Equine Science Minor

[tiedyeddog]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am a senior who is very close to obtaining my degree in microbiology and I am thinking about getting a minor in equine science at my big state school I attend.

I have no interest in being a vet, I am applying to medical school this summer. However, I am interested in learning more about owning a stable, selling horses, nutritional needs, etc.. Has anyone completed or is planning on doing a minor in equine science? I would love to hear opinions on what you learned from it, what you plan to do with the stuff you learned from it, or any other advice you could give me.

I could not do a major and just go part time until I graduate but I feel this will be the last chance I'll get to learn stuff like this before med. school.

Thanks. 🙂

 

[ImaJerseyGirl]

.

 

[tiedyeddog]

Thanks for your reply!

My girlfriend is hoping to be an equine vet one day (let's hope for that acceptance sometime this winter! 😱) so I am not really that interested in the anatomy or physiology of a horse (don't get me wrong, I find it interesting) but I want to know more about the industry itself.

I think some of the classes would really expand my knowledge of the biz. Some of the classes are: Fundementals of the horse industry, Equine Feeds and Feeding, Equine production, equine selection, and equine facilities, marketing, and management.

I really want to do it but but have reservations about going an extra quarter for the minor in order to take just one class. My girlfriend has been around horses her entire life but I guess she never really learned an extensive amount about the horse industry so she thinks I might learn stuff she's never been taught.

Learning that the American Quarter Horse Congress brought in $110 million to columbus and that half a million people attend it really surprised me and it turned me on to learning more about the biz. I had no idea that the equine industry could be so huge.

Thanks again

 

[aretoo]

Thanks for your reply!

My girlfriend is hoping to be an equine vet one day (let's hope for that acceptance sometime this winter! 😱) so I am not really that interested in the anatomy or physiology of a horse (don't get me wrong, I find it interesting) but I want to know more about the industry itself.


Thanks again

There's a college in my area (Ontario, CA) that has a program that sounds similar to what you are interested in, though I think it's 2 years long. Anyway, the general consensus from most people I've talked to is that the program isn't really worth the time or money.

Most of these sorts of programs teach a lot of very good theoretical knowledge, but much of it is not practical. Honestly, if you'd like to gain knowledge about the horse industry, it's best to be a PART of it, not read about it. I would work at a *reputable* barn in your area, in a discipline that you are interested in, instead of doing the course.

The way I look at it is why pay to learn something you can be paid to learn?

 

[EqSci]

I think this could go either way. I don't think you'd be wasting your time by going the extra time to take these courses, but at the same time I don't think you'd be missing out on anything if you didn't.

I tend to agree with aretoo. Seeing as you aren't looking to actually go into the equine industry (unless I read your post wrong?) I don't think it'd be worth paying for these classes. As a horse owner, equine science major, and equine vet hopeful, I can tell you that the equine classes I've taken have had very little or no effect on my horse ownership practices, which is what I think you're looking for. The best way to learn is to get a great mentor/boss, work in a stable, etc. It's mostly about experience, not theoretical knowledge. Any general knowledge that you need to know you can learn by hanging out at a barn with horse people for a while. Don't get me wrong, my classes have been great and I've learned a lot - just not information that I could see YOU utilizing as a doctor and hobby horse owner. Another thing that I think is worth mentioning is that we all know the class is only as good as its professor. I've had nearly worthless equine classes taught by an instructor not interested in horses in the least; but luckily, most of my equine classes were taught by a man who is prominent and successful in the industry, extremely knowledgeable, and a great teacher. So that makes a big difference.

I guess it all depends on what you want to learn. To learn how to care for horses as a hobby, you can learn that from any knowledgeable horse person without the price tag. I think to justify the minor you'd have to be looking into managing or owning a barn as your career, and in that case you'd probably be doing that as your major! If you're just looking to make money from horses on the side, pick a different industry. 😉 (seriously) But in that case, you'd be much better off with a great mentor than taking some classes.

So after all that rambling, my opinion is that no, the classes won't be worth it if I'm understanding what you want to do with horses.

ETA: Also keep in mind just because it wouldn't necessarily benefit you in a practical way doesn't mean you shouldn't still take the classes. My opinion is that if you learn something, it's never wasted. If you're interested in it, you'd think it'd be fun, and you can justify the cost, then by all means go for it!!

 

[tiedyeddog]

I think to justify the minor you'd had to be looking into managing or running a barn as your career, and in that case you'd probably be doing that as your major! If you're just looking to make money from horses on the side, pick a different industry. 😉

I can't tell the future but I like the idea of owning stables but employing a manager to run the general details or day-to-day operation. Probably a pipe dream but I would not be taking the minor in order to be a hobby horse owner. I really like the idea of the classes about facility management but I don't know. Maybe the minor still wouldn't help me out in that area.....

Thanks for all the replies!

Edit: upon reading your edit, I think the last part is really important. I pretty much hate doing these boring biology classes by now and haven't taken any classes that I thought were "fun". I think this will be my last chance before medical school to take classes in something I find interesting so I am really leaning towards doing it. I think I will take one course this winter and see if I want to continue in the minor after that.

 

[EqSci]

I can't tell the future but I like the idea of owning stables but employing a manager to run the general details or day-to-day operation

That's pretty much what I figured. In that case, the manager would need the Equine Science degree, not you! Your job would be business related, i.e. finances and such... not too equine related.

But again, knowledge is never wasted, it's always good to at least have an idea of what's going on. Go for it! Have fun. 🙂