Equine Studies, Bachelor of Science
The equine studies program at Wilson College provides a distinctive opportunity for students to pursue a professional career in the growing equine industry. Whether your professional goal is to manage an equine facility, be a riding instructor, train horses, or teach riders with disabilities, the equine studies program has a major or concentration to help you achieve your goals. The program provides students with opportunities to expand their practical knowledge and experience through traditional classroom learning, hands-on application of skills in the stables, mentored teaching opportunities, equitation (riding) classes in either English or western disciplines, and direct contact with horses at the on-campus equestrian center.
The equine management concentration prepares the student for the day-to-day management of a large equine facility. Coursework in this concentration addresses facility maintenance, herd health management, feeds and feeding, conditioning horses, and best-business practices for the equine facility.
The riding instruction concentration prepares the student for employment as a riding instructor in either English or western disciplines. Coursework focuses on teaching techniques, mentored teaching of beginner through advanced riders, teaching children and adults, and preparing and training horses for riding lessons. Students entering this concentration must place at the intermediate riding level, or higher.
The equine facilitated therapeutics (therapeutic riding and activities) major prepares the student for teaching riders with physical, emotional, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities in therapeutic riding and horsemanship. Coursework includes therapeutic facility design, disabilities lesson planning, defining therapeutic horse movement, ground training horses, and mentored teaching of riders with disabilities.
Concentration in Equine Management
Required Courses
| BIO 101 | General Biology I | 4 |
| | OR | |
| BIO 110 | Contemporary Biology | 4 |
| | | |
| BUS 124 | Introduction to Management | 3 |
| EFT 213 | Ground Training the Horse | 3 |
| EQS 110 | Intro to Equine Management | 3 |
| EQS 116 | Equine Anatomy/Physiology | 4 |
| EQS 225 | Equine Health Management | 4 |
| EQS 235 | Applied Horse Training Techniques I | 3 |
| EQS 240 | Intro to Teaching Horsemanship | 3 |
| EQS 315 | Equine Performance Management | 3 |
| EQS 410 | Equine Facility Management | 3 |
| EQT XXX | Four Equitation courses (8 semester hours), the levels of which are based on the rider's skill | |
One of the following six courses:
A student must graduate with active first aid and CPR/AED certifications. Students who take ESS 145 as a first-year or sophomore student must repeat it during their junior or senior year in order to fulfill graduation requirements. Noncredit and online CPR/AED certifications will not be accepted as completion of the major requirement.
Concentration in Teaching and Training
Required Courses
| BIO 101 | General Biology I | 4 |
| | OR | |
| BIO 110 | Contemporary Biology | 4 |
| | | |
| EFT 213 | Ground Training the Horse | 3 |
| EQS 110 | Intro to Equine Management | 3 |
| EQS 116 | Equine Anatomy/Physiology | 4 |
| EQS 235 | Applied Horse Training Techniques I | 3 |
| EQS 236 | Applied Horse Training Techniques II | 2 |
| EQS 240 | Intro to Teaching Horsemanship | 3 |
| EQS 326 | Methods Teaching/Training I | 3 |
| EQS 327 | Methods Teaching/Training II | 3 |
| EQS 328 | Methods Teaching/Training III | 3 |
| EQS 429 | Methods Teaching/Training IV | 3 |
| EQT XXX | Six Equitation courses, the levels of which are based on the rider’s skill | |
| PSY 110 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
Students must graduate with active first aid and CPR/AED certifications. Students who take ESS 145 as a first-year or sophomore student must repeat it during their junior or senior year in order to fulfill graduation requirements. Noncredit or online CPR/AED certifications will not be accepted as completion of the major requirement.