Equine Science – High School Science
When I was just entering high school I had made it my goal to study to become a vet. So my mom was able to do a bit of research and helped me to get a head start as well as helped me to see if I really enjoyed this kind of science. Long before investing over one hundred thousand dollars and years of my life in pre-vet and veterinary school. The reality was that I LOVED it. The best money we ever spent. Even though I ended up not perusing that career based on medical reasons of my own!
This course can be spread out and made into a full year of study. Or you can shorten it and make it a ½ year. It is up to you and your child.
I will tell you first what I did for this class. Take what I did and use it to create your own class or you can keep it simple as my mom did! It is 100% up to you!
Textbook:
Equine Science by Rick Parker
Books:
Horse Anatomy by John Green (Doyer Coloring Book)
Lab/real life experience:
Small Miracles – Therapeutic Equestrian Center Inc. Kingsport TN
As I read and studied the textbook, I would find the correlating pages in my anatomy and horse coloring books. Which helped to solidify what I was learning. I would also go to our local public libraries and browse looking for…no…searching for all the good horse and vet books. As well as reading many of the books that I already owned. If you can’t tell I am, and was, and probably will always be obsessed with horses. And for testing I simply took the tests that were at the end of each of the chapters in the textbook. Some tests where open book (evolution chapter) and some were not.
As I was studying and reading. I was also able to volunteer at a therapeutic horse center. Working with the riding students and volunteered in the barn. In the barn I learned about the nutritional needs of each of the horses, how to take care of and feed older horses, and so much more. I also had the opportunity to watch the vets treat, take vitals, and address injuries. I also personally learned and helped when one of the horses got a cyst in the soft tissue of his hoof. We did many Epsom salts soaks of the infected hoof, then packed the hoof with medicine from the vet, and wrapped the hoof.
I also got to be able to watch the blacksmiths work on the hooves and shoe the horses. As well as hear about newer advances in Equine health coming to the barn such as equine massage therapists and so much more.
Much of what I was learning I could see it in action. I also got to be able to see how each breed, size, and age had differing needs. They had many different breeds at the barn, it seemed as if they had every size of horse from draft horses to miniature ponies and many in between – they had 13 horses at the time. As I got to work with each of the horses their personalities would come out – from the huge and confident draft horse, to the quietly spirited retired racehorse (Thoroughbred), to the docile American quarter horses, to the cute and peppy little ponies. I got to see a lot of what I was learning in action!
10 out of 10 highly recommend getting your child into a therapeutic horse center’s barn. If your child is a diligent, focused, and flexible worker, willing learner, and respectful. They will have a great chance to be able to get “up front” and see all the cool workings that go on around at the barn.
If your child wants to be a vet or horse trainer someday, even if you have your own horses, encourage your child to volunteer (or better yet get a job) at other barns and see how they run. As a vet you will have to get used to working in other barns and with strange horses. Communication and people skills are also going to be very important no matter what they end up doing in life. This is just another great opportunity to hone in on and build those skills while doing something they love at the same time.
Note: The Equine Science textbook that I studied out of also gave me a great opportunity to put into action all my apologetics classes and lectures. I was able to defend my own beliefs that are based on the Bible aka creation science. I also learned something that I did not realize would be so important in the world of science in college. Which is to know the truth and yet be able to test and pass on the evolutionary side. Unfortunately, if your child chooses to go to college and are in any science class they will most likely have to study evolution and be tested on it. So as a parent you can help your child, NOW, in a safe environment aka home, to be able to defend their biblical worldview. Before sending them off to college aka the lion’s den of professors who can do so much harm to those who are not strong in their beliefs.
College Prep Ideas Along With Some Tips&Tricks: Hindsight being 20/20! One thing that I wish now, that we had done more of in high school, in prep for college. Is write more papers. 500 words, 1000 words, 1500 words, 2000 words, and as well as quick and ridged deadlines. YES, my least favorite thing too! In college this class would have required at least 1-3 papers. So you can veto this extra step or figure out what works for you!
I would NOT be mentioning it, because English both in High school and in English Comp in college should be covering writing.
