homepage.

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