Professors at the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources at the University of Connecticut have launched a study to assess industry needs in equine rehabilitation management. Led by Sarah Reed, PhD, associate professor of animal science, the research team seeks to understand which practical skills and knowledge are most useful for employment of a lay individual (nonveterinarian) in the equine rehabilitation industry to support workforce development.

“The field of equine sports medicine and rehabilitation is rapidly expanding, and there are increasing opportunities for non-veterinarians to operate equine rehabilitation facilities,” Reed said. “However, throughout the United States, there are limited educational opportunities for undergraduate students to prepare for these high potential careers. The goal of the study is to determine what practical skills and theoretical knowledge are deemed most useful for employment in this industry, so we can build a curriculum to meet these needs.”

The survey can be found online and should take less than 10 minutes to complete. It is completely voluntary, and respondents can opt out at any time.