Laurie Chapman-Bosco
PROGRAM COORDINATOR - EQUINE
PROFESSOR
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Elizabeth Johnson
SENIOR LECTURER -
Sarah Rigg
PRINCIPAL LECTURER
Equine Studies Major: Equine Industry and Management Option (B.S.)
Equine Studies Major: Equine Industry and Management Option (B.S.)
Beginning in Fall of 2023, a new option within the animal science major will be offered for students to pursue a course of study that includes equine-specific classes with strong hands-on components.
Current UNH students in our equine programs admitted prior to Fall of 2023 will continue to have access to the same high-quality education and resources until they graduate.
The equine industry and managment program is no longer accepting new students.
For more information, please contact anfs.dept@unh.edu.
What is equine studies with an equine Industry and Management option?
horsemanship while also gaining a solid foundation in equine health, equine management, and equine business. Core courses include genetics, equine disease, equine sports medicine, equine reproduction and animal nutrition. Students also may study subjects ranging from riding instruction to equine training techniques to forage and grassland management to animal behavior and cognition. Many students in the program continue their studies in veterinary school or in other graduate-level subjects.
Why study equine Industry and Management at UNH?
The UNH equine industry and management degree program offers a unique and well-rounded curriculum that combines award-winning equestrian teams with strong academics and outstanding opportunities for hands-on learning, including on-site USEF/USEA-recognized horse trials and a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International Premier Operating Center, giving students real-world experience in the equine industry. Students in the equine program have daily opportunities to work with horses on campus. Our facilities —all of which are located within a 10-minute walk from campus —include the 40-stall Tirrell Horse Barn, the W.C. Skoglund indoor riding arena, a lighted outdoor riding arena, a full cross-country course, three regulation-size dressage competition arenas and the Lou & Lutza Smith Equine Center.
Potential careers
- Equine rehabilitation specialist
- Equine breeding technician/manager
- Equine nutritional sales and marketing
- Equine pharmaceutical sales
- Equine physiotherapist
- Nutritionist
- Veterinarian
Contact
University of New Hampshire
Kendall Hall
129 Main Street
Durham, NH 03824
(603) 862-2130
Curriculum & Requirements
Beginning in the 2022/23 academic year (Spring 2023), the Equine Studies Major: Equine Industry and Management option will no longer be accepting new students. Current students will continue to have access to the same high-quality education and resources until they graduate.
This option is designed for:
- Students interested in a traditional equine career, such as riding instruction, training, or stable management.
- Students interested in a career in equine business, such as competition management, sales, marketing, or equine business management.
Courses for this option include business classes and hands-on equine classes, such as teaching, training, stable management, and facility management.
In addition to the standard core courses for all Equine Studies majors, students in Equine Management take courses in anatomy and physiology, agricultural business management, nutrition, and forages. Students then select 20 approved credits to allow them to focus in the areas most relevant to their desired career. Those courses may include classes in equipment and facility management, equine training, riding instruction, equine conformation, animal behavior, accounting, and marketing.
