Equine Studies: Equine Science

Beginning in the 2022/23 academic year (Spring 2023), the Equine Studies Major: Equine Science option will no longer be accepting new students. Current students will continue to have access to the same high-quality education and resources until they graduate.

This option is designed for:

• Students interested in a career in the scientific or technical fields within the equine industry, including nutrition, rehabilitation, reproduction, and research.
• Students interested in pursuing graduate studies, including veterinary school.

This option combines equine classes with a more intensive science curriculum, which includes animal behavioir, reproduction, and nutrition.

In addition to the standard core courses for all Equine Studies majors, students in Equine Management take courses in anatomy and physiology, chemistry, nutrition, reproduction, and statistics.  Students then select 20 approved credits to allow them to focus in the areas most relevant to their desired career.  Those courses may include classes in forages, equine training, animal behavior, animal rights, animal cognition, and infectious diseases.  Students in this option may also use these 20 credits to take courses required to apply to veterinary school, including organic chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry, physics, and calculus.

All students who graduate from the B.S. in Equine Studies program will be able to:

• Identify, explain, and demonstrate safe, effective, and humane equine handling and stable management skills.
• Identify, explain, and demonstrate equine health management practices and basic equine first aid.
• Explain guidelines for equine nutrition, feeding, and parasite management.
• Demonstrate technical proficiency with English tack, boots, bandages, and blankets.
• Demonstrate safe, competent longeing technique using a trained horse.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of riding practices in equestrian sport.
• Communicate effectively, in written and verbal form, about professional topics in the equine industry.

Equine Science option:

• Demonstrate practical application of equine anatomy and an understanding of the equine limb beyond the requirements for all equine majors.
• Demonstrate knowledge of veterinary care beyond the basic level required of all equine studies majors, and demonstrate the ability to apply this knowledge to real-world emergency and management situations.
• Demonstrate proficiency with basic equine health procedures and equipment.
• Demonstrate knowledge of equine nutrition, feeding, and parasite management beyond the basic level required of all equine studies majors, and demonstrate the ability to apply this knowledge to real-world management situations.
• Demonstrate knowledge of equine dental care.
• Demonstrate knowledge of equine genetics and reproduction.

Secondary and/or university transcript(s) of any coursework taken prior to applying to UNH, with English translations, are required. International documents received by UNH Admissions are verified, scanned, and confidentially destroyed. Official documents submitted will not be returned to the student.

Ideally, the letter should be from a student's school counselor or teacher. UNH does not require more than one recommendation and our preference is to receive no more than two. Excess recommendations may delay the admissions review process.