At Stephens, you will transform your love of horses into a meaningful and productive career. While building a strong foundation of horsemanship through hands-on training, the Equestrian Studies department emphasizes assertiveness, self-confidence and the realization of professional goals within the equine industry.

Visit the department homepage for more info!

QUICK FACTS

• Join one of the nation’s oldest (founded in 1925) college equestrian programs
  
• Begin training at your personal skill level
  
• Study Hunter/Jumper, Saddleseat, Western and Dressage; combined training and driving also offered
  
• Participate in on-campus, local and national horse shows, which sharpen your skills and introduce you to field professionals
  
• Board your own horse at the Stephens Stables, located a short distance from the residence halls; animal lovers may also room with a small pet from home in select residence halls
  
• Complete a required internship at locations like the American Horse Council or other breed associations
  
• Combine a minor in Equestrian with the study of fashion, child study or another area

B.S. IN EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
If you want to work professionally in a horse-related business, Stephens’ Equestrian program is for you. You will take courses in riding, teaching, equine management, farrier science and nutrition as well as equestrian business management. Courses also include Stable Management; Show Horse Preparation; and Horse Production.

B.S. IN EQUESTRIAN SCIENCE
Have you ever wanted to become a horse trainer, rider or teacher? As an Equestrian Science major, you will care for school horses and manage shows, and learn techniques for teaching adults and children. Courses include: Applied Equine Anatomy; Methods of Teaching Horsemanship; Equine Feeding and Nutrition; and Stewarding and Judging.

COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS
B.S. IN EQUESTRIAN SCIENCE/ANIMAL SCIENCE PROGRAM
This pre-professional program prepares you for a career with a large feed company or farm, where you will work with horses and other farm animals. Choose to enroll in a dual-degree program in Equestrian Science at Stephens and Animal Science at the nearby University of Missouri–Columbia, which gives you a degree suitable for working with a variety of farm animals. You may also choose to minor in Animal Science at MU.

3:2 EQUESTRIAN SCIENCE PROGRAM
Get your master’s degree in only five years! You may earn a B.A. in Equestrian Science from Stephens in three years; qualified students are eligible to enter into a two-year master’s program in occupational therapy at Washington University in St. Louis.

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM
Continue at Stephens with graduate work in our Master of
Business Administration (M.B.A.) program. Our program offers a blend of online learning with traditional classroom instruction. Students enjoy the flexibility of online coursework as they enhance their learning through classroom interaction in the evening or during an on-campus seminar. You can choose your emphasis area based on your interests and career goals. You may even apply for a tuition-paid M.B.A. fellowship.

FACILITIES
The Stephens Equestrian Center occupies 16 acres on the Stephens campus, featuring an indoor arena, a lighted outdoor arena, seven turn-out paddocks, stables and a cross-country course. The Equestrian Studies department maintains a large number of school horses of all levels and disciplines. You will take classes in Saddleseat, Hunter/Jumper, Combined Training, Dressage and Western Riding. Gain experience riding Saddlebreds, Arabians, Morgans, Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, Quarterhorses and National Show horses.

PRINCE OF WALES CLUB
The Prince of Wales Club (established in 1926) is one of the oldest continually active riding clubs in the country. As a member , you gain leadership and management skills through events like the annual spring charity horse show. Students manage all aspects of the show that draws riders from Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and Iowa. Members learn to organize volunteers; post a horse show on the computer; design and set up hunter-jumper courses; manage the paddock; keep the show’s books; and develop a media public relations plan to promote the show.

RELATED EQUINE LINKS
Organizations:
American Horse Council
American Morgan Horse Association
American Paint Horse Association
American Saddlebred Horse Association
American Quarter Horse Association
Appaloosa Horse Club
International Arabian Horse Association
Missouri Quarter Horse Association
National Show Horse Registry
Palomino Horse Association
Saddlebred Rescue Inc.
The United States Pony Clubs
United Professional Horsemen's Association
United States Equestrian Federation
United States Hunter Jumper Association

Suppliers:
Carl Meyers
Freedman Harness
Le Cheval, Ltd.
RaDon, Inc.
Terry Bennett's Tack
World Champion Horse Equipment

Trainers:
Richard Shrake

 

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