The Department of Animal and Range Sciences in the College of Agriculture provides undergraduate and graduate training to 445 students each year. In addition to MS and PhD programs, we offer Bachelor of Science degrees in Animal Science (options include Livestock Management and Industry, Science, and Equine Science) and Natural Resources and Rangeland Ecology (options include Rangeland Ecology and Management and Wildlife Ecology and Management). The department also offers the Dan Scott Ranch Management Program. We are a fully integrated department serving all three of the land grant missions of teaching, research, and extension. In addition, our program incorporates livestock operations into our teaching, research, and extension program.
MSU’s Equine Science Program is on a path to be the premier Equine Science and Equestrian Program in the Northwest, with plans for major facility upgrades and expansion. Our mission is to maintain and grow our quality program considering ever-increasing student demand and to increase our capacity for a broader base of student and community engagement and experiential learning.
The Department of Animal and Range Sciences has offered equine specific courses for more than 60 years, and MSU’s Equine Program has truly been ahead of the curve. The current Bob Miller Pavilion was the first indoor riding arena built in the state of Montana. Our equine degree was first offered in 2003, and current enrollment is -90 students in the Equine Science Option.
Graduates from our Equine Science Program have gone on to further their education in graduate and professional programs, veterinary medicine, as well as careers in horse training, nutrition and pharmaceutical sales, equine and therapeutic riding facilities management, 4-H and Extension, and guest ranch and equine breeding program management, to mention a few recent examples.
Our degree program has a strong foundation in Science and Business, with supporting equestrian courses ranging from Western and English equitation to colt starting and equine marketing. Our equestrian courses, clubs, and extracurricular activities impact students from all majors on campus and include the MSU Rodeo team, Intercollegiate Horse Show Association team, Polo team, and Collegiate Horsemen’s Association. Our facilities, faculty, and staff support service learning, internships, extension programs, outreach education and educational. Students in the colt starting program prepare foals born from our breeding mare herd for careers as ranch horses and sell these animals as part of an annual fundraising sale that attracts donors, supporters, and buyers from coast to coast.
The Equine Operations Foreman and Introductory Equitation Instructor/Assistant Foreman will oversee MSU’s equine resources, facilities, and finances and will train students in Introductory and Intermediate Horsemanship (EQUH 114 Horsemanship I, EQUH 210 Horsemanship II, and EQUH 310 Horsemanship III). The successful candidate will work under the direct supervision of the Livestock Operations Manager and the Department of Animal and Range Sciences Department Head to ensure a safe, functional and premier environment for students and livestock and a safe and productive training program for students.
