Equine Studies
Admission Criteria for In-Seat programs
To be fully accepted into the three in-seat Equine Studies majors, students must meet the following requirements by the end of the spring semester of the second academic year:
- Have completed Biology and Chemistry in high school with grades of C or above, or have completed Biology 103/104 or Chemistry 150/151 or higher at Midway University with a minimum grade of C in order to demonstrate acceptable levels of scientific knowledge.
- Complete EQS 109 and 111 with a minimum grade of C in order to demonstrate appropriate knowledge of management procedures in the University’s equine facilities as well as work ethic, attitude, and ability to work with others. In addition to scheduled class time, students will be required to complete additional hours some afternoons during the week and one weekend a month at the University’s equine facilities.
- Complete EQS 165 and 215/216 with a minimum grade of C to demonstrate basic understanding of the equine industry and basic equine anatomy and physiology.
- Demonstrate the ability to handle horses on the ground according to criteria developed by the Equine Studies faculty and staff.
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5 during first year of attendance.
- Interview with committee of faculty, staff, and industry professionals.
Admission Criteria for Online Program
- Admission to the University
Majors and Minors
Major Minor In-Seat Online
Courses
This hands-on class will familiarize the student with basic horse husbandry through lecture material and hands-on lab activities. Students are assigned a care horse for further hands-on experience as part of the requirements for this class. If a student does not complete all of the required hours for the semester for their care horse, they will fail the class, regardless of performance on other assessments. This course is required for all pre-equine students in order to be considered for entrance into the equine program. Corequisite or prerequisite: EQS 110.
This hands-on course will provide students with practical hours in the daily operations of a working horse farm, while fostering leadership skills, effective communication and teamwork, and a strong work ethic. These hours will take place on the university horse farm during standard university chore times (7:00 AM and 3:00 PM) on specified days during the week and assigned weekends, serving as experiential learning to complement the pre- and corequisite course (EQS 109).
This course is a continuation of EQS 109. The course will expose students to additional elements of horse husbandry through lecture material and hands-on lab activities, with emphasis on more advanced horse handling and grooming techniques. Students will continue to complete hands-on hours with an assigned care horse as part of the course requirements.
This hands-on course is a continuation of EQS 110 – Farm Operations Practicum I. The course provides students with additional practical hours in the daily operations of a working horse farm, emphasizing further development of leadership skills and independence, while continuing to foster effective communication, teamwork, and a strong work ethic. These hours will take place on the university horse farm during standard university chore times (7:00 AM and 3:00 PM) on specified days during the week and assigned weekends, serving as experiential learning to complement the pre- and corequisite course (EQS 111).
This course will introduce students to a variety of aspects of the equine industry, with a heavy focus on career opportunities. Topics covered in this class include evolution of the horse and breed development, horse identification, careers with direct contact with horses, careers which support the equine industry, and the importance of internships, networking, and marketing when pursuing a career.
This hands-on course will provide students with practical hours in the management of daily operations of a working horse farm, while emphasizing leadership skills, effective communication and teamwork, and a strong work ethic. These hours will take place on the university horse farm during standard university chore times (7:00 AM and 3:00 PM) on specified days during the week and assigned weekends, serving as experiential learning to complement the co-requisite course (EQS 209). Emphasis will be placed on the effective use of management strategies to coordinate tasks and supervise others in a working farm situation.
This course will familiarize the student with different leadership styles and management techniques utilized in the setting of basic horse husbandry, emphasizing effective communication and teamwork. This course will serve as a foundation in theory and analysis to complement the co-requisite course (EQS 207 – Farm Operations Management Practicum I).
This course is a survey of current topics in the equine industry. Topics of this course may include but are not limited to training theory, course design, event management, and history, development and use of specialized equipment. This course may be repeated provided that the content is different.
This course is a continuation of EQS 209, with exposure to different leadership styles and management techniques utilized in the setting of basic horse husbandry with a focus on the impact of outside influences such as social media. This course will continue to emphasize effective communication and teamwork. This course will serve as a foundation in theory and analysis to complement the corequisite course (EQS 213 – Farm Operations Management Practicum II).
This hands-on course is a continuation of EQS 207 – Farm Operations Management Practicum I. The course will provide students with additional practical hours in the management of daily operations of a working horse farm, emphasizing further development of leadership skills through effective communication, teamwork, and a strong work ethic. These hours will take place on the university horse farm during standard university chore times (7:00 AM and 3:00 PM) on specified days during the week and assigned weekends, serving as experiential learning to complement the corequisite course (EQS 211). Emphasis will be placed on the effective use of management strategies to coordinate tasks and supervise others in a working farm situation.
