A&M-Commerce enhancing equine program

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

Dr. Pat Bagley feels the opportunity for A&M-Commerce students to earn a minor in equine science will benefit the growing equine industry in the region.

December 12, 2002 -- To meet demand in the growing Northeast Texas horse industry, Texas A&M-Commerce will offer students the opportunity to earn a minor in equine science beginning this spring.

Although equine curriculum has been taught at the university for several years, the three courses offered this spring will count towards a minor (secondary field of study) - Behavioral Modification of Equine, Beginning Horsemanship, and Advanced Horsemanship.

"You've got to walk before you run," said Dr. C. Pat Bagley about the offering of three courses. With positive student enrollment, more courses will be added, he added.

Bagley is a professor and head of the Texas A&M-Commerce Department of Agricultural Sciences. He said the university has a "small, important role" in the development of the region's horse industry.

"There is a lot of interest in the equine industry right now," he said following a visit to the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce. The chamber recently helped organize a seminar which featured renowned race horse trainer D. Wayne Lukas, and is working to build a new equine arena near the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center.

The university, itself, has long-term plans to build an equine arena which could be used not only for college-course instruction, but also for riding clinics, youth camps, judging and riding competitions, etc.

In research cited by Bagley, equine arenas are a great boost to the local economy. "For every horse in a stall, there's an an addition $350 spent at local hotels, restaurants," etc.

Areas with a large number of equines also have many horse-related employment opportunities, such as arena managers, equine photographers/promoters, and therapeutic riding instructors. Training students to effectively handle such jobs is another key goal of the equine program at Texas A&M-Commerce.

"With the horse industry growing, there is a need for qualified people - and these (courses) fit the need," said Dr. J.D. Norris, who has taught ag courses at A&M-Commerce for about two years. "There is a big demand in the horse industry for qualified employees - broodmare farms, pharmaceutical companies," etc., and the courses can also serve as prerequisites for students wanting to attend veterinary school.

Norris, a veterinarian for 34 years, has a practice based in Sulphur Springs.

Mindy Morris will teach the equine courses offered at A&M-Commerce this spring. While working on her master's degree, Morris taught courses at the university as a graduate assistant. Now that she is working on her doctoral degree, she will again serve the university in a teaching capacity.

"I will be teaching any and all the (equine) classes that make," she said.

Morris and Norris agree the majority of the students in the A&M-Commerce program will be women.

"I think it will draw people of all ages; but at first I look for a lot of older ladies who've raised their kids and have dreamed about being 'horse people,'" Morris said.

Norris added that the equine courses will draw some "farm" kids that want to learn more about training horses.

The veterinarian also pointed out that having a minor in equine science will work well for those students who are majoring in business or education.

Bagley detailed the three courses that will be offered in the upcoming spring semester, which starts Jan. 14.

The Beginning Horsemanship class will be limited to 15 riders and can be used as a physical education credit. The class will be offered three times during the week, so as many as 45 students can be enrolled in the one-hour credit course.

The Advanced Horsemanship class, also limited to 15 riders, will be more intense and will count as a three credit hour course. Students entering the course will have to pass a riding test.

A Behavioral Modification of Equine class will focus on the training of horses and learning how horses and humans interact.

Students who enroll in the courses do not have to bring their own horse to class. "We are still looking for some donations of older horses," Bagley added. Horse owners who would like discussion donations may contact the A&M-Commerce agricultural sciences department at 903-886-5351.

Bagley specified hopes for the future will include summer internships for students in the equine program, and eventually, the opportunity for students to major in the equine field of study.