 Stables provide a unique classroom setting at the University of Findlay. Inset: Dr. Farabee "F.D." McCarthy. Below: Not your normal greeter in a collegiate office.    Sandra McCarthy sees that horses at the English farm get their proper treatment. YOU LETTERED IN WHAT? Believe it or not, equestrian riding has become a collegiate varsity sport. Thanks in part to the NCAA’s Title IX, which sets forth requirements for women’s athletics, more and more institutions are offering riding as a women’s varsity sport. The University of Findlay chooses to participate in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association because it also allows men to compete. Just over two years ago, it officially became a letter-winning sport at Findlay, although the university has competed longer. The school has won the team national championship three times, most recently in 2005, and has multiple individual champions in numerous categories. “It’s like being on the football team at most other colleges. They fight for those spots,” said Sandra McCarthy, director of Findlay’s English riding program. She said it’s not for the faint of heart. “If you think you like horses, you will find out in the first four weeks just how much you really like horses.” NOT JUST FOR COLLEGE KIDS Findlay’s equine facilities aren’t just for students. There are events for the public and other organizations held throughout the year. There is a horsemanship school at the western facility in the spring and a riding school in the spring and summer at the English facility, which are open to the public. Instructors involve themselves in outreach programs at local fairs, clinics and 4-H programs and numerous outside shows are held on university grounds. For further information contact the University of Findlay toll free at 800-472-9502. |
no horseplay allowedUniversity’s equestrian major is serious businessBy Dan Toland | Photos by Megan Nadolski Geographically speaking, it’s not known for horses. In fact, many who live their entire lives near the northwest Ohio city of Findlay don’t have the slightest idea it’s there. But ask anybody seriously involved in the horse business, and they’re likely to tell you the city is the Mecca of equestrian training grounds. The University of Findlay’s equestrian studies major has grown into one of the premier horse-training educational programs in the United States, attracting students from all over the country and beyond – in fact, a recent graduate from South Korea has even competed in equestrian Olympic events. The program that started with about a dozen students has seen tremendous growth. About 75 new students now enter the program each year, said Dr. Farabee "F.D." McCarthy, director of the Center for Equine and Pre-Veterinary Studies. “There is not another program in the country of this size and with the caliber of instructors we have,” said Steve Brown, director of the western riding program, who has been an instructor for 22 years and was a student of the program during its early years. “All our instructors are professionals in the fields and very active in the horse industry. They are judges all over the country and world. We attract serious students. ”The equestrian program was founded in part by Dale Wilkinson, the only individual to be inducted into the National Reining Horse Association, American Quarter Horse Association and National Cutting Horse Association halls of fame. Findlay’s main campus sits on just over 70 acres of land, while its equine facilities, the separate western and English farms several miles away from the university, occupy a combined 105 acres. Students are assigned their own horse, from Findlay’s lot of 400-plus, for the entire semester. Findlay is the only program in the country that does that, and the staff believes it more accurately simulates the real world. The students also ride horses every day; most programs don’t allow them to ride as much, McCarthy said. Not a riding academy It may not be a riding academy, but at least three hours of riding per day are required. “The better the rider, the better the trainer,” McCarthy reasoned. Students are responsible for everything in the barns, including feeding horses and cleaning stalls; a portion of their grade depends on it. But students don’t earn most of their credits from being in the barn. In fact, they only earn three credit hours per semester for barn work. Being a science-based program, students are required to take classes covering reproduction, nutrition and horse science, as well as business courses. The equestrian undergraduate program is one of the largest programs at the university and supports the university’s other academic areas because English, science and math are all required in the program’s curricula, McCarthy said. “From a time-management aspect, our students have to be good or they are not going to be able to get past the other on-campus classes,” he said. Most students learn responsibility in a hurry, partly because the program is expensive and demanding. Freshmen and sophomores are surcharged $4,500 to $5,000 for the program. “Some get here and they find out it’s more than they anticipated,” Brown said. “It’s just not backyard riding, ya know.” According to Brown, only about 15 percent of students solely want to do training and about 95 percent have a dual major, which the university highly encourages. Allie Busch, a junior from St. Louis, double majors in western equestrian studies and equine business management. She said the coursework is heavy but is a good reason to come to Findlay. “It shows you a lot of different aspects of the industry,” she said. Is it worth it? “People are starting to call us all the time,” said Sandra McCarthy, director of the English riding program. “We have more jobs than we have kids. If you can’t find a job with our degree, it’s because you’re not looking or you don’t want to. You may not make a million dollars, but you can most certainly make a living.” She also believes dual majors and internships are assets to graduates. “If you want to teach lessons, you can; if you want to have a business, you can; if you want to farm manage, you can. You have all the skills in place so you can pick and choose which option you want,” she said. Simply the best The university has dug deep into its wallet to fund the program. There are millions of dollars invested in facilities and personnel. The facilities have hosted many top professionals in the industry, and they all come away impressed. “They have all been surprised and said, ‘Wow, this is something special, you’re on to something here,’ and that word spreads to everyone they know,” said English riding instructor Michelle Arnold. Open houses are held in the fall and spring for prospective students. Map out the trip in advance though, because when asking locals for directions one might get some puzzled looks. “We’re the best-kept secret in Findlay,” Sandra McCarthy said. To comment on this article e-mail info@ourohio.org
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