Sample Student Schedule by Semester - Equine Industry and Management
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ANSC 402 | Horsemanship Lab | 1 |
| ANSC 411 | Freshman Seminar in Equine Science | 1 |
| ANSC 437 | Equine Husbandry Techniques | 4 |
| ANSC 522 | Intermediate Horsemanship Theory | 3 |
| BIOL 411 | Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular | 4 |
| ENGL 401 | First-Year Writing | 4 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ANSC 426 | Equine Conformation and Lameness | 4 |
| BIOL 412 | Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology | 4 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| AAS 432 | Introduction to Forage and Grassland Management | 3 |
| ANSC 511 | Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| ANSC 546 | Animal Business Applications | 4 |
| ANSC 547 | Equine Stable Management | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| AAS 434 | Equipment and Facilities Management (Elective) | 3 |
| ANSC 512 | Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| ANSC 536 | Preparation and Competition Techniques for the Modern Sport Horse | 4 |
| ANSC 548 | Agricultural Business Management | 4 |
| EREC 411 | Environmental and Resource Economics Perspectives | 4 |
| Credits | 19 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ANSC 504 | Equine Physiology | 4 |
| ANSC 612 | Genetics of Animals | 4 |
| ANSC 640 | Principles of Riding Instruction (Elective) | 4 |
| ANSC 665 | Principles of Horse Trials Management | 2 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| ANSC 641 & ANSC 642 |
Principles of Dressage Instruction and Principles of Jumping Instruction |
4 |
| ENGL 501 | Introduction to Creative Nonfiction | 4 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| ANSC Writing Intensive | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Summer | ||
| ANSC 600 or ANSC 795W |
Field Experience or Investigations |
1-4 |
| Credits | 1-4 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ANSC 507 | Survey of Equine Training Techniques | 3 |
| ANSC 538 | Equine Handling/Longeing | 1 |
| ANSC 609 | Principles of Animal Nutrition | 4 |
| ANSC 725 | Equine Sports Medicine | 4 |
| ANSC 796 | Equine Senior Seminar | 2 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| ANSC 724 | Reproductive Management and Artificial Insemination | 4 |
| ANSC 797 | Equine Capstone Experience | 4 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 135-138 | |
A minimum grade of C-minus or better must be earned in all Equine Studies courses required by the major.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Equine Studies Requirements | ||
| ANSC 411 | Freshman Seminar in Equine Science | 1 |
| ANSC 437 | Equine Husbandry Techniques | 4 |
| ANSC 504 | Equine Physiology | 4 |
| ANSC 522 | Intermediate Horsemanship Theory | 3 |
| or ANSC 405 | Theory of Horsemanship | |
| ANSC 547 | Equine Stable Management | 3 |
| ANSC 665 | Principles of Horse Trials Management 1 | 2 |
| ANSC 600 | Field Experience 1 | 1-4 |
| ANSC 612 | Genetics of Animals | 4 |
| or GEN 604 | Principles of Genetics | |
| ANSC 796 | Equine Senior Seminar | 2 |
| ANSC 725 | Equine Sports Medicine | 4 |
| ANSC 797 | Equine Capstone Experience | 4 |
| BIOL 411 | Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular | 4 |
| BIOL 412 | Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology | 4 |
| ENGL 501 | Introduction to Creative Nonfiction | 4 |
| or ENGL 419 | How to Read Anything | |
| or ENGL 502 | Professional and Technical Writing | |
| or ENGL 503 | Persuasive Writing | |
| or ANSC 543 | Technical Writing in Animal Sciences | |
| EREC 411 | Environmental and Resource Economics Perspectives | 4 |
| or ECON 402 | Principles of Economics (Micro) | |
| Industry and Management Requirements | ||
| AAS 432 | Introduction to Forage and Grassland Management | 3 |
| ANSC 511 & ANSC 512 | Anatomy and Physiology and Anatomy and Physiology 1 | 8 |
| ANSC 546 | Animal Business Applications | 4 |
| ANSC 548 | Agricultural Business Management | 4 |
| or ANSC 635 | Nonprofit Management for Agriculture Business | |
| ANSC 609 | Principles of Animal Nutrition 1 | 4 |
| ANSC 724 | Reproductive Management and Artificial Insemination | 4 |
| or ANSC 701 | Physiology of Reproduction | |
| or ANSC 750 | Collaborative Farm Design and Development | |
| or BMS 718 | Mammalian Physiology | |
| Industry and Management Electives: Choose 20 credits from the following: | ||
| AAS 434 | Equipment and Facilities Management | 3 |
| ADMN 502 | Financial Accounting | 4 |
| ANSC 426 | Equine Conformation and Lameness | 4 |
| ANSC 500 | Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies | 4 |
| ANSC 507 | Survey of Equine Training Techniques | 3 |
| ANSC 536 | Preparation and Competition Techniques for the Modern Sport Horse | 4 |
| ANSC 538 | Equine Handling/Longeing | 1 |
| ANSC 602 | Animal Rights and Societal Issues | 4 |
| ANSC 640 | Principles of Riding Instruction | 4 |
| ANSC 641 | Principles of Dressage Instruction | 2 |
| ANSC 642 | Principles of Jumping Instruction | 2 |
| ANSC 643 | Principles of Therapeutic Riding Instruction | 4 |
| ANSC 695 | Supervised Teaching Experience | 1-2 |
| ANSC 701 | Physiology of Reproduction | 4 |
| ANSC 750 | Collaborative Farm Design and Development | 4 |
| EDUC 500 | Exploring Teaching | 4 |
| MGT 535 | Organizational Behavior | 4 |
| MKTG 530 | Survey of Marketing | 4 |
| PSYC 720 | Animal Cognition | 4 |
| SML 560 | Sport Psychology | 4 |
| SML 565 | Principles of Coaching | 4 |
| ZOOL 613 | Animal Behavior | 5 |
- 1
Waived for TSAS equine management graduates
All students who graduate from the B.S. in Equine Studies program will be able to:
- Identify, explain, and demonstrate safe, effective, and humane equine handling and stable management skills.
