2008 Woodie Awards
Students & horses take to the arena
Christina Voss
Issue date: 3/23/06 Section: News
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The program helps prepare students for a variety of positions within the equine industry. From studying such subjects as genetics, breeding, horsemanship, training, nutrition, management, judging and other general courses, students learn the complete overview of what it takes to own and maintain healthy successful horses.
Since only a small percent of the students in the program are eligible to stable their own horses on campus, many of the students in the program use Kirkwood's horses. Kirkwood owns 30 Arabians, Saddlebreds and Quarter Horses ranging from green colts to finished show horses. Students use these horses for riding and training.
"This program is not like any other program," commented Kellie Mullen, a second year student in the horse science program at Kirkwood. "It is more family oriented and hands on. The teachers are great. They really want you to reach your goals and they make you want to go to class."
David Halverson, director of equine operations, and Kami Chipley, assistant director of the Iowa equestrian center, are the two main instructors involved in Kirkwood's equine program. Both instructors work with students in teaching them the fundamentals and also in preparing them for many of the horse shows that Kirkwood hosts yearlong.
Once students reach their second year in the program, Halverson and Chipley begin working with the students in organizing internships. Horse science students are required to complete an eight-week, paid internship during their final semester at Kirkwood. Students work 40 hours each week at a breeding farm, dude ranch, trail riding establishment, breed association or training stable for race or performance horses. Mullen stated that she started her internship in the beginning of March at a housing stable in Davenport where she keeps her own horses.