Horse course to be held at ASCC

Have you eve wished you could go back to school and just learn about horses? You wish you could skip the math, chemistry, and English, and just learn how to optimize care and management of your horses and horse business. The Alabama Horse Council and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System have found a way to make this wish come true for Alabama horse enthusiasts. They have combined their efforts to offer horse owners, horse professionals and horse industry employees a way to increase their knowledge of horse care and management, to explore recent scientific advances in horse care, and to certify their proficiency in horse management. The program, called the Alabama REIN (Regional Equine Information Network), will be taught via interactive satellite at various sites throughout the state, so most participants will not have to travel far to a lesson site. The 30-hour course will meet in ten 3-hour sessions beginning at 6 p.m. (Central Time) every Monday and Thursday evening from Oct. 2 through Nov. 2 at Alabama Southern Community College in Thomasville.

Course content will closely follow what is taught in the senior level Horse Production course offered through Auburn University's Department of Animal Sciences. Course instructors are equine veterinarians, equine scientist and equine extension specialists from Alabama and surrounding states. Topics will include horse nutrition, behavior, health care, reproduction, conformation and selection, genetics, exercise physiology, facilities, equine business management and the national animal identification plan. The participants will be able to interact with the instructors via Internet and telephone and will receive a training book, cap, completion certificate and Alabama Horse Council membership for 2007 as part of the program. Program cost is only $100.

To find out more about the program and registration, contact Kevan Tucker or Wendy Padgett at the Clarke County Extension Office (251-275-3121). Deadline for registration is Sept. 22.