Online learning offers many benefits, including flexibility and the ability to maintain your work and family commitment while earning a valuable credential. For the horse enthusiast who lives or works at a stable, it offers the opportunity to engage in formal study without forfeiting day-to-day responsibilities. A number of schools offer online certificates and degrees in equestrian studies that can be earned from anywhere and adapted to the schedule and lifestyle of students.

Global Equine Academy

Based in Wyoming, the Global Equine Academy offers both an Associate of Science degree in Agricultural Sales and Service with an emphasis in Equine Management and a Bachelor of Science with a minor in Equine Studies. These degrees are offered in partnership with Dickinson State University and are accredited through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). There is a thorough selection of courses, with topics ranging from equine business management and marketing to equine health, reproduction, genetics and nutrition.

Global Equine Academy also offers programs to become a Certified Equine Specialist or Certified Equine Manager. Classes are conducted through a combination of online resources and conventional print materials as well as the unique method of uploading video of horse training and riding sessions for instructor evaluation.

Global Equine Academy P.O. Box 205 Beulah, WY 82712 307-283-2587 globalequineacademy.com

Breyer State University

A Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies is offered by Breyer State University, based in California and accredited by the Educational Accreditation Association (EAA). Designed for working students, this program offers great flexibility with the ability to work at your own pace and enroll at any time. Courses emphasis the practical aspects of raising and managing horses. Topics include behavior modification, nutrition, health and disease, performance, sports massage, safety and rescue, performance and the legal aspects of horse management, among many others. Instructors tutor each student individually through email with links to online assignments and examinations. Access to horses to work with during the program is mandatory, as a number of courses require videos and pictures for evaluation.

Breyer State University 6080 Center Drive, 6th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90045 310-242-5964 equinedegreeonline.com

University of Guelph

A Certificate in Equine Business Management and an Equine Science Certificate is offered by the University of Guelph, located in Southern Ontario, Canada. Students may choose to upgrade from these programs to a Diploma in Equine Studies. Course topics include equine behavior, genetics, integrated therapies, business management, marketing and communications, financial and risk assessment, nutrition, anatomy and health and disease prevention. Courses take 12 to 13 weeks to complete and are delivered through a combination of video, audio CDs, email, computer conferencing, and online computer-based quizzes, alongside conventional print-based materials. Enrollment is available three times each year, in January, May, and September. The University of Guelph is accredited through the Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada (AUCC).

University of Guelph 50 Stone Road East Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 519-824-4120 equinestudiesdiploma.com

Related Articles