Equine Science
Instructor: Mrs. Shelia Schenk
sschenk@huntley.k12.mt.us
406-967-2540 ext. 403
Grade: 11-12
Course Description:
This course will consist of a study of equine breeds, functional anatomy, soundness, selection
and judging, determining age, height & weight, breeding and reproduction, health management,
feeds and nutrition, shoeing and hoof care, as well as basic behavior and training, industry
trends, economics of owning a horse, business aspects and career opportunities in the equine
industry. Every Friday, students will be updating their AET Record Books.
This course is a component of the following Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Pathways:
 Plant and Animal Science
Make up of class grade:
Daily Participation Points 30%
Homework –
25%
Quiz20%
Test25%
100%
Week 1
Welcome, handout notebooks, Review class rules, Seating Arrangement, Course outline
and grading procedures.
Week 2
Unit 1 Horse selection and evaluation
Functional anatomy (Go over the parts of a horse)
Go over Conformation
Common horse blemishes and structural problems
Week 3
Go over horse colors and markings
Form to function
Week 4
Finish horse selection and evaluation and review for the test.
Test over Unit 1 Horse selection and evaluation
Week 5
Unit 2 Development of the modern horse
Origin and evolution of the horse.
Today’s horse industry.
Breeds of horses.
Week 6
Start Power point assignment on horse breeds.
Week 7
Present power point presentations on breeds of horses.
Test over unit 2 Development of the modern horse
1
Week 8
Unit 3 Health management
Signs of health
Proper grooming and clipping
Week 9
Unit 3 Health Management Continued
Managing health through proper nutrition
Common diseases of horses
Disease management and vaccinations
Parasite control and worming
Week 10
Shoeing and hoof care
Horse Shoeing guest speaker
Teeth care
Determining the age of horses from their teeth.
First Aid for horses
Test over unit 3 Health Management
Week 11
Unit 4 Genetics & Reproduction
Basic genetics
Genetic abnormalities
Mules
Anatomy & Physiology of reproduction
Week 12
Care and management of the stallion
Care and management of the pregnant mare
Test over Unit 4 Genetics & Reproduction
Week 13
Unit 5 Digestion & Nutrition
Anatomy and physiology of the equine digestive system
Feeds, Nutrients and water requirements
Week 14
Pasture Management
Poisonous plants
Buying and selecting hay
Test over Unit 5 Digestion & Nutrition
Week 15
Unit 6 Economics of owning a horse
Costs and economics of owning a horse
Buying and selling
Pre purchase exams
Traveling across county and state lines with a horse.
Traveling on public lands and in the National Forest.
Test over Unit 6 Economics of owning a horse
2
Week 16
Unit 7 Equine Equipment
Selection of tack & Equipment
Care of tack and equipment
Week 17
Bits and Bitting
Equestrian knots
How to make a horse halter
Week 18
Trailers, and Trailer safety
Equine Facilities and space requirements
Fences, stalls, arenas and barns
Test over Unit 7 Equine Equipment
Week 19
Unit 8 Equine Behavior
How a horse learns
Reading a horse
Working with horse behavior
Video on Colt starting by Martin Black
Test on Unit 8 Equine Behavior
3