Club, and Intercollegiate Judging Team. Are there pre-qualifying criteria for students wishing to enter your program?
Regarding entrance requirements, the interested equestrian would need to make an appointment to visit campus (with Raechel Lindbloom*) and meet with the EQS Program Director, Professor Jennie Petterson. There are, of course, grade point average requirements, and Prof. Petterson could answer many questions about entrance into the program and what is specifically required. Are scholarships available?
YES, scholarships are available. The prospective student would just need to go to https://www.williamwoods.edu/academics/ undergraduate/programs_and_degrees/ equestrian/index.html to find out more, and then contact the admissions representative: Raechel Lindbloom* at Raechel. Lindbloom@williamwoods.edu
Christine Olsen and friend. Photo courtesy of the author.
Avoiding Burnout with Equine Enrichment
What makes this school special?
William Woods is the home of over 150 performance horses. This includes young horses just learning the discipline, all the way to horses who have multiple championships already earned. There are horses to teach you many aspects of each discipline.
By Christine Olsen
N
o one said a lesson horse’s job is easy. Horses are individual characters and some may be more resilient and tolerant than The more you investigate what the horse others. Burnout can cause physical and mental symptoms and industry is all about, the more prepared you will be to take advantage of what an typically happens within 3–5 years. Horses that are suffering from burnequestrian education has to offer. If you’re out do not stay useful at their job and have the potential to be dangerous. interested in teaching or training, spend Providing equine enrichment can help prevent burnout (not only for your some time shadowing someone who is lesson horses, but for all your equine partners). doing that job. If you want to manage a What tips do you have for potential students?
barn or work in an equine assisted therapy setting, volunteer at a facility so that you have exposure to that field. We try to expose students to a wide variety of careers and fields in the industry, but the more you have explored before you get to school, the quicker you can begin to focus on your area of interest. Contact information:
www.williamwoods.edu/eqs
What is equine enrichment and why is it important? This term has increased in popularity as more horse owners are becoming concerned about the effects the environment has on their horse’s behavior. Enrichment by basic definition is the improvement of something. In the case of equine enrichment we are offering choices or freedoms to improve the quality of its environment or experience.
Horses are like any other living organism and they have basic needs. When those needs are not met they can become stressed and unwanted behaviors may appear. In extreme cases the health of the horse may also be in jeopardy. Modern time horse stabling and management is often at the convenience of the caregivers while the horse’s welfare is a second priority. Adding ➢
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