Beginning this fall, the University of Maryland’s Institute of Applied Agriculture will offer a two-year certificate program in Equine Business Management. The program is designed to train people who wish to own and/or manage horse boarding facilities.


“The equine industry is very important to Maryland, contributing in excess of $1.6 billion annually to the state’s economy,” says Dr. Tom Hartsock, director of the Institute of Applied Agriculture at the University. “We felt there was a need for a comprehensive, yet practical, academic program that addresses the day-to-day operations needs of the horse industry.”


In addition to courses in basic horse management, students will learn the business skills necessary to run a boarding operation, including business law and personnel management. Other courses will focus on hay production, pasture and nutrient management, soils and fertilizers, and the fundamentals of agricultrual mechanics.


First-year enrollment will be limited and preference will be given to applicants with some prior horse experience. Students who are currently enrolled in or have completed a four-year Animal Sciences degree will be able to complete certificate requirements in less than two years

Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.

TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care. In order to access some of our exclusive free content, you must be signed into TheHorse.com.

Start your free account today!

Already have an account?
and continue reading.