While it might be hard to personally visit all the horse museums in America—they span from Maine to Idaho—you can learn a lot about horses and their amazing history by just checking out their websites. Pay a virtual visit to these museums to learn more about horses, shop their online souvenir stores, and if you like what you see, make plans to see them in person.

Appaloosa Museum & Heritage Center

The Appaloosa Horse played an important part in the history of the Pacific Northwest, and the Appaloosa Museum & Heritage Center in Moscow, Idaho, pays tribute to this colorful breed.

The record of the spotted horse, going back to prehistoric times, begins your journey on the museum’s website, featuring historical artwork showing the origins of colorful-coated equines. You can get a sense of the exhibits at the museum on the Museum Features page, and get details on how to book an in-person tour.

Don’t leave the site without stopping at the museum store, where you can buy everything from Appaloosa posters to jewelry.

Learn more at appaloosamuseum.com.

American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum

The American Quarter Horse is the most popular breed of horse in the world, and the museum dedicated to it in Amarillo, Texas, reflects that popularity. This grand museum features galleries, halls and theaters, all dedicated to the what the American Quarter Horse Association has dubbed America’s most versatile horse.

On the museum website, you’ll find photos and exhibit details, along with information on how to visit the museum in person. Bring your wallet if you make the trip—the museum has a great gift shop.

Learn more at aqha.com/museum.

American Saddlebred Museum

The American Saddlebred Museum, dedicated solely to the American Saddlebred Horse, is located in Lexington, Ky., on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park. It houses the largest collection of Saddlebred horse artifacts in the world. 

The museum website provides images from the John P. and Dorothy Lenore Gallery Wing, which houses the museum’s temporary exhibitions, as well as the gift shop.

For in-person visitors, the Elisabeth M. Goth History Wing features interactive areas covering early history and formation of the breed; a mare and foal sculpture; a movie about the breed in the American Saddlebred Experience Theater; a children’s area where kids can color and put together puzzles; a section where visitors can try on show clothes and check their riding posture; and an interactive display where visitors can experience the feeling of being on a horse.

Learn more at asbmuseum.org.

International Museum of the Horse

The largest and most comprehensive of all horse museums is the 64,000-square-foot International Museum of the Horse, located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. Dedicated to exploring the history of all horses and their impact on human civilization, the museum maintains an ever-growing library and archives, and serves as a resource for scholars and researchers throughout the world.

The museum’s website contains a searchable collection, which allows you to view museum items online based on keywords. You can also get a glimpse of exhibits inside the museum, which will whet your appetite for an in-person visit.

Learn more at kyhorsepark.com/explore/international-museum-of-the-horse.

Kentucky Derby Museum

The most famous horse race in America has its own museum! Located at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., home of the race itself, the Kentucky Derby Museum recently celebrated its 150th anniversary of the race with new exhibits, track tours and a History of the Kentucky Derby book release.

A visit to the museum website provides you with a peek at the new exhibits (including a “Long Shots” exhibit and a display dedicated to Secretariat), a review of the museum’s permanent collection, and a chance to shop online at the Derby Museum Store.

Learn more at derbymuseum.org.

National Morgan Horse Museum

Located at the Pineland Farms Equestrian Center in New Gloucester, Maine, the National Morgan Horse Museum is run by the American Morgan Horse Association, and is dedicated to the history and development of the Morgan Horse in the United States.

The museum website includes historical photographs and articles about Morgans, plus promotional videos about the museum, which provide a look into what the museum has to offer to in-person visitors.

Learn more at morganhorse.com/about/museum.

National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame

You can learn everything you need to know about Thoroughbred racing in a fascinating series of exhibits at the National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame, located in historic Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Paintings from the collection of 20th century racing enthusiast Charles H. Thieriot, an exhibit on the famous racehorse Ruffian, and a juried racing photography exhibit are all currently on display at the museum. The permanent collection includes sculptures, trophies, racing memorabilia, an assortment of paintings and photographs, and of course the Hall of Fame.

Visitors to the website can learn more about what the museum has to offer, as well as buy select items at the online gift shop.

Learn more at racingmuseum.org.

National Sporting Library & Museum

Founded in 1954, the National Sporting Library & Museum (NSLM) is located in Middleburg, Va., the heart of Virginia’s beautiful foxhunting country.

The inviting six-acre campus, world-class research library, and fine art museum highlight the rich heritage and tradition of country pursuits. Angling, horsemanship, shooting, steeplechase, foxhunting, flat racing, polo, coaching, and wildlife are among the subjects you can explore in the institution’s general stacks, rare book holdings, archives, and art collection.

The NSLM also offers a wide variety of educational programs, exhibitions, and family activities throughout the year.

Learn more at nationalsporting.org.

