This two-year program provides students with the theoretical expertise, applied technical skills, and hands-on experience required by equine industry employers. It is well suited to individuals who are motivated to expand their knowledge and abilities in horse care and managing an equine-related business. A 140-hour industry externship at the end of the second year provides students with the opportunity to practice newly acquired skills, and work with equine management practices common to the industry.

Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Semester 1 - Fall
DAGR*1090	Communications & Software Applications I	0.50
DEQN*1020	Equine Anatomy and Physiology	0.50
DEQN*1030	Equine Behaviour and Handling	0.50
DEQN*1050	Introduction to Equine Health	0.50
DEQN*1150	Practical Equine Care I	0.50
DEQN*2040	Introduction to Equine Nutrition	0.50
Semester 2 - Winter
DAGR*2090	Communications & Software Applications II	0.50
DEQN*1200	Equine Facility Management and Design	0.50
DEQN*2030	Equine Conformation and Lameness	0.50
DEQN*2050	Equine Health and Welfare	0.50
DEQN*2100	Equine Conditioning	0.50
DEQN*2150	Practical Equine Care II	0.50
Semester 3 - Fall
DAGR*1070	Introduction to Business Management	0.50
DEQN*3050	Advanced Equine Nutrition	0.50
DEQN*3070	Equine Forage Management	0.50
DEQN*3150	Equine Industry Management and Care	0.50
DEQN*3210	Equine Complementary Therapies	0.50
Select 0.50 credits from the following:
DAGR*1000	Livestock Systems	0.50
DAGR*1200	Applied Plant Science	0.50
DAGR*1600	Applied Mathematics	0.50
DAGR*2360	Machinery Maintenance	0.50
DENM*1000	Environmental Science and Issues	0.50
DENM*1300	Environmental Law and Ethics	0.50
DENM*2000	Occupational Health and Safety	0.50
DENM*3150	Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship	0.50
DHRT*1000	Landscape Management	0.50
DHRT*1050	Plant Identification I	0.50
DHRT*2000	Greenhouse Management	0.50
Semester 4 - Winter
DAGR*2020	Financial Management	0.50
DEQN*4120	Rider Conditioning	0.50
DEQN*4320	Equine Business Venture	0.50
DEQN*4500	Equine Industry Externship	0.00
Select 0.50 credits from the following:
DEQN*4170	British Equine Study Tour	0.50
DEQN*4190	International Equine Industry Practices	0.50
Select 1.00 credits from the following:
DAGR*3080	Marketing	0.50
DAGR*3130	Sales and Sales Management	0.50
DAGR*4600	Human Resource Management	0.50
DAGR*4090	Leadership	0.50

Co-op Requirements

This two-year program, which includes a co-op term, provides students with the theoretical expertise, applied technical skills, and business management knowledge required by equine industry employers. It is well suited to individuals who are motivated to expand their knowledge and abilities in equine care and management, while also promoting critical thinking and teamwork. Courses focus on industry-specific proficiencies, including equine welfare, behaviour, health, and safe handling practices.  Students develop relevant skills to national standards through the use of live horses in practical labs and experiential learning opportunities. Graduates are prepared to enter key sectors of the equine industry, including competition, recreation, rehabilitation, and racing operations.

The Co-op option integrates academic learning with a period of paid workplace learning in a field relevant to the student’s academic and personal/professional goals. The co-op work term is scheduled after the second academic semester, providing a foundation on which to build the work experience. The work term is developed in collaboration with the employer and is approved by the institution as a suitable learning environment. Students participate in a competitive employment process to secure an approved co-op work term that is relevant to the student’s area of study. COOP*1100 Introduction to Co-operative Education, a mandatory, non-credit course, is a prerequisite for the co-op work term and prepares the student for the employment process. The student’s performance in the workplace is supervised and evaluated by the student’s employer. The student’s progress during the work term is also monitored by the Experiential Learning Hub (EL Hub), which may include a site visit during the co-op work term and a review of the student’s official learning goals. A work report is required for the co-op work term and is graded by an assigned Co-op Faculty Advisor. All evaluation grades will appear on the student’s official transcript.

Students must follow the academic work schedule as outlined below (also found on the Co-operative Education website: https://www.recruitguelph.ca/cecs/). 

Academic and Co-op Work Term Schedule

Co-op Information

Year	Fall	Winter	Summer
1	Academic Semester 1 COOP*1120	Academic Semester 2	COOP*1020 Work Term 1
2	Academic Semester 3	Academic Semester 4

Please refer to the Co-operative Education program policy with respect to work term performance grading, work term report grading and program completion requirements.

For additional program information students should consult with their Co-op Co-ordinator and Co-op Faculty Advisor, listed on the Co-operative Education web site.

Credit Summary

This Diploma program will require the completion of 12.50 credits:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Core Courses		11.50
Electives		0.50
Co-op Work Terms		0.50
Total Credits		12.5

Recommended Program Sequence

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Semester 1 - Fall
COOP*1120	Introduction to Co-operative Education	0.00
DAGR*1090	Communications & Software Applications I	0.50
DEQN*1020	Equine Anatomy and Physiology	0.50
DEQN*1030	Equine Behaviour and Handling	0.50
DEQN*1050	Introduction to Equine Health	0.50
DEQN*1150	Practical Equine Care I	0.50
DEQN*2040	Introduction to Equine Nutrition	0.50
Semester 2 - Winter
DAGR*2090	Communications & Software Applications II	0.50
DEQN*1200	Equine Facility Management and Design	0.50
DEQN*2030	Equine Conformation and Lameness	0.50
DEQN*2050	Equine Health and Welfare	0.50
DEQN*2100	Equine Conditioning	0.50
DEQN*2150	Practical Equine Care II	0.50
Summer Semester
COOP*1020	Co-op Work Term I	0.50
Semester 3 - Fall
DAGR*1070	Introduction to Business Management	0.50
DEQN*3050	Advanced Equine Nutrition	0.50
DEQN*3070	Equine Forage Management	0.50
DEQN*3150	Equine Industry Management and Care	0.50
DEQN*3210	Equine Complementary Therapies	0.50
Select 0.50 credits from the following:
DAGR*1000	Livestock Systems	0.50
DAGR*1200	Applied Plant Science	0.50
DAGR*1600	Applied Mathematics	0.50
DAGR*2360	Machinery Maintenance	0.50
DENM*1000	Environmental Science and Issues	0.50
DENM*1300	Environmental Law and Ethics	0.50
DENM*2000	Occupational Health and Safety	0.50
DENM*3150	Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship	0.50
DHRT*1000	Landscape Management	0.50
DHRT*1050	Plant Identification I	0.50
DHRT*2000	Greenhouse Management	0.50
Semester 4 - Winter
DAGR*2020	Financial Management	0.50
DEQN*4120	Rider Conditioning	0.50
DEQN*4320	Equine Business Venture	0.50
Select 0.50 credits from the following:
DEQN*4170	British Equine Study Tour	0.50
DEQN*4190	International Equine Industry Practices	0.50
Select 1.00 credits from the following:
DAGR*3080	Marketing	0.50
DAGR*3130	Sales and Sales Management	0.50
DAGR*4090	Leadership	0.50
DAGR*4600	Human Resource Management	0.50