Iowa State University Equine Program

The equine program at ISU is part of the Animal Science degree program. Students graduate with a BS in Animal Science, which is a 4-year degree. You can find the answers to most of your questions regarding the curriculum for an Animal Science degree at https://www.ans.iastate.edu/undergraduate/curriculum .


The Equine Science program at ISU utilizes the historic horse barns located on campus and the newer Equine Learning Center on Mortensen road. The horse farm allows students to learn and work in a hands-on setting. On-campus are historic barns that house two student apartments, an office, a reproduction lab, an equine treadmill, and a classroom used for the teaching program. The Equine Learning Center offers an additional 25 stalls, a lab, a breeding area, and pastures for horses.


The University maintains a herd of Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred broodmares used in teaching and demonstrations for ISU students, youth, and the public. Also, ISU offers breeding services to the public. The foals produced by the farm are sold privately or in breed-specific public auctions.


Students interested in pursuing a career in the Equine industry can obtain a variety of experiences within ISU’s science-based program. Students can choose from many equine focused courses, equine-related clubs, and they may find employment at the ISU equine farm. Riding classes are not offered, however, the University does offer riding opportunities through our IHSA Hunt seat and Western teams. These opportunities are available for all students at ISU, although most are Animal Science majors.


Equine Courses


  • ANS 116 Practicum in Safe Horse Handling and Welfare. (0-3) Cr. 1. F. Development of best practices for safe horse handling and practical equine health care tasks. Course will focus on equine welfare and human safety as well as provide training in necessary every day skills needed to own a horse or to work at a horse farm. Certificate of Safe Equine Handling and Welfare available upon course completion. Offered on satisfactory - fail grading basis only. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.



ANS116
ANS 116 Practicum in Safe Horse Handling and Welfare
  • AN S 216. Equine Science. (2-2) Cr. 3. F. S. Prereq: AN S 101 or AN S 114; one course in biology. Introduction to contemporary concepts, and basic practices and decisions necessary when managing horses through stages of their lives.



ANS216 Farrier Lab
Rob Zaabel demonstrating hoof trimming in ANS216 Equine Science
  • AN S 217. Equine Farm Practicum. (1-2) Cr. 2. F. S. Prereq: Credit or experience equivalent to AnS 116 and credit or concurrent enrollment in AN S 216. Intensified management of the equine farm. Provide students with experiential learning in all phases of horse production and management. Students assist with general farm management, horse health care, weekly farm management, and related topics.
  • AN S 306. Equine Evaluation. Cr. 3. S. Prereq: sophomore classification or permission of instructor. Prereq: sophomore classification or permission of instructor. Detailed visual evaluation of conformation and performance of the equine athlete. Decision-making skills are practiced in the context of making selection choices. Development of written and oral communication skills as students defend their judgments. Industry trends will be addressed.
  • AN S 313. Exercise Physiology of Animals. (3-0) Cr. 3. F. S. Prereq: AN S 214, BIOL 211, one course in chemistry. Physiological adaptations to athletic training in canine and equine athletes. Topics of emphasis include exercise-related adaptations in metabolism, locomotion, the cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, and endocrine system. The roles of nutrition and conditioning programs are assessed.
  • AN S 316. Equine Reproduction Lab. (0-6) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Credit or enrollment in AN S 331, ANS116 or Instructor Permission. Reproductive anatomy with emphasis on the physiology of normal reproductive function; breeding season management; ways to control and improve reproduction; semen collection, evaluation, and processing; artificial insemination; pregnancy testing; parturition in the mare, foal care.
  • AN S 317A. Fundamentals of Equine Behavior and Training:Young horses at halter. Cr. 1. F. Modifying the behavior of the horse using systematic approaches to horse training emphasizing the psychology of training horses.
  • AN S 317B. Fundamentals of Equine Behavior and Training: Yearlings. Cr. 3. SS-F. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Modifying the behavior of the horse using systematic approaches to horse training emphasizing the psychology of training horses. Equipment and its use and preparation of horses for competition. A maximum of 4 credits of An S 317 may be applied toward graduation.



ITBOA Sale
ANS 317 Student showing a Thoroughbred yearling to a potential buyer at the Iowa Thorughbred and Breeders Association
  • AN S 399A. Graded Internship Experience. Cr. 2 to 6.. Cr. arr. Repeatable. F.S.SS. Prereq: Permission of the instructor. Learning experience focused on professional development for a career related to animal science. Journal, presentation, and creative component.

    • AN S 399B. Supervised Internship Experience. Cr.arr. Repeatable. F.S.SS. Prereq: Permission of the instructor. Learning experience focused on professional development for a career related to animal science. Journal, presentation, and creative component.
    • AN S 399R. Cr. arr. Repeatable. F.S.SS. Prereq: Permission of internship coordinator. Supervised learning activity consisting of work period in production agriculture or the agriculture-related industry.
  • AN S 415. Equine Systems Management. (2-2) Cr. 3. F.S. Prereq: AN S 216, AN S 319, AN S 320, AN S 331 Identification and development of financial and production goals in a horse business. Scientific approach to make decisions in management of enterprises in the horse industry.
  • AN S 490E Independent Study Horses. Cr. 1-3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits. F.S.SS. Prereq: Permission of the instructor. Open to juniors and seniors in animal science and dairy science showing satisfactory preparation for problems chosen. Individual topic conference and preparation of report. A maximum of 6 credits of An S 490 may be applied toward the total credits required for graduation.
  • AN S 495. Agricultural Travel Course Preparation. Cr. R. Repeatable. F.S. Prereq: Permission of instructor Limited enrollment. Students enrolled in this course will also register for Agron 495 and intend to register in Agron 496 and An S 496 the following term. Topics will include the agricultural industries, climate, crops, culture, history, livestock, marketing, soils, and preparation for travel to locations to be visited. Information normally available 9 months before departure.



ANS Brazil
Equine and beef study abroad group in Brazil
  • AN S 497. Undergraduate Teaching Experiences in Animal Science. Cr. 1-2. Repeatable, maximum of 4 times. F.S.SS. Prereq: Permission of instructor Development of oral and written communication skills of technical concepts in animal science. Emphasis on organizational skills, conducting activities and interpersonal communication skills. Responsibilities in a class under direct supervision of a faculty member. A maximum of 4 credits of An S 497 may be applied toward graduation.
 
1 Start 2 Preview 3 Complete

Please forward information on the Equine program at Iowa State University

Do you have specific questions on the equine program? Please list or describe
Category: