Horse Selection and Evaluation

The Horse Selection and Evaluation course is an educational experience based on knowledge from equine experts at Michigan State University. Participants will discover a wealth of resources for learning about the many contributing factors that can help you make a sound decision when selecting a horse for a specific use. Horse ownership can be a very rewarding experience and selecting the right horse in order to achieve your goals is the first step!

The course begins by giving participants a background on the variety of breeds, uses of horses, and how to identify a horse based on their color, body markings, and even tattoos! Knowing how skeletal structure and balance correspond to movement and soundness is also discussed and will help you make the best decision about the performance potential of a horse. Finally, the course goes a step further and explores suggestions for purchasing a horse and an overview of the horse ownership experience.

Goal:
The specific goal of this course is to obtain knowledge in order to make an informed decision when selecting a horse for an intended use based on the horse's conformation and the goals of the prospective owner.

Overview of Topics:
In this course you will learn about many aspects of horse selection including breeds, uses, identification, conformation, unsoundness/blemishes, key factors to remember when purchasing a horse, and the responsibilities of horse ownership.

More specifically, you will learn about:

• Horse uses ranging from dressage to rodeo
• Horse breeds and their common uses
• Identifying a horse based on color, markings, and even teeth
• The components of conformation, skeletal structure, balance, muscling, quality, and movement as it applies to various breeds and performance disciplines
• Common unsoundnesses/blemishes that may affect the performance of a horse
• How to evaluate a horse for purchase
• Common horse related expenses
  

Each lesson consists of an overview, informative topics including pictures and short video clips, as well as optional activities. Let's get started!

This course is estimated to take 8 to 10 hours to complete.