About Our Program

This program is designed to prepare students for careers in equine facility management with fundamental horse care, horse handling, horse training, riding, stable management and riding instruction included. Current employees and horse and equine facility owners as well as students with no former experience have the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience by completing this degree and becoming an equine facility manager.

Nature of Work and Employment

Careers in the equine industry are varied in nature and requirements. There are positions requiring considerable versatility, such as within a small privately owned facility with only a few employees. Other positions are more specialized and are generally found in large, complex operations.

Special Considerations

While the program includes a significant amount of classroom delivery, in many cases the courses will be held on-site to provide the student with as much direct contact with the equine environment as possible. The academic skills will center on our core communications, math, and computer application courses and will be rounded out by business-related content.

Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Gen Ed Courses
ACCT 220	Quickbooks Accounting	2
BUSN 121	Intro to Business 1	3
BUSN 125	Math of Business 1	3
BUSN 249	Principles of Management 1	3
INFT 180	Intro to Information Systems 1	3
General education course with a Diversity designation (see advisor)		3
Select one of the following:		3
BUSN 141	Business Communications 1
COMM 101	Technical Communications 1
ENGL 121	Rhetoric and Composition I 1
Req. Program Specific Courses
EQUI 101	Equine Business	3
EQUI 103	Equine Evaluation	2
EQUI 105	Equine Facilities	3
EQUI 107	Equine Health Care I	2
EQUI 109	Equine Health Care II 1	2
EQUI 115	Equine Nutrition	3
EQUI 117	Equine Physiology	3
EQUI 125	Horse Handler First Aid	1
EQUI 127	Horse Handling I	2
EQUI 129	Horse Handling II 1	2
EQUI 131	Horse Shoeing	1
EQUI 133	Horse Training I 1	2
EQUI 135	Horse Training II 1	2
EQUI 137	Riding I 1	2
EQUI 139	Riding II 1	2
EQUI 141	Riding Instruction I	2
EQUI 143	Riding Instruction II 1	2
EQUI 145	Stable Management I	2
EQUI 147	Stable Management II 1	2
OCED 290	Workplace Experience 1	4
PHYD 121	Physical Fitness I	0.5-2
Total Hours		64.5-66

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Course has a prerequisite. See course description.

Program Outcomes

Students who complete this program of study will:

• Equine Health Management: Graduates will demonstrate the ability to assess, manage, and promote the health and well-being of horses, including basic veterinary care, nutrition, disease prevention, and emergency response procedures.
• Horse Training, Riding and Behavior: Graduates will apply knowledge of horse behavior and training techniques to effectively work with and train horses for various disciplines, including riding, driving, and performance events.
• Equine Facility Management: Graduates will possess the skills necessary to manage equine facilities, including stable management, safety protocols, herd management, and equipment maintenance.
• Equine Business and Marketing: Graduates will demonstrate the ability to manage equine-related businesses, including understanding financial management, marketing, customer relations, and legal and ethical considerations within the equine industry.
• Equine Industry Practices and Careers: Graduates will develop a comprehensive understanding of career opportunities within the equine industry and be prepared to pursue professional pathways in areas such as breeding, training, event management, or equine therapy.

Program Contacts

Call Highland at 815-235-6121 for the following program contacts:

• Dr. Matt Magee, Dean of Agriculture, Business & Technology
• Vicki Schulz, Student Advisor/Transfer Coordinator