- Identify, explain, and demonstrate equine health management practices and basic equine first aid.
- Explain guidelines for equine nutrition, feeding, and parasite management.
- Demonstrate technical proficiency with English tack, boots, bandages, and blankets.
- Demonstrate safe, competent longeing technique using a trained horse.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of riding practices in equestrian sport.
- Communicate effectively, in written and verbal form, about professional topics in the equine industry.
Equine Industry & Management option:
- Analyze and identify both ideal conformation and movement faults as related to equine form and function.
- Demonstrate advanced handling, grooming, and longeing skills, beyond those required of all equine studies majors.
- Demonstrate knowledge of veterinary care beyond the basic level required of all equine studies majors, and demonstrate application of this knowledge to real-world emergency and management situations.
- Demonstrate knowledge of management practices for riding arenas, horse trailers, and large equipment.
- Demonstrate working knowledge of key elements in equine business planning, management, and development.
Explore Program Details
All students who graduate from the B.S. in Equine Studies program will be able to:
- Identify, explain, and demonstrate safe, effective, and humane equine handling and stable management skills.
- Identify, explain, and demonstrate equine health management practices and basic equine first aid.
- Explain guidelines for equine nutrition, feeding, and parasite management.
- Demonstrate technical proficiency with English tack, boots, bandages, and blankets.
- Demonstrate safe, competent longeing technique using a trained horse.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of riding practices in equestrian sport.
- Communicate effectively, in written and verbal form, about professional topics in the equine industry.
Students will also achieve additional targeted learning outcomes based on their designated major option.
In addition to the student learning outcomes for all majors, students who graduate from the Equine Industry & Management option will be able to:
- Analyze and identify both ideal conformation and movement faults as related to equine form and function.
- Demonstrate advanced handling, grooming, and longeing skills, beyond those required of all equine studies majors.
- Demonstrate knowledge of veterinary care beyond the basic level required of all equine studies majors, and demonstrate application of this knowledge to real-world emergency and management situations.
- Demonstrate knowledge of management practices for riding arenas, horse trailers, and large equipment.
- Demonstrate working knowledge of key elements in equine business planning, management, and development.
In addition to the student learning outcomes for all majors, students who graduate from the Equine-Assisted Activities & Therapies (EAAT) option will be able to:
- Demonstrate an applied understanding of equine-assisted activities & therapies (EAAT) teaching techniques for a broad spectrum of disorders and disabilities.
- Provide documentation of successful completion of the PATH Intl. registered instructor certification program.
- Identify ideal conformation and movement faults as they relates to equine form and function and the therapeutic needs of clients with disabilities.
- Demonstrate proficiency with adaptive equipment, tack, and procedures used in an equine-assisted activities & therapies (EAAT) setting.
- Demonstrate working knowledge of key elements of business planning, management, and development, as they relate to an equine-assisted & therapies (EAAT) setting.
In addition to the student learning outcomes for all majors, students who graduate from the Equine Science option will be able to:
- Demonstrate practical application of equine anatomy and an understanding of the equine limb beyond the requirements for all equine majors.
- Demonstrate knowledge of veterinary care beyond the basic level required of all equine studies majors, and demonstrate the ability to apply this knowledge to real-world emergency and management situations.
- Demonstrate proficiency with basic equine health procedures and equipment.
- Demonstrate knowledge of equine nutrition, feeding, and parasite management beyond the basic level required of all equine studies majors, and demonstrate the ability to apply this knowledge to real-world management situations.
- Demonstrate knowledge of equine dental care.
