University of Connecticut
EQUINE COURSES AND ACTIVITIES
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University of ConnecticutEQUINE COURSES AND ACTIVITIES |
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Students enrolled at the University of Connecticut may participate in the equine program by taking equine courses as an elective for credit or by riding in one of our practicums and possibly joining one of our teams. Students who sign up for practicums can expect to pay a fee and their ability to participate may be limited by the availability of space in the class. Animal Science majors enrolled in the 4-year (B.S.) and 2-year (A.A.S.) programs receive preference when registering in courses for credit and can choose to follow the 2 or 4-year equine science options. (refer to Animal Science Handbook). These are selected groups of courses designed to equip the student with skills necessary for a professional career.
Because the Department believes that practical experience is important for professional development and educational improvement, there are many activities available to students that want to broaden the scope of their horse experience.
HORSE PRACTICUM
This
is a professional improvement, non-credit activity. It's designed to increase the
overall experience and job competitiveness of Animal Science and other UConn
majors who posses a strong interest in horses. For a fee, students are able to ride
huntseat, stockseat, dressage and saddleseat from beginner through to advanced
levels. click
here for more Practicum info.
POLO PRACTICUM
The
polo practicum is a non-credit, extracurricular riding program which offers
beginner through advanced lessons in polo techniques and strategy. For a fee,
students can ride at least once a week in the indoor arena. UConn
maintains over 20 polo horses with tack and equipment provided for students
participating in the polo practicum.
POLO TEAM
Team
members use polo ponies maintained by the Department of Animal Science. Games
are played almost every weekend during each semester. Additional games are
played off campus at various indoor arenas throughout the year. Both the men's
and women's teams are highly competitive and participate each year in the
National Intercollegiate Polo Tournament. UConn Women's Polo team won its forth
consecutive National Intercollegiate Championship in 1998. UConn also sent two
players to the All-East and All-American teams. Polo Team players are selected
from Polo Practicum students who meet the standard for the team as determined by
the coach.
EQUESTRIAN TEAM
Students may participate in intercollegiate
competition at the beginner,
intermediate or advanced levels. The Equestrian Team is selected from the Horse
Practicum and participates in 10 shows per year including Regional and Zone
Finals. At each show the team competes against 11 or more colleges. UConn's
Equestrian Team routinely qualifies several riders for the National competition.
This is an extracurricular activity and a show entry fee is charged. UConn hosts
two shows a year.
NOTE: The UConn Equestrian Team is not a National Collegiate
Athletic Association (NCAA) sanctioned team, however, it is a member of the
Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) and competes within their rules and
regulations.
DRILL TEAM
The UConn
Morgan Drill Team provides colorful examples of synchronized riding (both
Western and English disciplines) to music. The Drill Team meets one hour per week to
rehearse for events and participates in such events as the Little "I", UConn
Opening Ceremonies, Connecticut Horse Symposium, New England Morgan Shows and
various campus parades and ceremonies. At the present, there aren't any other
colleges on the east coast that compete. The team intends to someday organize clinics
and intercollegiate competitions. This is a non-credit, extracurricular activity and
a small fee is charged.
HORSE JUDGING TEAM
Team members are selected from students who have
taken the 2 credit course "Horse Selection & Evaluation" (ANSC 281). The team has
competed in intercollegiate horse judging contests since 1970, winning 50 regional and
national awards. Members of the team also participate in educational and
fundraising activities, including the Annual UConn Spring Horse Auction, to
raise money to support their travel expenses.
LITTLE INTERNATIONAL (LITTLE "I") HORSE & LIVESTOCK SHOW
This is
the oldest student-managed activity on campus and is of great interest to students
contemplating a future in the horse, livestock and related industries. The two-day
Little "I" Livestock and Horse Show, sponsored by the Block & Bridle Club provides students
with the opportunity to fit and show
a variety of farm animal species. The club also organizes a fundraising ham sale and
participates in the Northeast Student Affiliates (NESA) competition.
3453. Pleasure Horse Appreciation and Use.
Either semester. One credit. One 1-hour lecture and one 1-hour laboratory. Not open to
students who have passed ANSC 3456. Rademacher.
Open to all University students
interested in pleasure horses. The principles of horse management and horsemanship.
2251. Horse Science. First semester. Three credits.
Two class periods and one 2-hour laboratory or discussion period. Open to sophomores or higher.
Dinger.
This course will be of particular value to animal science majors and
includes horse types and breeds and their nutrition, breeding, evaluation, behavior, care
and management with attention given to detailed studies of the problems and
practices of horse production and use.
