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Why Study Equine at SMWC?

What Makes SMWC School of Equine Studies Special?

What Makes Equine Studies so Special at The Woods

SMWC Advantages

• Small class sizes for one-on-one instruction
• Direct access to 48 college-owned horses – Quarter Horses, Paints, Thoroughbreds and warmbloods.
• Hands-on experience caring for horses and facilities
• Teaching opportunities for public riding lessons
• State-of-the-art teaching labs and equipment
• On- and off-campus internships

Special Opportunities

• Two week Study Abroad experience of the Equine Industry in Ireland led by SMWC faculty includes cultural and equine industry experiences (nutrition, training, veterinary, breeding, research, marketing, etc.)
• Nationally-ranked Western and Hunt Seat competitive teams.
• Collegiate Horsemen’s Association is a club for all SMWC equine enthusiasts. Members participate in horse-related activities such as therapeutic riding, horse rescue, clinics, expositions, horse shows, fun shows, trail rides and socials.

You’ll find a beautiful equine facility at The Woods, which includes 55 horse stalls, 3 tack rooms, 4 grooming stalls, 2 wash stalls, classrooms and more.

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Life in the Boots of a Woods Student

What’s it like being an equine major?

It takes a special breed to pursue a career in equine studies. Our equine students are passionate, hardworking and dedicated. Here’s a sample of a typical day.

Morning

• Clean stall and turn horse out to pasture
• Attend Classes: Equine Stable Management, Biology and Equine Nutrition

Afternoon

• Team workouts and lunch
• Attend Classes: Math or English, Riding Class and Equine Genetics
• Retrieve horse from the pasture and groom
• Team practice

Evening

• Dinner
• Riding Lessons
• Homework

Award-winning Western and Hunt seat teams and individual riders regularly compete and place in regional, semi-final and national competitions.

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Join a Team and Ride to Success

SMWC is proud to be a part of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). All campus majors can try out for the two equestrian teams at The Woods — Western and Hunt Seat. As a member of the IHSA, both of SMWC’s award-winning teams and many individual riders have competed and placed in regional, semi-final and national competitions. As a member of the team, you’ll have the opportunity to compete with these schools in our region: