Owning a horse is an incredibly rewarding journey filled with love, learning, and plenty of joy. To make the most out of the incredible bond between a horse and its owner, it's essential to develop your horse care and management skills. Online equine courses provide a fantastic opportunity for horse owners, enthusiasts, or aspirants to learn the essentials about equine health, nutrition, behavior, and training. Even better, many of these courses are available for free! In this article, we will explore some of the top online equine courses that you can access without spending a penny.
1. Coursera's Equine Welfare and Management (Offered by University of California, Davis)
Coursera presents the Equine Welfare and Management course, designed by the top-tier University of California, Davis. This comprehensive course provides you with essential knowledge about equine husbandry, health, and welfare. You will gain insights into the management of a horse's nutrition, housing, and exercise needs, while also learning about preventative health care and common equine diseases. The program runs for six weeks, and you can audit the course materials and videos for free! However, if you want to receive a certificate of completion, there is an associated fee.
2. edX's Equine Nutrition (Offered by University of Edinburgh)
This amazing online course allows you to learn the science behind equine nutrition, authored by the University of Edinburgh's Royal School of Veterinary Studies. Gain knowledge on topics such as the gastrointestinal anatomy of horses, their nutritional requirements, and feed analysis. Build your understanding of how to create a balanced diet for your equine companion and learn about different types of feed and supplements. This course is free to access, and you can also opt to receive a verified certificate upon completion for an additional fee.
3. My Horse University's Free Webinars
My Horse University, a part of Michigan State University Extension, offers a range of free webinars on a variety of equine-related topics. These webinars are conducted by experts in the field, who provide valuable knowledge and insights on various aspects of horse care and management. Topics include equine health and welfare, horse selection, training, and nutrition. Many past webinars are archived on their website for you to view at your convenience.
4. Open Learning's Horse Care & Management
In this informative course, you will learn about the day-to-day care needed to keep your horse happy and healthy. While more of a short course, it dives into essential topics such as grooming, tacking, hoof care, and parasite control. Get tips on how to select the right horse and make informed choices in terms of your horse's housing, nutrition, and training needs. The course is free to access and even includes quizzes to test your knowledge.
Online Equine Courses Free Example
Let's say you recently bought your first horse and realized that you have limited knowledge about horse nutrition. You choose to enroll in the edX's Equine Nutrition course offered by the University of Edinburgh. Over a few weeks, you learn about the fundamentals of equine nutrition, the right selection of feeds, and the importance of supplements. With this knowledge, you implement a balanced diet and supplement regime for your horse, resulting in improved health, performance and wellbeing.
Achieving excellence in horse care and management requires a commitment to learning and expanding your knowledge. Taking advantage of these online equine courses can significantly enhance your skills and help you become a more confident and knowledgeable horse owner. Don't forget to share this post with your fellow horse enthusiasts, and make sure to explore our other guides on How to Own a Horse blog! Happy learning!
