The beauty of horses has long been cherished in human civilization, and many people still find themselves utterly besotted with these marvelous creatures. Whether you're a wannabe cowboy or just a totally committed horse girl (it's okay, you can admit), there are plenty of schools that can meet your commitment to horses and want to give you plenty of opportunities to explore that fascination.
There are a few avenues you can go down with this interest, and today we're going to be looking at two major ones: majoring in equine studies and participating in equestrian sports. If your interest in horses is limited just to riding them to your heart's content, we've got you covered, but if you want to dive deeper and learn the science of these animals work with them your whole life, we've also got some options for you.
Equestrian Sports
For horse lovers out there, getting to ride them and compete in sports with them is a dream come true, and luckily there are tons of recognized equestrian sports for whatever in particular interests you. There's dressage for equestrians who want to spend tons of one-on-one time with their animals, training them to be perfect show creatures and cultivating an inseparable bond allowing for peak, precise performance in competitions. For the endurance and athletic-minded, there's cross country jumping, where horses and their riders must compete across long physically demanding courses involving jumping, racing, and many other obstacles. If you've got the itch try some old-school chariot racing, there's also combined driving, where multiple horses are strapped to a chariot, and athletes compete across a variety of disciplines, including the already mentioned dressage, marathon, and weaving through cones.
All of these sports and many more are officially recognized as equestrian sports, and we're going to find a few schools where ambitious equestrians can scratch that itch.
The List
The University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Athens' University of Georgia embarked on a new varsity equestrian program back in 2001, and that move has paid massive dividends. On their website they feature an exhaustive list of their accomplishments, proving that the Bulldogs don't play when it comes to equestrian sports. They mean business, and that commitment has meant tons of title wins and national recognition.
Even though it's a relatively new program, the University of Georgia has demonstrated exceptional ability in this field, and it's no surprise that this success has meant attracting some of the country's best young athletes. If you've got stars in your eyes and want to ride with the best of the best, the University of Georgia is hard to beat.
Auburn University, Auburn, AL
Another star-studded team from the American South, Auburn University's equestrian sports program is a top of the line program attracting talent from all over the country. With six national championship titles, you would hope that their facilities would match their stellar reputation, and don't they ever! Auburn boasts a stunning equestrian center with-not one-but two different barns to house all of their cherished horses, plus what they call a "luxury competition viewing area," which, they want you to know, is catered on race day. With facilities like that, it could make almost anyone want to join the team!
Auburn is a public university, meaning that if you're from Alabama, it might be the perfect choice both to help save some money on tuition and to keep you close to home where you keep all of your favorite horses.
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
The last one we're including on the list today is one more southern school with another great reputation and top-shelf equestrian sports program. Located in the heart of cowboy-country, it's no surprise that Texas A&M University would attract some great horse riders, and just at the surface level, they seem willing to embrace that cowboy aesthetic more than any other school. Where Auburn traded on its luxury (bringing to mind the svelt glamor of the Kentucky Derby more than the ruggedness of the American west), Texas A&M wears its culture proudly on its sleeve, almost literally. One look at their website shows riders decked in black button-downs, big belt buckles, and cowboy hats. It might not be for everybody, but there's a certain type of horse lover who won't be able to resist this unique riding culture. Not to mention, they've won a good number of national titles.
Equine Studies
If your love for horses goes beyond just riding them (no shade if it doesn't!), then you might want to look into majoring in Equine studies. This field is broadly within the realm of veterinary and animal sciences but with a specific focus on horses, and because horses are so specially beloved and because there are plenty of job opportunities for horse-specific veterinarians, many schools offer specialized Equine studies degrees beyond their broader veterinary sciences programs. Here, we're going to look at some of the best that the country has to offer in no particular order.
The List
Centenary University, Hackettstown, New Jersey
Our first foray outside of the South, New Jersey's Centenary University has a diverse and celebrated equine studies program offering courses in just about anything horse-related you could ask for. They've got specializations in equestrian business management, breeding, training, equine sciences, etc. You name it: if it's about horses, you can study it here.
We wanted to start here to show that there are still plenty of great options for you as a horse lover even if you don't live in the south. Horse country isn't the only place where you can love your horses.
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
We wanted to give you another option outside of the south, so we're including the sensational Colorado State University's equine studies program. According to their website, they have the single most comprehensive equine studies program in the country, with ongoing research, teaching, and public services as part of their mission. They'll prep you for a career with horses in any way that interests you, whether that's in business, recreation, or what they call "production." Not gonna Google that one, chief.
Anyway, CSU is another public option for the horse-obsessed, and they have both an amazing program for studying horses as well as top-notch facilities.
Emory & Henry College, Emory, VA
Rounding out this list of programs for the horse-inclined, we've got Emory & Henry College's equine studies program. Their program has a specific focus on the "mechanism of the horse," meaning special attention is paid to the horse itself rather than the entire horse business as is the case at the other schools. On top of this, they have a great equestrian sports team, so you're covered-in their own words-"whether you want to pursue a degree in Equine Studies or ride competitively at the collegiate level." Seems like this could be the best of both worlds!
Where we fit in
However much you love horses, we know that that's not your only consideration when it comes to deciding on which college you'll go to. There's location, size, tuition, available scholarships, the whole nine yards. This process can be more than a little daunting, so we've made College Rover the perfect tool for simplifying this whole ugly affair. Compare all of your top colleges with ease using only the metrics that matter to you. We keep track of the horses just for fun.
