This article is from the Extension Connection newsletter, Summer 2005.

“You can hardly drive anywhere in Iowa without seeing horses,” said Dale Miller, Iowa State University Extension education director for Marion County. “There has been tremendous expansion with horses being used for recreation, trail riding, 4-H and horse industries like racing, horse breeding and training facilities.”

It’s a growing industry, so much so that Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge and Iowa State University developed a task force that is conducting an economic impact assessment and census of the state’s equine industry. According to the Iowa Horse Council’s Web site, the study will provide a comprehensive estimate of the economic benefits generated by Iowa’s entire horse industry.

As the industry develops, Miller and others see a need for education. “We see a real need from the community for a course that would teach the science of horse management along with riding and training concepts,” Miller said. ISU Extension’s Master Equine Manager program addresses that need.

The new program was inspired by ISU Extension’s Master Gardener program. “We saw how well Master Gardeners worked and thought the same type of program format would work well for horse owners and enthusiasts,” Miller said.

Like Master Gardeners, Master Equine Managers must be willing to give back to their communities — in this case, to demonstrate horse skills and knowledge by conducting training clinics and workshops, assisting with horse events or advising local citizens on horse care and management.

The first Master Equine Manager class started in February. It combined discussion with hands-on experience in at least 18 hours of course work. All participants took six core curriculum sessions and could choose two of four optional special-interest sessions.

Fifteen people completed the curriculum in May, earning the title Master Equine Manager. Graduate Joyce Lepley works with fourteen horses in a breeding and training program at Cherokee Spirit Ranch in Lacona. “They did an excellent job with organization and finding speakers. A lot of people don’t understand selection and evaluation of the whole horse and how it affects trainability. It’s important for beginners to get a horse that’s suited for their skill level,” Lepley said.

Miller added, “Now we even have people from Illinois and Wisconsin looking at our Master Equine Manager program and wanting to implement it.” The program may expand to other Iowa counties.

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