With horses playing roles in sports, therapy, recreation, and agriculture, the demand for knowledgeable horse care professionals continues to grow. The American Horse Council reports the equine industry now supports 2.2 million U.S. jobs—a 33% increase in employment impact since 2017. This Horse Care Management course will help prepare you for a rewarding career by equipping you with practical and theoretical knowledge in equine health, nutrition, and stable management, while addressing animal welfare and industry standards.
During this equine training course, you will complete real-world assignments, develop a horse care management plan, and learn the fundamentals of running an equine business. Through interactive lessons, expert instruction, and a final capstone project, you will finish with the equine management skills, confidence, and credentials to enter or advance in the equine industry.
Instructor(s):Bella Wehner
Bella Wehner is a dedicated horse care management professional with hands-on experience in barn operations and daily horse care. Combining practical knowledge with a passion for equine well-being, Bella has developed systems that keep horses healthy, happy, and performing at their best. Bella has worked with horses of varying ages, breeds, and temperaments, developing individualized care routines that support each horse’s unique needs and potential. From nutrition and grooming to stable organization and management, Bella’s goal is to inspire confidence and competence in every future equine professional.
Requirements:
Hardware Requirements:
- This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac or Chromebook device.
Software Requirements:
- PC: Windows 10 or later.
- Mac: macOS 12 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
- Any word processing application (not included in enrollment).
- Microsoft Word Online
- Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
Other:
- Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.
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Lesson 1
- Horse Care I: Equine Husbandry Basics
- Domestication/Development of the Horse
- Form to Function
- Definitions of Movement
- Teeth and Age Determination
- Feet & Hoof Care
- Horsemanship and Equitation
- Basic Handling of Horses
- Horse Care II: Equine Herd Health Management
- Review of Disease
- Normal Health Parameters & Signs of Disease
- Common Infectious Diseases
- Parasite Management
- Digestive System Disorders
- Miscellaneous Diseases
- Wound Management and First Aid
- Horse Management III: Equine Nutrition
- Review of the Horse's Digestive Anatomy & Physiology
- Review of the Basic Nutrients
- Animal Factors Affecting Nutrition
- Feed Factors Affecting Nutrition
- Feeding Factors Affecting Nutrition
- Feed-Induced Diseases
- Horse Training Principles (Option 1)
- Introduction to Equine Behavior
- Patterns of General Behavior
- Social Behavior
- Intelligence/Factors Affecting Learning
- Foundations in Horsemanship
- Principles of Training
- Horse Breeding (Option 2)
- Basic Principles in Selective Breeding
- Reproductive Physiology of the Mare
- Reproductive Physiology of the Stallion
- Breeding Management of the Mare
- Breeding Management of the Stallion
- Management of Pregnancy & Parturition
- Reproductive Failure
- Principles of Artificial Insemination & Embryo Transfer
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