Animal Science: Equus

A hands-on equine management experience. Students perform horse duties, recordkeeping, and make financial and management decisions on a horse boarding operation. Prerequisites: ASCI 1000 or ASCI 1400.

Prereqs enforced by the system: ASCI 1000 or 1400; Minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission

Equus is a hands on course based mostly at the UVM Horse Barn. Students are divided into groups of 3 and assigned a horse to care for for the entire semester. Responsibilities include daily cleaning of the stall, water buckets emptied and cleaned, evening hay rationed and placed in the stall, AM and PM feed set up. In addition to the daily chores, students are expected to complete 1 additional hour per week in the barn helping with additional daily chores (turn out, bring in, water, etc.). Students are also expected to complete 1-2 weekend shifts per semester. On a weekend shift, the student completes chores for all of the animal science horses and helps with the hourly barn chores. Students learn basic equine husbandry skills as well as general horsemanship. The class is primarily hands-on. Students have the opportunity to ride the horses, although that is not a requirement. We have a weight limit of 20% of the horse's weight including equipment. The class is taught by a lecturer and 2-4 teaching assistants.

Students are expected to attend class, complete their chores, care for and oversee the health of their assigned horse, participate / attend barn events, complete 1-2 weekend shifts, and keep their assigned horse's equipment clean and in working order. Students complete 2 oral presentations, and a semester long research project and oral presentation.

Students' oral presentations and written paper are evaluated using a rubric. Participation and attendance are monitored throughout the semester. Chores must be completed on time and without missing them.