- Demonstrate knowledge of equine genetics and reproduction.
I want to major in Equine Studies, but my parents say I'll never get a job with that major. Is that true?
The majority of equine studies majors at UNH obtain jobs in the equine industry after graduation. The equine industry has a $122 BILLION impact on the United States’ economy every year. There are many, many career opportunities for motivated and skilled individuals.
Do I really need a degree to work in the equine industry?
Whether you want to go on to veterinary school, become a riding instructor, run horse shows, or manage a stable, an undergraduate degree will give you a significant advantage by providing specialized training, business skills, and a body of theoretical and practical knowledge. These are invaluable tools for seeking employment or running a business.
How do I know which option in Equine Studies is right for me?
Equine Industry & Management combines hands-on, equine-specific classes, such as teaching, training, and stable management, with business-related classes. This course of study is best suited for students who see themselves going into a traditional, hands-on job in the equine industry, such as stable management or riding instruction, or for students who are interested in the ever-expanding field of equine business. The latter includes competitions and event management, marketing, and farm business management.
Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) is for students interested in the therapeutic horsemanship field. It combines equine classes with courses about non-profit management and disability services and classes specific to therapeutic riding, including classes where students prepare and test for their PATH Instructor Certification.
Equine Science combines equine-specific classes with more rigorous science courses, which prepare students for graduate school, including vet school, or a career in one of the equine industry's more technical sides, such as nutrition or research.
I want to have a career in veterinary technology. Do I need to get a degree?
It depends on the state in which you intend to work. Some states require a vet tech degree, while others require that you pass a licensing examination. Still, others have no specific requirements. Note that a B.S. in Equine Studies is not a vet tech degree. UNH does offer a two-year degree in veterinary technology. However, graduates in the Equine Science program also work in equine veterinary practices as techs and assistants.
If I want to be a Pre-Vet student, what should my major be?
You can major in any field of study at UNH but will want to complete a program of study that encompasses several specific requisite courses. Visit our Pre-Veterinary Program page for more information. The Equine Science program was specifically designed to allow students to fulfill the required classes for admission to veterinary school while also completing a degree in equine studies.
Where can I receive pre-veterinary medicine advising?
Upon informing the Equine Program or the Department of Biological Sciences of your interests in veterinary
You are assigned to an advisor who is experienced in advising pre-veterinary medicine students and knows current veterinary school admission requirements and procedures.
Do I need to send a video of my riding?
No, a riding video is not required for admissions or to try out for the riding teams.
Are there scholarships for riders?
No. However, several academic scholarships are available to equine studies students through COLSA, the Department of Biological Sciences, and outside organizations such as the AQHA and IHSA.
Are there any online classes in the equine program?
ANSC419: Horse Power is offered online during the Summer session. This class, which satisfies the Humanities requirement of the discovery program, explores the horse's role in history, art and culture. For information on Summer Session, go to https://www.unh.edu/summersession/. Also, ANSC 405 – Horsemanship Theory is a 2-credit online course which is offered every spring. UNH also offers a growing variety of online classes, some of which equine students can use to fulfill general requirements. Go to www.unh.edu/eunh/online-courses/ for more info.
Do I have to be an Equine Studies major to take classes in the equine program?
No, students of all majors may take classes in the equine program.
Do I have to be a full-time student to take classes in the equine program?
No, classes are open to non-degree candidates.
What if I only want to get my Path Instructor Certification, and I'm not interested in a 4-year degree?
Non-degree students can take ANSC 643 with instructor permission. Contact Cindy.Burke@unh.edu for more information.
Can I ride at UNH?
Yes. Riding classes at UNH consist of two credit-bearing co-requisite courses, which must be taken simultaneously: ANSC 402 – Horsemanship Lab is a 1 credit, credit/fail class, which is the actual riding time. All students enrolled in ANSC 402 must be simultaneously enrolled in either ANSC 422, ANSC 522, or ANSC 622, which are graded 2- or 3-credit courses covering horsemanship theory. Horsemanship classes are taught every semester. Students receive 3 hours of mounted instruction each week, in addition to lectures and academic assignments.
Is it possible to ride without taking a class? Or to take private lessons on the school horses?
No, the only riding opportunity on UNH horses that the equine program offers is through ANSC 402.
