Oops. My last post was about Vermont Tech....I meant to quote a previous post about it.

 Wow, small world! I'm a student at Vermont Technical College and I'm in the Equine Studies program.

 I agree, to a certain point, that a degree isn't totally necessary to go into the horse industry. What I love about the program at VTC, though, is that it is almost all HANDS ON. You don't sit in a lab or lecture hall with 100 kids learning about the skeleton, how to wrap, how to give intravenous injections, how to pull a shoe; you're out there seeing it done, doing it yourself, and practicing the skills. There is a million and one skills you need, and the Equine Studies program here also has a strong business background, especially as you move into you junior and senior years.

 I looked at UNH and UVM and all of those as well, but the problem I saw with them is that they focused on Animal Sciences, NOT Equine, necessarily. It was geared towards a Vet program. If that's where you want to go, it's a great place to be. But not if you want to train, breed, etc.

 The one thing students are told here is that you should NOT limit yourself to the "typical" equine professions: training, breeding, and boarding. There is SO much more out there than just the "Big 3" areas. 

 AQHAAPHA, if you want to know more about the VTC program, I'd be happy to share.

I just graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Equine Business Management!!! GO CLASS OF 2008!!! If you're looking to ride Western UNH isn't the school to do so it's very much an Eventing/Dressage/Hunt Seat school. We have riding classes that you can take part in where you learn everything from balanced seat riding to cross country. You can participate on the IDA or IHSA team (I was an IHSA team member) both are great teams and we have a ton of fun!!! As for the studies since that is the most important part there's Pre Vet, Equine Management, Equine Science, Breeding... a bunch of stuff. You even have the opportunity to take Dairy classes. Let me know if you're interested in anything else about UNH I can totally hook you up with some of the professors emails and more info on the classes and campus life :P

My college suggestion would be Lake Erie College. I'm a freshman there right now and I really like it. While they don't have a western program, they do have western IHSA, but I know that isn't the same. But one of the good things about Lake Erie is that they offer the major of Equine Entrepreneurship, which is what I'm majoring it. It combines the best of the business classes with the best of the horse classes, and teaches you how to apply those business courses to the equine industry.

Is UVM the same as VermontTech? VermontTech has a fantastic mixture of equine and agricultural classes. This is part of what really attracted me to this college. Here is the website with the list of classes for the four years: http://www.vtc.edu/catalog/academic-programs/curriculums/equine-studies.html. The woman I talked to seemed really excited that I was interested in the program and I am hoping to check out the place some time this spring. I can't wait! I am getting really excited about this being the place I go.

My riding teacher went to WWU. I would love to go there, but it is rather expensive and it is kinda far away. (I'm from Maine too!) UNH does have a great program, but it's not exactly what I'm looking for. I would love to be that close to home, though! Thanks for the help!

AQHAAPHA:

Is UVM the same as VermontTech?

Nope.  The two schools are completly different.  UVM is out of Burlington, the big city of VT, but they still have a really good equine studies program, they have a great apprenticeship out of their barns.  Vermont Tech is basically in the middle of nowhere and they also have a great equine studies program.

AQHAAPHA:

Is UVM the same as VermontTech?

Nope.  UVM is out of Burlington, the big city of VT, but they still have a really good equine science program, and a nice opportunity for an apprenticeship out of their barns.  Vermont Tech is basically in the middle of nowhere and their equine program is really good too.  The uvm website is www.uvm.edu. If you look around on the website you could probably find out more about their equine program and more about the school.

I graduated from William Woods when it was but a college and a school for women only. At that time it and Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri were the two premier colleges for equine majors. My daughter is a senior this year and has decided to attend William Woods as well. She plans to major in Equine Administration and Business Administration. The campus hasn't changed much in the years that I have been gone and I know that the education I received there was exceptional and has taken me a long way in life. It continues to be a wonderful school, even though it is now co-ed; and you will not be disappointed if you choose to attend.