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Department of Equine Studies

The Mari Hulman George School of Equine Studies prepares students to meet the challenges of an expanding equine industry. By linking the College’s distinctive liberal arts curriculum with specialized instruction in equine science and management, as well as disciplined training in equitation, students prepare for a variety of interesting careers. 

The Equine Studies Program focuses on the development of the professional, technical, and soft skills employed in the equine industry. Students receive comprehensive education in the care and management of the horse, riding theory and training concepts, farm facility design and management, equine systems and disorders, nutrition and the musculoskeletal system and their relationship to athletic performance, equine business management and management of equestrian activities. 

All students are required to take the same core courses in their freshman year. In their sophomore year, in connection with gateway entrance, students may elect one or two of the four concentrations, depending on their individual career interests and goals. Students can further expand their equine knowledge by selecting courses from a variety of electives.

For the concentration of Equine Training and Instruction, students are required to participate in equestrian skills courses, in which their riding abilities are developed and honed. Students are assigned to classes appropriate to their levels of riding experience and capabilities. All students are welcomed to take riding courses within all concentrations, however, for those students who prefer not to participate in riding classes, the concentrations of Equine Business Management, Equine Science, and Equine Communication may be completed as a non-riding major.

Mission:

The Department of Equine Studies is responsible for the education, critical thinking, lifelong leadership, service and social responsibility of the college. The mission of the department of Equine Studies is to share, discover and apply current knowledge, concepts, and skills on the health, welfare, behavior modification, and management of the horse and its industry.

Vision:

The vision of the Department of Equine Studies is to grow national recognition as a program which serves the equine industry by preparing students who are knowledgeable lifelong learners that apply strong ethical basis for improving the industry.

Declaring a Concentration

Students majoring within the Equine Studies program must declare a concentration.  It must be declared during their sophomore year.  This should coincide with their Gateway admittance. If a student chooses to major in more than one concentration, due to the increase in credits this endeavor may require additional semesters, incur overload credit fees, and may not be covered under certain financial aid policies. Candidates for the Training and Instruction concentration must be approved for inclusion within that concentration by the Equine Studies faculty in charge of that concentration.

CONCENTRATIONS

Equine Business Management

This concentration is designed for the student with a strong interest in pursuing a career managing an equine facility, and/or being involved in other equine-related businesses, including equine insurance adjuster, bloodstock agent, administrators of racing and breeding organizations, racetrack and breeding farm administrators, non-profits and those involved in the marketing of horses or horse-related products. This concentration helps students to develop a strong business plan, marketing strategies, financial and legal initiative, management skills and professional development that will be essential in communicating with those in the horse industry.

Equine Training and Instruction

Equine Training and Instruction concentration prepares the student to teach equitation and/or develop a personal training philosophy that can be applied following graduation. This concentration is designed for students interested in working as professional instructors in the western and huntseat disciplines. Students study methods of teaching, course design, and judging and are required to participate in courses in which they teach alongside SMWC’s riding instructors. Through the student lesson program, students will practice a variety of teaching techniques. Students will learn and practice a variety of training techniques which allows for specific insight into training techniques that have been shown to be successful within that specific discipline. Students will study methods of training horses and gain hands-on experience to learn advanced techniques of training. Students may acquire experience in schooling problem horses, handling and starting young horses and working within a specific discipline. Students must be riding at a minimal level as determined by one of the riding instructors to be eligible to apply for this concentration.

Equine Science

This concentration is designed to educate students in the scientific aspects of the equine industry. Students interested in Equine Science can pursue a variety of different careers such as veterinary technology, pharmaceuticals, nutrition, breeding management, and barn management. This concentration will also prepare students for graduate school in the science-related industries. The Equine Science concentration may be an alternative for students who may be contemplating a career in the veterinary industry but are not fully committed to follow the pre-professional track.

Equine Communication

This concentration prepares students to enter fields of journalism, photography, mass/digital media, advertising or public relations as they relate to an equestrian career. Courses include digital imaging, digital video and audio production, photography, advertising, professional writing and public speaking.

Equine Studies Admission Procedure

Students who wish to complete the Equine Studies program (majors and associate degrees) must meet the requirements of a multi-level assessment system which provides the opportunity for faculty and staff to formally assess candidates’ capabilities as prospective equine majors and to support the candidates in becoming competent, caring professionals. The following policies and procedures apply to all students seeking a Bachelor of Science or an Associate's degree in Equine:

Gateway I - Admission to the Equine Studies Program

Upon admission to the College, candidates are eligible to take 100- and 200-level EQ courses. To enroll in advanced EQ coursework, candidates must be formally admitted to the Equine Studies Program. Criteria for admission to the Equine Studies Program are as follows:

  1. Completion of a minimum of 32 credit hours of college credit for the Bachelor of Science degree and 15 credit hours for an Associate's degree.
  2.  Attainment of a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher;
  3.  Competence in basic skills such as: routing hours care/evaluation, evaluating TPR, administration of medications/vaccines, safe horse handling procedures, general knowledge of nutritional needs, anatomy, leg wrapping and bandaging, grooming, tack identification, riding (if needed for major track) and skills - walk, trot, canter, mount, dismount and back up.  Note: Candidates achieving below the passing score will be provided a Skills/Academic Enhancement Plan written by the candidate’s academic advisor. Candidates on such plans will be conditionally admitted to the Equine Department. All conditions must be remove for candidates to pass Gateway 1.
  4.  Completion of at least one field experience (approved by the equine department) related to the student’s areas of interest with documented evidence of professional dispositions, values and attitudes. This must be completed before the student’s sophomore year and could include documented experiences during high school;
  5.  Formal interview with the evaluation team.

Gateway 1 Application Procedures

 

1. Submit typewritten letter addressed to the Equine Education Board, Equine Department, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Saint Mary of the Woods, IN 47876. Address the following:

a. Why have I chosen equine studies?

b. Why have I chosen the specific equine track (business, general, training/instruction)?

c. What personal qualities will I contribute to the equine field?

d. How will I exemplify responsible commitment to the equine profession?

2.Upon receipt of a letter of recommendation, candidates will be scheduled to participate in a formal interview with an Equine Department evaluation team according to the following schedule:

Letters received by:

Interview Dates:

February 15

March

September 15

October

Candidates should be prepared to discuss the following:

  1. Current personal/professional strengths as a prospective equine professional; and

  2. How the candidate’s personal dispositions relate to the equine profession.

Upon completion of the interview, the evaluation team will recommend to the Equine Education Board one of the following:

a. Unconditional Admittance - Candidate has successfully passed all requirements.

b. Conditional Admittance - Candidate must complete one or more requirements to successfully pass. Candidates who are conditionally admitted will be provided with an Academic Enhancement Plan written by their academic advisor and approved by the Equine Education Board. Candidates must submit a new letter of application to request that their admission status be changed from Conditional to Unconditional.

c. Not Admitted - Candidate has not passed. This status may pertain to students who do not display the appropriate dispositions, values, attitudes and skills that are necessary for success in the equine profession.

3. The Equine Education Board will make final decisions and inform candidates of their status within one month after the interview is complete.

4. Candidates may appeal Gateway 1 decisions in writing to the Equine Education Board.

Gateway 2 - Program Completion

Criteria for program completion are:

  1. Successful presentation of a Proficient Portfolio to an Equine Department Education Team. Proficient portfolios are presented before April 1 or November 1 depending on the student’s graduation date. A Proficient Portfolio must include at least the following information:

    1. Current résumé;

    2. A statement of a personal philosophy of equine studies;

    3. One to three artifacts documenting mastery of one of the three available equine majors: Equine Business Management, Equine Studies or Equine Training and Instruction;

    4. For each exhibit, a narrative reflection indicating why the selected artifact was included and how it provides evidence of mastery of goals; and

    5. Additional artifacts highlighting personal talents, strengths and accomplishments.

  2. Successful completion of all program requirements. The grade of “C” or better must be obtained in all equine courses that are required for the major. A minimum GPA of 2.0 overall must be achieved.

Gateway 2 Application Procedures

  1. Candidates should notify their advisors when they have completed all Gateway 2 requirements. Candidates who are seeking degrees must submit a graduation application to the Office of the Registrar.

  2. Equine Department advisors verify that candidates have met all program requirements and successfully presented the Proficient Portfolio.

NOTE: All riding courses are offered every semester and require the consent of the instructor.

The department offers the following majors and minors: