SIUC Equine Science

SIUC Equine Science Great horsemanship requires an intimate knowledge of the horse as one integrated functioning unit - a concept that we call whole horsemanship.

The goal of the SIUC Equine Science Program is to give our students the tools to use that knowledge for the horse's benefit. Equine Science at SIUC provides a multifaceted, hands-on education in the major areas of horse care and athletic development, management and business. The program utilizes a graduated curriculum that emphasizes a practical yet scientific approach to horse management. Using i

ts whole horsemanship approach, the curriculum provides state-of-the-art information in areas such as equine anatomy and physiology, gaits and movement, breeding and genetics, health care and rehabilitative therapies, training with respect, riding in partnership and balance, and in-depth horse-business management. Each class combines technical information on equine function with techniques of human management to maximize equine athletic potential and vital hands-on practice using the program's 50 horses. The sophistication of the classroom material as well as expectations and responsibilities of students at the horse farm increase with each horse management course. Students are expected to perform horse-care and management duties from their first day in class. Basic chores are later supplemented with administration of treatments and medications, training youngstock, assisting with breeding and foaling, and ultimately handling stallions and starting horses under saddle. On-campus study culminates with each student assigned full responsibility for the care, management and training of a subset of the SIUC horse herd. Specialized management experience and industry placement is ensured through the required semester-long internship at a professional horse enterprise. Written by Sheryl King, PhD

Happy Mother's Day from amazing momma's!
05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day from amazing momma's!

Foaling season is upon us and almost over!
04/22/2026

Foaling season is upon us and almost over!

It’s a breezy spring afternoon at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Equine Center and the sun is shining down on two fresh faces in the pasture — Bonnie and River. These weeks-old horses have cotton-like manes, wobbly legs, and never stray too far from their mothers.

Amazon x Run Like I Dunit. This perfect filly, River, was born last night and mom and baby are doing great!
04/10/2026

Amazon x Run Like I Dunit.

This perfect filly, River, was born last night and mom and baby are doing great!

Welcome the newest Saluki to the SIU Equine herd, Bonnie! 💜 This flashy filly is by Hezgotacoolattitude (Steve) and out...
04/03/2026

Welcome the newest Saluki to the SIU Equine herd, Bonnie! 💜

This flashy filly is by Hezgotacoolattitude (Steve) and out of Always A Classy Lady (Luna).

04/01/2026

Mizzou Vet Fact - Fecalith
Horses can develop f***liths. The word literally means "f***l rocks". Fecaliths are hard irregular concretions that form in the large colon and can move into the small colon causing where they cause an obstruction resulting in colic. Fecaliths typically require colic surgery to remove. An incision or enterotomy must be performed in the small colon in order for the f***lith to be removed. If not removed at surgery, they can cause compromise to the small colon at the location they are stuck which can lead to catastrophic rupture and leaking of the small colon. In Missouri, most f***liths that we remove have formed around the plastic netting that covers round bales. This is a picture of a the round bale plastic netting that was at the center of a f***lith removed at the MU Equine Hospital. It is therefore recommended to remove this plastic netting before feeding round bales to horses.

03/28/2026

HORSE OWNER WEBINAR ALERT! 📢

Join us for our upcoming Horse Owner Education Committee webinar! Our topic will be "Oh Sugar! My Horse is Foundering!"

Join AAEP-member veterinarians Drs. Allie Catalino and Chelsea Folmar for an in-depth discussion about the two most common metabolic disturbances in horses: Cushing's Disease and Insulin Dysregulation. They will take you on a deep dive into diagnosis, treatment and management of these diseases, followed by discussion about laminitis, a common sequela.

Registration is FREE but required. A recording of the webinar will be available if you miss the live event. Register at https://events.zoom.us/ev/Aqk4QqZ8CSEZVzoTjoed1OchP7YIDfrDxmN7sn3bmdtN0eMBkO1X~AhLXYhuX8F4hYAwaFVb5RYYV903KHqLrJKTrAP-zT2spI-fUNInOwEr12A

This informative session is brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

Another study published from one of our fantastic graduate students ! This research is from Kendall Hyde, PhD student i...
03/27/2026

Another study published from one of our fantastic graduate students ! This research is from Kendall Hyde, PhD student in Animal Science! Kendall's research focuses on determining how to best harvest horse small follicles (the structures that house the egg cell) from ovarian tissue and how these harvesting methods affect the overall health of the follicle.

Graphical Abstract Abstract Understanding how to effectively isolate a large number of healthy follicles is essential for increasing success rates in ARTs, such as in vitro culture and cryopreservation. Late secondary (preantral) and early tertiary (antral) follicles isolated from the intermediary p...

03/23/2026

Congratulations to PhD candidate Cierra Crowell on another publication from her graduate studies! The aroma of peppermint significantly increased consumption behavior in nursing foals.

Well done Cierra!

03/18/2026

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62903

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