How do I sign-up for riding classes?
Priority is given to equine studies majors, but classes are open to students of all majors and, during a typical semester, most students can be accommodated. First-year equine majors will receive a survey to sign up for ANSC 402 in early May. First-year students who are not equine studies majors should email Sarah Rigg as soon as they have committed to UNH. A two-part preregistration and signup is held for continuing students each semester. Typically, this is held in April for the fall semester and November for the spring semester. Visit the equine website for dates.
How do I try out for the riding team?
UNH’s award-winning equestrian teams compete in both the IHSA (hunt seat) and the IDA (dressage). To try out for either of the riding team, students must be enrolled in ANSC 402 or have previously taken ANSC 402 for two semesters. Tryouts are held each fall. Each team will hold a mandatory informational meeting for interested students before tryouts take place. Dates for meetings and tryouts are announced and posted in the stables at the beginning of the fall semester.
Can I board my horse at UNH?
The UNH Equine Facility has space for a limited number of student boarders. Board is $650 per month. Priority is given to equine majors. Contact the stable manager, Brenda.Hess-McAskill, after being accepted to UNH to be put on the list. Brenda also has a list of other area boarding facilities.
If my horse is boarded at UNH, will it be ridden in the riding classes?
No, horses boarded at UNH are not used in riding classes.
Can I get a job at the Horse Barns?
The UNH Horse Barns does hire work-study students. Contact Brenda Hess-McAskill.
Can I work at the horse barns in exchange for board or lessons?
No, work-study is for pay only. We cannot barter work time for board or lab fees.
Why do I have to take Biology?
The equine industry is based mainly on the horse as an athlete. Understanding the horse’s body and how it works, as well as the horse’s health, is the foundation of managing and caring for that athlete and coaxing the best performance from him. Biology forms the building blocks of Anatomy and Physiology and all of the more specialized equine classes.
I'm a student in another major. Can I transfer to the Equine program, and will it affect my ability to graduate on time?
Students in good academic standing can transfer into the equine studies major. It is possible that transferring to any new major will affect a student’s graduation date. This will depend upon how long a student has been in another major, the type of degree they were pursuing, and the classes they have already taken.
I've heard that if you go abroad or on exchange for one semester, you can't graduate on time. Is this true?
Going abroad is an outstanding experience, but students do need to plan if this is something that they would like to do. Students interested in studying abroad should identify themselves to their academic advisors early in their college careers. Many of the equine-specific classes at UNH are offered only in the fall or spring semester, and there are more of them offered in the fall than in the spring, so many students find that it is easier to go abroad for a spring semester.
The spring semester of Junior year is the most popular time for equine students to study abroad. Students who choose to study abroad at a university with an equine major will take equine-specific courses to fulfill major requirements and/or major electives. However, all students need to plan out their schedules to take required courses on campus and then complete other courses – major courses, electives, discovery courses, etc. – while they are abroad. Some students who go abroad or on exchange take fewer credits than a normal UNH course load (16 credits).
To graduate on time, those students must make up for such a credit deficit, unless they had a credit excess before they left. If credits are a concern, it may be possible to take a 16-credit course load, even if the college has a three-credit system.
Wishlists & Donations
We are always grateful for donations of horse and stable tack and equipment.
Our highest priority needs include:
- Turnout sheets (lightweight and rain sheets)
- Dressage saddles
- Stall mats for our stalls- gently used OK.
If you have a horse that you would like to donate to our program, please submit a video or video link along with this form to Rebecca Nelson. Donations cannot be considered without video.
Please contact Rebecca Nelson for more information at (603) 862-0343 or Rebecca.Nelson@unh.edu
- ANSC 402: Horsemanship
A 3-credit class offered during Spring and Fall semesters and is open to all majors. - Team & Student Organizations
- Study Abroad for Equine Students
- Cross Country Schooling
- Horse Trials
- Equine Honors-In-Major
- Equine Minor
Therapeutic Riding is a mode of therapy utilizing functional riding skills, equine movement and a variety of therapy activities to achieve specific cognitive, physical and emotional goals. The UNH Therapeutic Riding Program adapts equine activities to allow for participation of riders over the age of 5 with cognitive, physical and emotional challenges.
More to Explore
