Friday, September 28, 2012

University of Massachusetts-Amherst - Equine Studie

By Heather Toms


The College of Massachusetts-Amherst in Amherst, Massachusetts, offers Associate's Degrees in Equine Industries. Students can also go for the Bachelor's Animal Science degree, with major in Equine Studies at the Veterinary and Animal Science Department. These programs are custom-built to prepare students for careers in management, breeding, pony care, coaching, professional riding, management of stud farms, farriership, pony transport, farm management, riding instruction at non-public stables and schools, equine publications, feed/tack stores and a number of other fields. Equines studies scholars can choose between specialisation in Horsemanship Abilities (Equitation) or Equine Management. The courses offered include:

- Equitation

- Coaching Horses: Special Issues

- Equitation Instruction: Theory & Techniques

- Breeds/Types or Horses and Horse Selection

- Therapeutic Riding: Teaching/Theory

- Practice Equitation Teaching

- Management of Horses

- Management of Studs

- Health and Illness Management

- Breeding.

Scholars opting for Equine Management get to be a part of the techniques concerned in breeding, picking and caring for and handling horses. This arms the scholars for careers in equine farm management as well as other professions in the equine industry. Scholars learn correct evaluation of equine conformation. They will have to take classes focusing on horse breeding, selection, injury, disease and business. A seasoned equine vet teaches the courses in breeding; these courses are designed to make students totally familiar with all sides of pony breeding. The program in breeding raises Bay State foals that are subsequently absorbed by the institute's equine programme as substitutes for aging horses. The illness and injury courses teach students about handling equine injury and disease by having them care for horses in the institution's research herds.

Students wanting to develop talents in horsemanship are enabled to take up careers as instructors by giving them plenty of opportunity to boost their horse riding and training. Within horsemanship abilities, the main focus is on riding and instruction. Students are given access to 1 or 2 equitation class levels. These classes are held twice a week, and involve a fee of $500 per semester. Classes focus on dressage and hunt seat equitation; there are also classes on cross country functional positions for scholars keen on cross country event training. Scholars in the Methods and Theory of Instruction in Equitation class are given an opportunity to get licensed by Massachusetts State. They can then teach the school's programs to other students. Students are also put thru training courses that involve practical field work with the institution's young horses. Students whose riding abilities pass the test are then permitted to continue in-saddle coaching on these horses.

Scholars can join up in any of a few horse clubs. Students keen on showing can enrol in the Intercollegiate Pony Show Association, a state body that counts more than 300 colleges and colleges in its fold. This association gives scholars without their own horses the opportunity to compete at horse shows. Students can also join UMass's Dressage Team. This team competes in Intercollegiate Dressage Association events. Scholars can improve riding talents and build on their awareness of and abilities in dressage through team collusion.




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