This course provides the basis for understanding the equine industry, from a practical and theoretical perspective. Students will learn basic techniques such as horse handling, grooming, bandaging, blanketing, and equipment use. Horse-environment interactions will focus on equine behaviour. The role of the horse in society will be explored including current issues and career options. Conformation and health complement learning in stable management and workplace safety will be assessed.

This experiential learning course provides opportunities for students to actively engage in learning about horse daily care, barn management, peripheral work crucial to horse management, teaching labs and/or research projects. The internship schedule will be determined by the student and the Course Coordinator and should be completed by the end of the following winter semester. Completion of the internship is mandatory for the successful completion of the course. Note that this course may require attendance by students on some early mornings, evening, weekends and/or holidays.

This course introduces fundamental concepts of nutrition from a biochemical perspective. The biological roles of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins are studied, as well as the role of metabolic pathways in maintaining equine health at the cellular, organ, and whole body levels. Diagnosis, management, and prevention of equine nutritional diseases are discussed.

This course will introduce skills required to organize equine events, such as horse shows, clinics and conferences. Major topics include event planning, budgeting, promotions, sponsorship, managing event staff and volunteers, legacies and environmental impacts of events. Required activities outside of regularly scheduled class hours will be assigned. Students will assist in the planning and staging of an equine event.

This course discusses selected current global, national and regional issues in the horse industry. Analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are applied to controversial issues in classroom discussions and reflective critical thinking. A large portion of this course will be dedicated to the discipline of Equitation Science, which plays a key role in addressing many issues that occur in our relations with horses.

In this field course, students will travel to visit premier equine educational and industry locations managed by elite professionals. Students are exposed to a broad, high caliber learning experience from a variety of industry operations, providing a catalyst for future courses in the BBRM degree program. An additional fee will be assessed per student to cover the cost of transportation and accommodation. This course must be recorded as part of your Fall course selection and tuition and compulsory fees will be calculated accordingly. Contact course instructor during the preceding March course selection period.

This course applies the principles of management to knowledge of the equine industry, equine facility design, biological systems and equine anatomy and physiology. The role of management in the optimization of the health of the horse is critical to success in the industry. Fundamental principles of horse health will be introduced including important indicators of individual and herd health, record keeping and the role of management in disease causation. Application of current, scientifically based management principles and techniques will ask the student to develop both proactive and reactive decision making skills in the context of equine health management.

This course introduces students to the design, development and management of an equine facility. Aspects of the building, renovating and management of horse facilities including site planning and interior design are presented. Special consideration is given to environmental control, waste management and environmental stewardship. Management topics include theoretical and practical skills, interacting with people, recruiting, supervising, motivating, training employees, effective listening, dealing with difficult people, group dynamics and leadership.

This course considers the conversion of absorbed nutrients into metabolic fuels and the use of these substrates for work and heat production in horses. Practical application of theoretical knowledge develops an understanding for the basic physiological principles of muscle contraction and fatigue, thermoregulation, and energy utilization under differing exercise intensities, and how these principles can be applied to differential training strategies for equine athletes.

This course focuses on the nutrition of horses at peak levels of performance or endurance. The use of real-world, case-study scenarios allows for the evaluation of practical feeding programs across a range of equine performance situations.

This seminar course integrates discussion on selected current global, national and regional issues in the equine industry, building upon knowledge gained in earlier courses. Current issues in the equine industry will be examined through discussion with an emphasis on professionalism.

This course facilitates education, communication and an exchange of ideas between students and equine businesses to enhance the development of the equine industry and its leaders. Student teams work together with an existing equine enterprise to develop and carry out a hands-on research project that is of benefit to the business owner. Students apply the knowledge gained in preceding courses in a holistic approach to the project as a culmination of their learning.