Except that if you are looking at college for your child, they will have to write papers on whatever they are studying (if you really want to prepare them – you could even do pop-papers under the same concept as a pop-quiz and yes professors are known to do this even in many subjects, other than English, including science classes).
I also recommend using and beginning to have them write it in APA, MLA, and Chicago or Turabian style. You don’t have to be prefect at these styles and there are so many helpful guides online. Also, if you already know what college your child will be attending. Then I would highly recommend getting the school’s official guidelines in APA, MLA, and the Chicago or Turabian style. You should be able to find the how to forms online or paper copy in the Library of the college – why do I say this. Your best friend will be that link AND those papers – TRUST ME! And if they end up with professors like mine, who say “the only way is the college’s official guidelines way.” because they have their own twist or non twist. That alone can cause your paper to lose points and can drop your college grade. It is just better to have your child get to know the website now so it just becomes second nature.
I know you may be thinking “That is what English Comp 1 is for.” and you would be 100% right. BUT…I wrote my first APA paper in another class before writing my first paper in English Comp!
So, once you get into college, it is SO helpful to have a small base idea of what APA and MLA are!
APA is usually required in most classes and MLA is usually required for science classes. Not exact, but was a rule of thumb in my school. I did not have to do the Chicago/Turabian style, but that was my personal experience.
Personally, if I get to do this class with one of my own kids that loves horses. I will have them do at least 3 papers. Writing these kinds of science papers can be so hard at the beginning, often it can be easier to write a paper on a book that you read, than on a science subject, especially if it seems like an off the wall subject was chosen, which also happens.
So if you chose to do this extra step, this will I can assure you, help your child to remove some of the angst. As well as help make your child’s life so much easier in college and those dreaded papers should become a little less dredded saving on brain space for actually studying.
I wrote a lot in high school – not so much in science classes. So it took me a few papers to get the hang of writing a science paper. And in college it felt like ALL I did was write! There were weeks that I had 3-5 papers due on multiple subjects often the same night!!! SO get them used to writing, writing, writing – but also try and keep it fun!!! Which is why I recommend this one to get more papers out of your child because it should be a GOOD ice breaker. Especially, if they have not written a science paper yet!
SO many subject options to choose from, here are just a few ideas…
- English vs Western Riding
- Cells, Tissues, and Organs of the Horse
- The Digestive System of a Horse
- The Biomechanics of Movement
- Unsoundness
- Determining Age, Weight, and Height of a Horse
- Horses Genetics
- Digestion and Nutrition
- Feeds and Feeding Horses
- Parasite Control
- Common Management Practices
- Shoeing and Hoof Care
- Horse Behavior and Training
- Buildings and Equipment
- Business Aspects
- Career Opportunities
Not Required Additional Reading:
- Stable Smarts by Heather Smith Thomas
- A Horse in Your Life by Heather Smith Thomas
- Care and Management of Horses by Heather Smith Thomas
- Storey’s Guide to Training Horses by Heather Smith Thomas
- Storey’s Guide to Raising Horses by Heather Smith Thomas
- Taking Care of Your Horse by Peter Brookesmith
- Horse Owners Handbook by Penny Swift
- Understanding Horses by Don Harper
- The Complete Book of Horse Care by Tim Hawcroft
- Horse Diseases: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment by Dr. H. G. Belschner
- HORSES by Jackie Budd
- The Soul of A Horse by Joe Camp
- Horses of the World by John Green (Coloring Book)
- My Horse by John Green (Coloring Book)
- Ponies of the World by John Green (Coloring Book)
If I were to be taking this class today, after completion. I would take the online course offered by Kingdom College to get my Equine Natural Health Specialist Diploma (which I’m personally planning on doing after I finish my schooling to be a Naturopath).
This course, I think, would help your child to enter into vet school. Especially if pursuing more of the alternative avenues within veterinary schools or if looking at being a vet tech this would be a potential super cool addition to add to their resume. Or if your child is wired more to be an entrepreneur they could use it to create and/or jumpstart their own career. Just food for thought!
