Equine Guelph “leading the herd” in online studes

Guelph, ON – Sept. 21, 2022 – Fall semester for Equine Guelph 12-week online courses began September 2022 and the next offerings in Jan 2023 and May 2023 will see two lucky tuition award applicants enrolled.

A pioneer in developing university accredited online courses for the horse industry, Equine Guelph offerings are for those looking to optimize the health and welfare of the horses in their care.

Students from over 40 countries enroll in the 20+ courses on offer, every September, January and May.

“With top instructors teaching evidence-based knowledge, our students enter the horse industry as well-prepared, confident professionals,” says Equine Guelph director, Gayle Ecker, “and with the flexibility of our online programs – everyone with a love for horses can find their learning pathway.”

In 2003, Equine Guelph became the horse owner’s Centre at the University of Guelph and launched the first online equine studies program in the world! The award-winning programs continue to be in demand, with many accolades for the quality of instruction, level of interactivity and flexible online study that fits into busy lives.

Students benefit from leading instructors, industry experts, internationally renowned guest speakers and join a community of horse enthusiasts around the globe keen to share their experiences and learn from one another. Past Tuition award winner, Cameron Lago discusses the importance of continuing education.

Tuition Awards for Ontario Racing Industry Members Thanks to the support of families and organizations providing support to educate future industry professionals to be champions for the health and welfare of horses, Equine Guelph has two tuition awards on offer: The Stuart Stocks Memorial Equine Award and the Roger L’Heureux Memorial Equine Award.

“Knowledge acquired in Equine Guelph online courses has opened doors for me in the industry,” says, Standardbred breeder, and past recipient of both awards, Cameron Lago. “The racing industry is a tight knit community and since taking the courses, I have seen a few big-name trainers pushing towards hiring Equine Guelph students and have motivated a few friends to look into them.”

After taking the online Exercise Physiology course, Lago says he gleaned important information on how different muscle fibers are being used and how their composition will reflect on how well the horses perform at the track. Learning about bone remodeling has had an impact on how he will train his foals; walking at increased rates progressively as they grow up to ensure bone structure can handle training, while maintaining a balance of not pushing so hard that it becomes and animal welfare issue.

Entries for the next Stuart Stocks Memorial Equine Award will be accepted until Nov 30, 2022. Entries for the next Roger L’Heureux Memorial Equine Award will be accepted until Nov 30, 2022.

Whether you are interested in taking one course to improve your knowledge as a horse owner or looking for a pathway to a professional career in the horse industry, Equine Guelph has a course to suit you.

Management of the Equine Environment student, Gail Staines says, “This has been absolutely the best class I have taken online!! I’ve taught online and taken courses online over many years. This course far outweighs all of them not only in ease of access online, but, most importantly, in content. Thank you!”

Whether you are running your own facility or boarding you owe it to your horse to learn best practices to ensure their surroundings are safe and promote good health. Course instructor, Dr. Susan Raymond has completed a PhD, investigating the effects of exposure of horses to mycotoxins.

Her background in air quality research leads to great discussions with students on practical recommendations for stable design and management. Interested in reducing your environmental hoofprint? Take the award-winning Stewardship of the Equine Environment course which explores the relationship between the health and well-being of the environment and the health and well-being of the horse. It includes topics like manure management, water resources, green design concepts and pasture management.

Do you want to be the most effective advocate for your horse? Explore many of the common problems faced by horses—many due to management problems—and learn how to develop a year-round health maintenance program that will ensure their optimal health with the Health and Disease course. Interested in the breeding business? Management of the Broodmare, Stallion and Foal will also be on offer this September. Looking to maximize your horse’s performance and minimize risk of injury?

Watch for the next offering of Functional Anatomy to gain more understanding of the form and function of your equine athlete. Then progress to Exercise Physiology taking your horse’s fitness program to a whole new level with insight into targeting muscle development for your particular sport without overtraining.

Register early for the Equine Behaviour course. It fills up fast every semester with students keen to learn the nuances of the horse’s unique language and eager to understand the cognition of this most noble prey species.

“The world of research on animal behaviour and cognition is growing rapidly, and this course can update you on learning theory and behavior,” says Equine Guelph director Gayle Ecker. “Does a horse feel grief? Are they right-brained or left-brained? Is it really necessary to take a ‘dominant herd leader’ approach?

This course updates you on these questions and many more and can be a real eye-opener for many people to learn about the new research findings!”

“Working through Equine Guelph’s interconnected courses, they build the knowledge and skills needed to have conversations with individuals from any part of the horse industry (researchers, equitation, stables, etc.) with regards to the well-being of the horse,” says Lisa Bauer, Equine Guelph diploma graduate student.

Equine Guelph meets the needs of beginner to the veteran horse caretakers, always separating myth from science. Check out the offerings today! Notes to Editor: Equine Guelph is the horse owners’ and care givers’ Centre at the University of Guelph in Canada.

It is a unique partnership dedicated to the health and well-being of horses, supported and overseen by equine industry groups. Equine Guelph is the epicenter for academia, industry and government – for the good of the equine industry as a whole.

For further information, visit here.

by Jackie Bellamy-Zions, for Equine Guelph