• Animal Science
  Equine Studies, A.A.S.
  

SUNY Cobleskill's Equine Studies program is the oldest curriculum of its kind in the state. It has been successfully training students to work in the fields of equine care management and related agribusinesses for over 25 years. Opportunities for graduates of this program are excellent and varied.

Students are encouraged to elect an area of study in one of the four fields listed below.

Horse Farm Management
A Grass Roots Approach

This curricular offering provides a broad-based approach to horse farm management. Suggested electives include additional course work in agricultural business, agricultural engineering, and in plant science. The student receives classroom and hands-on experience in building farm structures, determining and maintaining soil fertility, growing field crops, agricultural business management, and the operation of field farm machinery and tractors.

Performance Horse Training
Equine Training Through Applied Science

This curricular area offers the student a diverse and thorough science-based approach to horse training. Course work in physiology, reproduction, conventional and alternative training methodologies, agricultural business principles, and equine health are supplemented and enhanced by opportunities available through the Student Horseman's Club, and the Intercollegiate Riding Teams, including the Dressage Team, the Hunter Seat Equitation Team, and the Stock Seat Team.

Therapeutic Riding
Meet the Challenge

This curricular offering centers around SUNY Cobleskill's community-based assisted intervention program. Students gain practical experience by assisting the riding instructor and/or therapist while they use the horse to enhance physical, emotional, social, language, or cognitive development of children with special needs. Therapeutic riding is a dynamic field of study and is experiencing significant growth and development of new opportunities.

Thoroughbred Management
Bridging the Saratoga-Lexington Connection

SUNY Cobleskill's Thoroughbred curricula was developed in cooperation with the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., and is immersion intensive, with industry experience and the development of contacts as a definitive objective. The Saratoga Race Course offers superior racing, and advantage is taken of SUNY Cobleskill's proximity to the track. Students spend one morning a week during their first semester at the well-known Oklahoma Training Track. In addition, the summer between the student's first and second year of study is spent working at the Saratoga Race Course. Finally, the fourth semester of study is completed on location in Lexington, Kentucky. Students are enrolled in the Kentucky Equine Management Internship program.