The University of Montana Western

BROWSE PROGRAMS

Featured Profiles

Julie Bullard

professor of early childhood education

For the third time in as many years, Montana Western has a Carnegie Foundation Professor of the Year. (read more) Featured Faculty

Delena Norris-Tull

professor of education

The 2010 Montana Professor of the Year is continuing a proud tradition at Montana's premier teacher education institution. (read more) Featured Faculty

Kara Einarson

equine studies major

With a post-graduation job already secured in the equine industry, Kara Einarson’s career is off to a promising start. (read more) Featured Featured Profiles

Layne Carlson

assistant professor of equine studies

University of Montana Western equine studies professor Layne Carlson brings his 30 years of professional experience as a mixed animal practitioner into the classroom. (read more) Featured Faculty

Alan Weltzien

professor of english

University of Montana Western English professor Alan Weltzien is a champion of Montana literature. (read more) Featured Faculty

Anne Kish

assistant professor, librarian

As a librarian and head instructor of the School of Outreach’s library endorsement program, Anne Kish exemplifies experiential learning. (read more) Featured Faculty

Diana Taylor

school of outreach student

Diana Taylor is pursuing an early childhood education degree to enrich her life and bolster her skills for her job at a Head Start in Butte, Mont. (read more) Featured Outreach

Rob Thomas

professor of geology

The Carnegie Foundation's 2009 U.S. Professor of the Year is taking Montana Western's experiential learning to the national stage. (read more) Featured Faculty

Sean Eudaily

associate professor of political science

Sean Eudaily challenges his students to think critically to fully understand how lessons learned in his classroom impact life outside campus. (read more) Featured Faculty

Mike Morrow

associate professor of biology

Montana Western's biology program is now competitive in the national arena thanks to nearly $2 million in grants secured by Mike Morrow. (read more) Featured Faculty

Gay Garard-Brewer

visiting assistant professor of music

As a student in Montana's rural Bitteroot Valley plays their home piano, Gay Garard-Brewer sees and hears the notes over 100 miles away. (read more) Featured Faculty

Eric Dyreson

professor of mathematics

Mathematics is more than mere numbers for Eric Dyreson; it is also a philosophy capable of transforming one's perception of the world. (read more) Featured Faculty

Rebecca Petersen

education major

Rebecca Petersen is a living testament to the proud tradition of teaching educators at the University of Montana Western. (read more) Featured Students

Cathleen Flanagan

history major, drama education minor

For Cathleen Flanagan — secondary education, history major and drama minor — life's a stage and she's in the director's chair. (read more) Featured Students

Sheynoa Mataafa

general studies

On a frigid, snowy day in Dillon, Sheynoa Mataafa, a Hawaii native, does not regret her decision to move to Montana. (read more) Featured Students

Kaitlin Ens

english major

English major Kaitlin Ens counts five published articles to her name. For Ens, it's only the beginning of a promising career. (read more) Featured Students

Mitch Jessen

secondary education major

While most students entering college struggle with the decision of what to do with their futures, Mitch Jessen always knew what he wanted. (read more) Featured Students

Amanda Kortum

biology major

Amanda Kortum, a cellular molecular biology major, is already making a name for herself in her field. (read more) Featured Students

Berett Rosenkrance

environmental sciences major

One of the most shocking moments of Berett Rosenkrance's life came upon her return as a sophomore to the Montana Western campus. (read more) Featured Students

Brandon Brown

health & human performance major

For Brandon Brown, the transition from urban western Washington to Montana Western was like playing basketball: natural. (read more) Featured Students

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Natural Horsemanship majors must be admitted to the university and apply to the program. For more info click to download the application.

The UMW Equine Studies Department offers the nation’s only four-year degree in natural horsemanship as well as a variety of two- and four-year natural horsemanship and equine degrees.

The program uses an innovative experiential approach to working with horses, turning a student’s passion for horses into a rewarding and successful career.

Equine studies majors also have the unique benefit of working with horses on a daily basis at a brand new facility, the Montana Center for Horsemanship, located just minutes from campus.

Degrees
Courses
Careers
Faculty
Contact
Center

Equine studies degrees available from Montana Western:

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Natural Horsemanship.

This four-year degree program gives students the opportunity to learn the skills of natural horsemanship and obtain a career in the many equine-related fields. Majors include:

Management
Psychology
Science

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Administration, Equine Management option.
This degree provides the information needed to start or manage an equestrian-related business.

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Equine Studies.
This two-year degree is designed to provide students with a background for pursuing a career that draws on their passion for horses.

