Equine Programs

Equine Options

Overview

Horse Training and Management: Experience the Horse Training & Management (HTM) industry first hand at Lamar Community College! The HTM program at LCC is internationally recognized and one of the best programs in the nation. Learn from top professional horse trainers in state of the art facilities. Classes are hands-on and students have riding courses 7 days a week. During their last semester, students complete a full-time internship at their chosen location. This program is designed for students with advanced western riding levels. The first two semesters are dedicated to starting three colts under saddle. When colts arrive they are halter broke and have never been saddled or rode.

Equine Business Management: Are you interested in the many career options in the equine industry? Then the Equine Business Management program at Lamar Community College is the right choice for you! You will gain a wide variety of hands on experience in areas including riding, equine management, event planning, equine sales, and equine reproduction. Riding classes are 7 days a week where the focus is the students’ horsemanship.

LCC offers three Associate of Applied Science degrees and three certificate options that prepare students for employment in a variety of areas in the equine industry. While these programs are not intended for transfer, some institutions may accept some or all of the coursework toward a bachelor’s degree. Consult with an academic advisor or LCC’s Transfer Coordinator for more information concerning transfer opportunities.  By the end of each semester, students gain proficiency in some aspect of the horse industry. This program is focused on specialized training, and student learning is judged at the end of each semester at the horse show where students demonstrate their proficiency at training their horse to complete various patterns in the arena. Students also gain professionalism through the program’s work-ethic and communication through the program’s emphasis on working with horse owners.  Those who choose to complete the Associates Degree are also measured by their performance on a capstone internship.

Associate of Applied Science in Equine Business Management

Equine Business Management is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to successfully place them into the equine industry. Although students improve their horsemanship skills, more emphasis is placed on the business management aspect of the equine industry. Students sharpen their business knowledge and skills then complete their degrees with an internship with an equine professional of their choice.

Program graduates will be able to:

1. Effectively demonstrate proficiency in chores and tasks required for working safely in a barn environment.
2. Illustrate and apply professional employability skills, such as the importance of being timely and providing quality care for animals.
3. Demonstrate an applicable knowledge in general industry horsemanship by discovering, analyzing and putting to use various forms of riding equipment and current trends in horse care.
4. Examine, coordinate and operate suppling exercises with horses.
5. produce, perform and evaluate a showmanship pattern with their horse, demonstrating groundwork progression and the knowledge to assess horse progression.
6. Define and apply the knowledge required to address individual care needs and prepare their horse for competition.

Equine Business Management Certificate

The Equine Business Management Certificate is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to successfully place them into the equine industry. Although students improve their horsemanship skills, more emphasis is placed on the business management aspect of the equine industry.

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Associate of Applied Science in Horse Training & Management, Barrel Horse Training

The A.A.S. in HTM – Barrel Horse Training provides students with the skills to train the barrel horse (body control). Upon completion of the degree, students will be able to take a green or older horse and train it on barrels.

Program graduates will be able to:

1. Effectively demonstrate proficiency in chores and tasks required for working safely in a barn environment.
2. Illustrate and apply professional employability skills, such as the importance of being timely and providing quality care for animals.
3. Develop and produce a barrel horse that can walk into an arena calmly.
4. Operate and guide a horse on execution of the barrel pattern.
5. Exhibit a working knowledge of speed and speed rating on a barrel pattern in accordance with current industry standards.
6. Successfully demonstrate their ability to monitor, communicate with, and prepare a horse for competition, to include personal competition on the said horse for the purpose of rating the horse’s speed.

Associate of Applied Science in Horse Training & Management

The A.A.S. in HTM – Horse Trainer degree is arranged in a sequence of courses designed to effectively combine theory with practical experience. Therefore, students may enter the program only during the fall semester and are expected to progress through the sequence of courses within a two-year period. In addition to satisfying the 15 credits of general education requirements of the A.A.S. degree, students are tasked to “green break” at least three colts and specialize train one additional horse. Finally, after successful completion of their coursework, students must complete an internship with a trainer of their choice to finish their degree(s).

Program graduates will be able to:

1. Effectively demonstrate proficiency in chores and tasks required for working safely in a barn environment.
2. Illustrate and apply professional employability skills, such as the importance of being timely and providing quality care for animals.
3. Describing and executing the task of saddling a colt.
4. Discuss and exhibit the task of bridling a colt.
5. Produce evidence that they can manage a colt through the processes of walking, trotting and loping.
6. Demonstrate the ability to produce and perform a showmanship pattern with colts, demonstrating groundwork progression.

Starting Colts, Advanced Horsemanship and Fundamental Horse Training

The Starting Colts, Advanced Horsemanship and Fundamental Horse Training certificate programs offer students the workforce skills to perform the essential functions within the scope of practice that an individual desires a career/employment in. The three certificates are “stackable” into the AAS degrees.

Starting Colts Certificate

This one-year certificate program is designed to provide students, through hands-on experience, with the skills and knowledge needed to break colts for riding.

Advanced Horsemanship Certificate

This two-year certificate program builds upon the skills and knowledge acquired in the Starting Colts certificate program. It combines hands-on experience with a one-semester internship with a professional trainer. Admission to this certificate program requires successful completion of the Starting Colts certificate program, or permission of the program instructors.

Fundamental Horse Training Certificate

This one-year certificate program is designed to provide students with the basic knowledge and skills needed to train horses.

Entrance Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent

Cost of Textbooks/Supplies

• Tuition based on total number of credits taken.
• The cost may vary from semester to semester.
• Students in any HTM or EBM program are required to bring a number of items detailed on the Tack List.