Various aspects of healthcare management emphasizing a scientific basis for applied management decisions are addressed in this course. Common pharmaceuticals, their administration, control, and legal aspects to their uses in equine sports are identified. The veterinarian-owner-patient relationship is covered in context with the Veterinary Practice Act with emphasis on accurate communication between owner and veterinarian. Equine nursing management and pain identification are key components to maintaining ethical healthcare decisions. Finally, preventative care emphasizing factors for routine care such as disease control, de-worming and dental work are discussed.
This course is a general study of the anatomy and physiology of the horse. Students will learn about the skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive and nervous systems. The relation of form to function is emphasized throughout all systems.
This is the companion laboratory to EQS 215 and continues the introduction to the various systems of the horse. Students will study the various organs of the systems and their relationships to each other.
This course is the introductory course to Equine Health and Rehabilitation. In this course, students will be expected to use and apply their knowledge of equine anatomy and physiology. Biomechanics and its relation to equine health and rehabilitation will be introduced. The physiological response to injury and the effects of manual therapy and various therapeutic modalities will be discussed. Communication is an essential part of this career path and will be emphasized in this course. Prerequisites: EQS 215 and EQS 216. Corequisite: EQS 228.
This hands-on course will provide students with experiential learning to complement the co-requisite course (EQS 226). Students will be introduced to appropriate observation using palpation and visual assessment, as well as basic manual therapy and therapeutic modality techniques. Appropriate communication and record keeping will be emphasized.
This is a practical equine nutrition course designed specifically for students interested in management positions. Identification and use of grains, forages, supplemental feeds, and additives will be discussed. In addition, students will learn methods of assessing feed quality, feed value, and price as well as proper storage of feeds. Basic digestive anatomy, digestion, and ration formulation for various classes of horses and feed processing methods will also be discussed. Prerequisites: EQS 215 and EQS 216.
Students will be responsible for identifying, assessing and interpreting scientific principles of equine reproduction and using their assessments to propose management decisions in an equine model. Topics for this course will include horse selection, mare and stallion management, foaling, neonatal care, reproductive diseases and disorders, and lactation. Prerequisites: EQS 215.
Topics in this course will be presented in a seminar format. Topics will change each time this course is offered and may include, but are not limited to horses in the arts, horse and human interaction, marketing, sales prep, event management, etc. This course, with a different topic, may be repeated.
In this course students will complete a sustained research and writing project related to their interests in equine studies. Analysis of the rhetoric and methodologies of research will also occur. Students will also explore other forms of writing appropriate to the equine industry. A grade of C or higher is required. Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102.
Normal and abnormal horse behaviors, including stereotypes, will be discussed in this course. Students will learn how behavior affects the raising, training, and management of horses. Behaviors explored will include communicative, injective, sexual, social, aggressive, and abnormal behaviors. The evolution of the horse, its relationship with the environment and how this explains actions and reactions of the horse will also be explored. Prerequisites: EQS 215 and EQS 216.
A study of the anatomy and physiology of the skeleton and joints, digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, and endocrine and nervous systems. This course is also a comparative study of anatomy and physiological processes among farm species. Prerequisites: EQS 215 and EQS 216 and any Biology course with a laboratory.
This course is a continuation of EQS 226. Discussion of equine anatomy and biomechanics will be continued, with additional focus on normal and abnormal posture and movement patterns. Manual therapy and various therapeutic modalities will be further discussed, along with common health conditions in horses. Prerequisite EQS 226. Corequisite EQS 328.
This course focuses on the distribution of various forage crops and their adaptations to soil and climate. Also discussed are selection of forages, seeding rates and mixtures, forage productivity, and weed and pest control. Prerequisites: EQS 215, EQS 216, EQS 251 and any General Education natural science requirement.
This hands-on course will provide students with continued experiential learning to complement the corequisite course (EQS 326). Students will continue to practice effective observation using palpation and visual assessment, with additional emphasis on observing movement patterns. Students will be asked to demonstrate increased proficiency with manual therapy and therapeutic modality techniques. Appropriate communication and record keeping will continue to be emphasized, with additional emphasis on collaboration with other health team members in developing therapy plans. Corequisite: EQS 326.
Students will observe and apply integrative performance skills with emphasis on athletic maintenance. Procedures in care and clinical assessment, record keeping, and communication will be emphasized. This clinical experience will take place primarily at the Midway University equine facilities with opportunities for off-campus observations. Prerequisites: EQS 326 and EQS 356.
This hands-on class will provide the student with real life experiences in equine farm management. The student will participate in daily work at outside facilities within the equine industry. The course will also focus on the student's strengths and career goals. Current models are used to evaluate the student's strengths and how to best use them in the work place environment. Student will apply the results of their strength assessment towards their career goals. Prerequisite: EQS 209 and EQS 211.
The digestive systems, nutritional requirements, formulated rations, and economical feeding programs for farm animals and selected companion animals are discussed. There will be an exposure to computerized ration balancing techniques, in addition to the principles of ration formulation by hand methods. Prerequisite: EQS 251.
This course is a comprehensive study of exercise physiology as it relates to anatomy, gait analysis, physiological response to training, and biomechanics. The effect of the rider on performance is also discussed. Prerequisites: EQS 215 and EQS 216 and any General Education natural science requirement.
Internship courses allow practical application of classroom knowledge and intentional development of skills applicable to the student's professional growth. The internship experience requires 135 hours of relevant field work at an internship site related to their concentration, in addition to scheduled class meetings. Students will be under the supervision of faculty and site supervisors. Students will be expected to complete reflections and demonstrate learning through a final project or presentation. Students with more than one concentration will be expected to complete an additional internship related to the second concentration. Internship courses are graded pass/fail. Course is restricted to junior or senior status. This course may be repeated once for credit.
This advanced internship course allows for practical application of classroom knowledge and intentional development of skills applicable to the student's professional growth. This internship requires full-time relevant field work at the internship site in addition to purposeful mentoring by a site supervisor and faculty supervisor. Students will be expected to complete reflections and demonstrate learning through assignments and a final project or presentation. Internship courses are graded as pass/fail. This course is restricted to junior/senior status. This course may not be repeated.
This course will be presented in a survey format. Topics will include ethical concerns regarding the animal rights and welfare movement and the impact of this movement on the equine industry. Prerequisites: EQS-165.
Students will be responsible for identifying design considerations and critically assessing facilities based on presented topics. At a minimum, topics will include farm layout, stable and housing design, manure management, safety and emergency planning, and environmental considerations for equine farms.
This course is a continuation of EQS 326. The course will emphasize practical considerations for equine health and rehabilitation, such as ethics, biosecurity, and business strategies. Knowledge of equine anatomy, biomechanics, manual therapy, therapeutic modalities, and common health conditions will continue to be applied, with additional discussion of external factors such as tack, rider symmetry, etc. Prerequisites: EQS 326 and EQS 335. Corequisite: EQS 428.
This hands-on course will provide students with further experiential learning to complement the co-requisite course (EQS 426). Students will apply the knowledge and skills that they have gained throughout the program in both off-campus and student mentorship settings. Emphasis will be placed on appropriate techniques for observation, manual therapy, therapeutic modalities, communication, record keeping, and collaboration with other members of the health team as discussed in prerequisite courses. Corequisite: EQS 426.
In this course students learn to evaluate the horse using concepts of eastern medical thought. Eastern veterinary medicine will be presented in comparison to the approach of western veterinarians. Topics discussed in this course include but are not limited to acupuncture/acupressure, energy therapies, aromatherapy, and the use of herbal therapies.
This is an advanced nutrition course which focuses on the biochemical aspects of nutrition. Nutrient metabolism as it relates to performance is covered in this course. Current research in equine nutrition will be incorporated into lectures, including application to practical management. Supplements, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals used to aid in performance are also discussed. Prerequisite: EQS 251.
The course will cover the interaction of law and equine issues such as how to interpret the law applicable to various parts of the equine industry, risk management issues in the equine industry, and issues regarding the purchase and sale of horses. Further, we will evaluate legal aspects of the management of equine facilities. Topics to be covered include supervision and management of equine activities, ownership issues, business plans, contracts, common liability issues, litigation and dispute resolution, purchase and sale of equines, disclosure issues, personal property issues, tax issues, environmental resource management, and regulatory issues.
This course is the culmination of a student’s undergraduate educational experience in Equine Studies. It integrates a liberal arts education with competency in the area of emphasis. Students will be expected to complete an independent project related to their interests in science, management, or business. Projects may include, but are not limited to, a research project, business plan, or other project as approved by the instructor.
This capstone course summarizes the student’s educational experience in Equine Studies at Midway University and prepares them for a leadership role in the equine industry. Prerequisite: senior status.
This course provides an understanding of the scope of the equine industry and its economic value to society. The course introduces the management skills necessary for a successful venture development in the equine industry. Students will develop a business plan for a start-up equine venture.
Students will learn to identify issues/situations in supervision and management, risks and liability, discrimination, and contracts.
This course provides an introduction to problems of moral philosophy in the equine industry. Ethical philosophies will be examined. Historically important and current theoretical approaches to ethics that provide systematic procedures for answering questions about right and wrong will be examined. The course will consider a variety of important issues such as immigration, animal rights, and euthanasia.
This course will focus on analyzing and producing a variety marketing and communication strategies for different types of equine businesses.
Students will develop a literature review and proposal of a question to be explored, select and employ appropriate methodologies to research, analyze, develop conclusions and recommendations, and submit a final capstone paper and present the results orally.