A.S. Leaflet R2889 Peggy M. Auwerda, Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science; Nikki Ferwerda, Instructor, Department of Animal Science
Summary
The Department of Animal Science equine program provides the highest quality active learning environment that promotes life-long learning in both career and life skills for students. Courses accommodate the range of experiences by incorporating the science with the “hands-on” activity. In addition the equine community is served through extension and outreach activities.
Equine Teaching
The goals of teaching are to allow students to understand basic concepts associated with equine production and management; to develop concepts and skills for problem-solving and appropriate management integration in areas of safe and efficient horse handling, nutrition and reproduction; to understand basic physiology as applied to equine animal systems; to apply scientific knowledge for problem-solving in the equine industry; to acquire scientific and technical knowledge and
understanding as well as practical, managerial and business skills necessary to work within the equine industry, and to demonstrate an understanding of the anatomy, physiology, nutrition and psychology of the horse. Equine courses that meet these goals are listed in table 1.
The Equine option was modified to the following.
Required courses
- AN S 216 Equine Science
- An S 415 Equine Systems Management
Nine credits from
- AnS 116X Practicum in Safe Horse Handling and Welfare.
- An S 217 Equine Farm practicum
- AN S 306 Equine Evaluation
- AN S 313 Exercise Physiology of Animals
- An S 332-2 Laboratory Methods in Animal
Reproduction
- AN S 399A. Graded Internship Experience. (Equine Related, up to 3 credits)
- AN S 475E Intercollegiate Judging and Competition:
Horses (up to 3 credits)
- An S 490E Independent Study: Equine Science (up to 3 credits)
- Econ 234 Small Business Management
- Agron 217 Weed Identification
- Agron 317 Weed Science
- Agron 334 Forage Crop Management
- Ageds 451 Agricultural Law
Horse Barn News
The historic Horse Barns at Iowa State continue to provide horses for teaching, research, and extension activities. The Horse Barns offer a classroom and space for demonstrations or teaching ‘hands-on’ skills during animal science courses, extension and outreach activities. In addition to teaching, the Horse Barn does provide breeding services to the public.
Over the past year, Animal Science has lost all of the horse pens that were located north of the railroad tracks to additional student housing. To replace the lost pens, a new barn with 23 stalls and runs is being constructed on the south side of campus near the new pavilion. When completed, the new facility will also have an office, breeding lab, meeting room, wash racks and isolation stalls. Horses will continue to be housed at both facilities in the future.
The ISU horse herd is comprised of approximately 20 head of broodmares. The mares are about half Thoroughbred and half Quarter Horse. These mares are utilized for student activities such as Block and Bridle’s Little North American (LNA) showmanship contest, Academic Quadrathlon, recruitment activities such as 4-H Roundup, teaching demonstrations and practicum classes in addition to further outreach activities.
In November, two new stallions joined Canaveral on campus to prepare for the 2014 breeding season. Shore Breeze has been the leading sire in Illinois for the past four years. He is a son of Danzig. Newport is by More Than Ready and out of a daughter of Secretariat. Both stallions bring different bloodlines and opportunities for mare owners in Iowa to breed to quality stallions. The foals produced are utilized for teaching and marketed to the public through private sales and public auctions. In 2013, yearlings and weanlings were sold at the Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association Sale, Reichert Stakes Sale, and the All-American Quarter Horse Congress.
At the track, the 2 year old filly Haforuhaforme was 2 for 2 breaking her maiden on her first out and coming back to win the Iowa Sorority Stakes on Classic Night August 3. Haforuhaforme was bred by ISU and foaled at the farm. This filly is owned by Valley Ridge Racing Stables. The ISU horse barn is looking forward to 2014 with the hope of completion of a new barn, the addition of two new stallions, and all of the expected new foals.
Source: Iowa State University Animal Industry Report