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Natural Horsemanship.
This two-year degree program gives students the opportunity to learn some of the skills of natural horsemanship and obtain a career in many equine-related fields.

Sample Courses

Here are just two great examples of equine studies courses at Montana Western. For a full course selection, please see the course catalog.

EQST 352, Natural Horsemanship: Refining the Foundation

This course brings together the skills and knowledge gained in all previous natural horsemanship courses. The student and horse are now achieving a solid level of communication both on-the-ground and in the saddle. This communication continues to be more refined, and the high level of confidence and respect between the horse and the student becomes evident. Upon completion of this course, the student and horse have all the ingredients of mental, emotional, and physical collection that is the foundation of horsemanship. The solid foundation will enable the student and horse to progress into whatever facet of horsemanship is desired. In addition to mastery of the theory and ideology of natural horsemanship, students must also demonstrate their competency and mastery of covered techniques by their correct application of skills sets with their horse, both on-the-ground and under saddle.

EQST 404, Contemporary Issues & Ethics in the Equine Industry

In this course students will learn to apply the integrated business skills gained during their academic classes, along with knowledge of contemporary issues and current affairs in the equine industry, to an equine business setting. Some of the topics to be covered may include strategic vision, ranch or equine facility management, ethics and issues of breeding, buying or selling, or competing with horses, contemporary or current political issues regarding horses or their use, sales and marketing, and client and public relations. Students will have the opportunity to do research on a current or contemporary issue regarding horses and their management and then compile that research into an evaluated presentation detailing how that issue will affect the ownership of horses or the management of an equine business. Further student evaluation will be obtained through written assessments, participation in lab, lecture or internet discussions, and a final exam.

A degree in equine studies will prepare you for a career as:

An auctioneer
A horse breeder
A barn/stable manager
A ranch manager
A clinician
A riding instructor/coach
An extension horse specialist
A guest ranch/resort manager
A stunt rider or double in movies
A horse-drawn or mounted tour guide
A horse feed development specialist
A natural horsemanship-focused trainer
An equine-assisted therapy & learning instructor

Layne Carlson
Iola Else
Eric Hoffmann

Layne Carlson, D.V.M. (emeritus)

Layne Carlson is the newest member of the equine sciences department. He received a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Colorado State University in 1979. Carlson has been a mixed-animal practitioner for the past 30 years in Idaho and Montana. He recently sold his practice in Twin Bridges, Mont., which he started in 1983. Carlson teaches a variety of classes and enjoys the challenge of the classroom.

Iola Else, M.S.

Iola Else, Montana Western’s accomplished rodeo coach, also brings her lifelong knowledge of and experience with horses to Montana Western’s equine studies program. In addition to supervising natural horsemanship courses, Else teaches facilities management and young-horse starting and development. She is the campus’ liaison to La Cense Montana ranch where the courses in natural horsemanship are conducted.

Eric Hoffmann

Eric Hoffmann holds an A.A.S. in Equine Management and Training from Laramie County Community College. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Education from the University of Wyoming and is currently working on a master’s degree in agriculture education from Montana State University. Hoffmann is the equine manager and head instructor at LaCense Montana. He has taught the natural horsemanship classes at Montana Western for four years. His classes include EQUH 254, 255, 351, 352, 453, and EQST 391 and 491. Hoffmann has been a student of horsemanship for 15 years.

Contact

For more information about equine studies at Montana Western, contact department chair Iola Else:
Business Building 218
(406) 683-7539
i_else@umwestern.edu.

For more information about the center contact Jesse Peterson at 406-660-0499.

New center is home to UMW equine programs.

To Support Montana Western’s thriving equine programs, the university has established a partnership with the private, non-profit Montana Center for Horsemanship (MCH), a new equine facility for program instruction and boarding. Located only 1.5 miles from the main campus, the facility offers a comfortable, friendly and secure place for students and their horses. Amenities offered at the center include:

Twice-daily feeding of high quality grass hay.
Pens cleaned and maintained by MCD staff.
Long-term trailer parking.
Short-term car/truck parking.
Full size outdoor arena (150′x300′) for classes and student use.
Individual tack lockers for each student conveniently located within each horse’s pen.
Transportation to and from La Cense for use of the indoor arena.
Individual horse boarding in a 20′x60′ pen (12’20′ covered).

Natural horsemanship majors must board their horses at MCH. This will reduce the need for a truck and trailer, help students to maintain class attendance in poor weather, and foster a communal environment where the lessons taught in class can be discussed and practiced.

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