3456. Light Horse Training and Management. Second semester.
Two credits. Three 1-hour laboratory and one 1-hour discussion periods. Prerequisite: ANSC 2251. Open
only with consent of instructor. Rademacher, Dinger.
The theory, fundamentals
and practice of breaking, training, fitting, showing, and the use of horses for
riding. Primarily for animal science majors.
4457. Methods of Equitation Instruction. Second semester. Two credits. One class
period and one 2-hour laboratory or discussion period. Consent of instructor
required. Intermediate II or above riding experience required. Rademacher.
The techniques and procedures of teaching equitation including the theories of riding
and teaching methods. Practice teaching will be required under the supervision of the
instructor.
3452. Horse Breeding Farm Management. Second semester.
Three credits. One class period and two 2-hour laboratory or discussion periods. Recommended
preparation: ANSC 2251. Dinger.
This course is designed to develop technical and
managerial skills necessary for operating horse breeding farms. Programs for
herd health, hoofcare, nutrition, breeding, foaling, and record keeping will be
included.
3454. Horse Selection and Evaluation. Second semester.
Two credits. One 4-hour laboratory or discussion period. Taught concurrently with SAAS 254.
Not open for credit to graduate students. Consent of
instructor is required. Bennett.
Comparative evaluation,
classification and selection of horses according to conformation, breed
characteristics and performance. Judging skills including justification of
placings through presentation of oral reasons will be developed. The
Intercollegiate Horse Judging Team may be selected from this course. Field trips
are required.
3675. Advanced Animal and Product Evaluation. First semester. Two credits. One 4-hour
laboratory or discussion period. Taught concurrently with SAAS 275. Not open for
credit to graduate students. May be repeated once for credit. Consent of
instructor required. Staff.
Intensive training in the evaluation of
selected species of farm animals or their products. Type standards and the
relation of anatomical features to physiological function are emphasized.
Evaluation skills including justification of decisions will be developed.
Intercollegiate dairy cattle, horse, livestock, poultry judging teams will be
selected from this course. Field trips are required, some of which may occur
prior to the start of the semester.
3691. Professional Internship. Either semester. Credits and hours by arrangement. Open only for juniors and seniors with consent of instructor. Darre, Andrew.
2695. Equine Podology and Farrier Science. First semester. Basics in equine hoof care and horseshoeing. Dinger, Hoagland.
2699. Independent Study. Either or both semesters. Credit and hours by
arrangement of instructor. May be repeated for credit.
The equine facilities at the University reflect the considerable interest
shown in horses by the people of Connecticut. We currently maintain
approximately 85 horses in the Department of Animal Science and specialize in
the breeding of Morgans. Current facilities include:
The primary bloodlines in today's UConn Morgan Herd are based upon horses initially obtained from the United States Government Morgan Breeding Farm in the 1930's. The Horse Unit currently breeds five to six mares each year to produce enough foals to support its teaching and research programs. UConn Morgans are shown and exhibited by our staff and students in many of the major Morgan Breed Shows, and have won many Local, National, and World Championships over the years.
The Horsebarn Hill Arena is an indoor facility (120' x 220') which is located close to the department and can seat up to approximately 300 spectators. It is used both for teaching and staging a wide number of extramural activities including the Little "I" Livestock and Horse Show, the Connecticut Horse Symposium, Polo demonstrations & practice and Drill Team demonstrations.
| Instructor | Educational Background | Professional Interests and Activities |
| Dr. James
Dinger Associate Professor (860) 486-3376 james.dinger@uconn.edu | B.A., B.S., M.S., Ph.D., University of Maryland | Instruction and research in Equine Reproductive Physiology. Faculty Advisor to Horse Program. Polo Team's Coach. |
| Elizabeth Rademacher Equine Lecturer, Director of Equestrian Program (860) 486-3377 elizabeth.rademacher@uconn.edu | B.S., Equine Science, Colorado State University | Equine Lecturer, Director of Equestrian Program and Dressage and Equestrian Teams Coach. |
| John Bennett
Academic Assistant II (860) 486-2034 john.bennett_jr@uconn.edu | Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture; B.S., University of Connecticut | Horse Unit Manager. Horse Judging Team Coach. Morgan Show Team Instructor. |
| Dr. Jenifer
Nadeau Equine Extension Specialist Assistant Professor (860) 486-4471 jenifer.nadeau@uconn.edu | B.S., University of Kentucky; M.S., Ph.D., University of Tennessee | Instruction, research, and extension in equine science. |
