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Equine Science

TWO-YEAR DIPLOMA
 
Four Semesters  
         
FIRST YEAR
Fall: September - December                         
Winter: January - April      

SECOND YEAR
Fall: September - December                                   
Winter: January - April (Horsemanship, Business and Event Management and Equestrian Coaching)                                                                  
Winter: January - June (Production and Breeding) 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Let your love of working with horses develop into a rewarding career and lifestyle choice with a diploma in Equine Science from Olds College.

The curriculum gives you the opportunity to understand the makeup and function of the horse and how it relates to health care and management as well as prepares you to interact with horses in variety of ways including riding, driving, breeding and ground training. In addition, the availability of five major choices allows you to specialize in one of the following areas:  

Business and Event Management Major

In addition to learning horse husbandry and handling skills, students in this major will receive training in the business practices associated with the management of an equine related enterprise or an equine focused event. Students will use their knowledge and skills to produce an equine event on-campus. A graduate may enter the industry as a sales and marketing representative, a retail business person, event or competition manager or manager of an equine operation.   

Production and Breeding Management Major

This major allows the student to combine the knowledge of horse husbandry and handling with the opportunity to learn and perform the modern techniques used for breeding horses and to manage the foaling mare and newborn foal. Students will gain experience in the management of a commercial breeding operation by participating in the breeding program at the college. Graduates may enter the industry as an assistant breeding farm manager or an owner/operator.   

Horsemanship Major

The Horsemanship major gives students the opportunity to improve their riding skills in either the English or Western discipline in addition to learning horse husbandry and handling skills. The focus in this major will be in starting young horses for riding and driving and to train started horses to perform various maneuvers in either English or Western. Graduates may enter the industry as employees at boarding or training centers or as an owner/operator.  

Equestrian Coaching Major 

This major gives students the opportunity to combine horse husbandry and handling with the skills necessary to teach English and/or Western riding to people at a beginner or intermediate level. Students will complete all necessary requirements to receive Equine Canada Instructor certification and possibly Coaching I if desired.

Graduates may enter the industry as instructors/coaches at boarding or competition barns or as a self employed instructor/coach.  

MULTIPLE MAJORS

Graduates who wish to complete a second major will require a third and possibly a fourth year at Olds College. Completing multiple majors in two years is not possible because of limited quotas and timetabling restrictions. 

TUITION DEPOSIT

A tuition deposit of $500.00 is due 45 days after admission 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

A) Applicants must have:           

a) High school diploma or equivalent with           
b) 50% or better in English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2           
c) 50% or better in Pure Math 20 or Applied Math 20           
d) 50% or better in Biology 30

Alternative Admission Status:

Alternate admission status may apply for those students who have not achieved the high school diploma admission requirement.  The applicant must meet all academic course requirements and complete the work experience hours.  

B) Work Experience Hours

All applicants require a minimum of 150 hours of substantiated work experience in an equine related operation other than one owned by immediate family. Club and clinic participation is not considered to be work experience.  

C) Work Experience Verification Form

A work experience verification form must be completed by the employer/employers at the applicant’s work experience site and returned to Olds College prior to March 1 for Fall entry. The forms will be supplied by the Registrar’s Office once an application has been received. 

D) Admission to the Equine Science Program is on a Competitive Basis

If an applicant has met all the academic, work experience and the employer verification form requirements by March 1, he/she will be pre-screened for testing at Olds College. Testing is held in the Spring for entry into the program in the Fall of the same year. All applicants will take the same test which consists of a riding component and a practical component. Applicants will be contacted by letter as to their specific test date and time.  

NOTE:

a) It is recommended that students entering the Equine Science Program register for STDY 100 – College Success Skills
    prior to the beginning of their first year.  
b) It is also strongly recommended that students acquire keyboarding skills and gain experience in the use of a common
    office software package which includes word processing and spreadsheets. 
    High school students are encouraged to complete CTS modules 1010, 1020, 1030, and 1060.  

ALL MAJORS

Students are required to obtain 60 credits in order to graduate from the Equine Science Program. Some credits are earned through core courses that all students in the program take, with the remainder coming from courses specific to each major.
In addition, there are option courses within the program that students may wish to take to expand their knowledge and skill set.   

Equine Business and Event Management Major

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

FIRST YEAR
Fall: September - December

Winter: January - April

SECOND YEAR
Fall: September - December

Winter: January - April

Spring: May - June

Total First Year Credits:                         30
Total Second Year Credits:                    30
Total Required Credits:                           60

Production and Breeding Management Major 

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

FIRST YEAR
Fall: September - December

Winter: January - April

SECOND YEAR
Fall: September - December

Winter: January - April

Spring: May - June

Total First Year Credits:                         30
Total Second Year Credits:                    30
Total Required Credits:                           60

English or Western Horsemanship Major

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

FIRST YEAR
Fall: September - December

Winter: January - April

OR

SECOND YEAR
Fall: September - December

OR

Winter: January - April

OR

Spring: May - June 

Total First Year Credits:                         30
Total Second Year Credits:                    30
Total Required Credits:                           60

Equestrian Coaching Major

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

FIRST YEAR
Fall: September - December

Winter: January - April

SECOND YEAR
Fall: September - December

Winter: January - April

Spring: May - June

Total First Year Credits:                         30
Total Second Year Credits:                    30
Total Required Credits:                           60

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

To recieve a diploma students must achieve the following:

1. Total requirements - 60 credits
2. GPA of 2.0 or better
3. Completion of all required courses as outlined above
4. Fulfillment of the Graduation Policy - Residency Requirement
5. Successful completion of the Olds College Writing Proficiency Exam