September 20, 2017
Students in the Natural Horsemanship program at the University of Montana Western recently experienced a hands-on learning opportunity by assisting in the Weaver Quarter Horse Sale in Great Falls, Mont.
The Equine Studies Department at the University of Montana Western offers the nation’s only bachelor of science degree in Natural Horsemanship with options in management, psychology, science and instruction, and was recently ranked among the “Best Equestrian Colleges” by ThoughtCo, an online education resource.
As part of the Equine Studies Sales Preparation course, Montana Western students have been helping with the aspects of this production sale for the past four years. American Quarter Horse Association President Ralph Seekins awarded the students a coin for excellence in the equine industry for their hard work.
“It’s exciting for the students to have the opportunity to experience a highly-regarded production sale and to get to learn from industry leaders at the same time,” said Natural Horsemanship Instructor Eric Hoffmann.
The Weaver family, who have been producing this auction for the last 22 years, are also supporters of the Natural Horsemanship program at the University of Montana Western. Stan and Nancy Weaver have donated colts for the last five years to the Sales Preparation course. Stan is on the Executive Committee of the American Quarter Horse Association, and the family traces its involvement in agriculture back for five generations.
Students in the course work with the donated colts to facilitate a working partnership with them. The horses learn how to perform various tasks in the working world for their future homes at farms and ranches across the country.
