This story appeared in the 2024 Spring/Summer issue of Onyx Anneau.
By BJ Riley ’16, ’23G, ’24G, associate vice president for strategic marketing and community relations
When someone asks, “What’s new in the Equine Department at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College?,” answers will include new majors and minors, renovations in the equine center (indoor arena), upgrades to the barn and new state-of-the-art equipment in the classroom. And now, all of those answers are superseded by the answer “Hottie.” That is the name of the foal born from a student’s horse, Rue. Hottie is the living result of the minor in Breeding Management added to Equine Studies in August 2023.
When Ed Ferguson, Ph.D., chair of the equine studies department, came to SMWC, he realized that there was a need for horse breeders and horse farm managers in Indiana. Building upon the curriculum that already had equine nutrition and other equine science classes, he added courses to concentrate on breeding. “We added Endocrinology, or how the hormones work, and then Reproductive Physiology, which is how the reproductive system works. Then, they will take an Artificial Insemination class and learn to inseminate the mares and how to ultrasound them in the Equine Reproduction class.” During the fall term, Rue was inseminated in class and monitored with ultrasound during her pregnancy. “The Mare and Foal Management class I taught in the spring went perfectly because the foal was born in the middle of the class.” From conception to birth, the students had a hands-on experience!
According to Ferguson, SMWC’s unparalleled hands-on learning experience sets the program apart. He believes this gives students a significant edge over their peers in other undergraduate programs nationwide. Combining theoretical and practical experience can benefit students when entering the workforce or pursuing more education.
In the new academic year, Ferguson plans to breed three to six mares, allowing students to perform the inseminations. He also intends to demonstrate embryo transfer. This hands-on exposure to Assisted Reproductive Technology equips students with practical skills before entering the industry, instilling confidence in their abilities and readiness for their future careers.
The introduction of Equine Prevet Science in the Fall of 2023 immediately pushed it to the largest equine major in the department. “It has helped us attract more students than we would get without creating the major. Being able to offer a pure pre-vet has been tremendous for our recruiting,” Ferguson said. The combination of standard pre-vet classes at other colleges is combined with barn management classes and riding classes that are unique to a college with its stables on campus. Students also learn how to restrain and handle horses and therapeutic techniques like wrapping legs because the horses are on campus.
This fall, the newly added Master of Science in Equine Science program with concentrations in equine coaching and instruction, thesis in equine science and non-thesis in equine science will be introduced. The concentration in coaching and instruction is about the critiquing of equine riding and how to coach a rider to be more competitive. The thesis concentration will require the students to do a research project and write a thesis and will be designed for people who want to teach at colleges, go on to get their Ph.D. or are waiting to get into veterinarian school. The nonthesis option is designed for people such as agriculture extension agents who need continuing education. They can take graduate-level equine classes to help serve their county that has kids in 4-H who are interested in horses.
Additionally, the College will offer an Associate of Science (A.S.) in Racetrack Management through Woods Online in August. The program is designed to provide students with a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The Equine Racetrack Management A.S. degree program equips graduates with the expertise needed to excel in various roles within the racing industry, including racetrack management, event coordination, facility maintenance and more. The course is designed by and will be taught by racetrack professionals with backgrounds in the racehorse industry.
Ferguson expects around 50 students to be enrolled in the Equine Department when classes start in August, more than doubling the 17 equine students he had when he began at The Woods in August 2021.
His enthusiasm for horses and learning is contagious, and it is obvious that students are the beneficiaries. His vision for the Equine Department is taking shape, and the results are tangible and inspiring, as is watching the young foal Hottie run alongside her mother, Rue.
BJ Riley ’16, ’23G, ’24G, is the associate vice president for strategic marketing and community relations. He began working at The Woods in August 2019 after a 32-year career in the newspaper industry. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration as a Woods Online student in 2016 and recently earned his Master of Leadership Development in 2023, and his Master of Business Administration as a part of the inaugural cohort in 2024. Applying his storytelling skills to the many wonderful stories of The Woods makes his job very fun.
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