This article about horse museums appeared in the October 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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The 33rd modern Olympics being hosted by Paris is fitting since the city will host the Games for a third time in 2024. Paris first hosted the Olympics in 1900, then again 100 years ago in 1924 and both years have significant ties to equestrian sports. Hosting for the third time ties Paris with London at the top of the list in number of times a city has hosted the Games.

The year 1900 was the first modern Olympics to include horse sports. Although records indicate the ancient Olympics in Greece did include horse racing and chariot racing, the first modern Games in 1896 did not have any horse events.

Four years later, the 1900 Games staged five Olympic-medal equestrian events, as well as exhibition polo matches (with four mixed teams of players from Great Britain, France, Mexico, Spain and the United States). The five Olympic-medal contests were: individual jumping; high jump; long jump; hacks and hunter combined (included a flat class followed by a course of jumps), and mail coach (driving).

For more news, visit our 2024 Paris Olympics main page.

Five nations competed in those 1900 Olympic jumping events, with three more (Germany, Spain and Austria) in the driving classes. Interestingly, even though we think of female riders competing for the first time in the Olympics at a much later time (the 1950s), there were three female riders who competed in 1900, all in the “hacks and hunter combined” event: Italian Elvira Guerra and Frenchwomen Jane Moulin and Blanche de Marcigny.

In 1924 at the second Paris Olympics, equestrian competition took on a look more akin to today’s disciplines. And, that year marked the appearance of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) as the governing body for the international equestrian sports. Dressage (individual medals only), eventing (individual and team medals), and show jumping (individual and team medals) were contested. Seventeen nations fielded equestrian teams and a total of 97 riders and 126 horses competed.

Notably, the 1924 Olympics marked the the first-ever Olympic individual equestrian medal for the USA when U.S. Army Major Sloan Doak won individual bronze in eventing aboard Pathfinder. He also competed in eventing in the 1920 and 1928 Olympics and was multi-talented, competing in the dressage competition at the 1920 Games and in show jumping in the 1920 and 1924 Games as well. Later, he served as the Chairman of the Olympic Equestrian Jury, the first American to serve in that capacity. He was co-designer for the Olympic show jumping course at the 1932 Olympics.

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This was also the first year that an Olympic Games was broadcasted live. They used the Eiffel Tower as a radio broadcasting structure to report on the competition. The show jumping and eventing jumping that year were held in the Olympic Stadium in Paris.

Thanks to CareCredit for our spring and summer equestrian coverage.

The post 2024 Paris Olympics: Equestrian Sports’ Close Ties With Paris appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Deep History of the Arabian Horse

Perhaps the Arabian horse’s legendary history is part of what has contributed to its popularity.

“The Arabian horse was used as an ambassador and was often given as a treasured gift to royalty or important political figures,” says Susan Meyer, vice president at large of the Arabian Horse Association, vice president of the Arabian Jockey Club and a trustee of the Purebred Arabian Trust. She and her husband, Jim, have owned and operated Meyercrest Arabians in North Carolina for 39 years, and have owned, bred and shown horses to championships at the local, regional and national level. They have also owned, bred and raced purebred Arabians across the United States.

“Arabians were also prized as spoils of war, and many governments established purebred breeding programs of their own,” continues Meyer. “As a result, almost all Arabian pedigrees can be traced back to a horse that was part of a historical event or figure. This link with history is a fun and exciting part of owning an Arabian horse.”

Despite the Arabian horse’s long and alluring history, it’s incredible that the breed has remained so true to its original physical traits, and that it has been able to perpetuate those qualities for so long.

Although the specific area of the Arabian Peninsula where the breed originated can’t be pinpointed, it is widely accepted that around 2500 B.C., the Bedouin people were responsible for developing the desert horses that became the ancestors of the Arabian horse. The nomads’ keen horse sense and meticulous attention to proper care and breeding created an animal that could withstand the harsh environment of the desert, surviving extreme heat and cold with little water and the food they shared with their handlers. A life of travel also required horses with great lung capacity, endurance and stamina.

Fascinating Facts

Many of the Arabian’s characteristics have an ancient religious or superstitious belief attached to them. These traits were highly sought after and became the focus of the Bedouins’ selective breeding practices.

• Jibbah: The bulging forehead was considered a blessing from God. The Bedouins believed that the larger an Arabian’s forehead, the more blessings he brought with him.
• Mitbah: The area where the head attaches to the neck—behind the ears along the topline of the neck and the throatlatch. The Mitbah symbolized courage.
• The Arabian was also prized for a petite, refined muzzle that could “fit into a teacup.”

In addition to wealth and good luck, most of the Arabian’s traits have a significant physical benefit. For instance, the short, dished head and flaring nostrils promote optimum oxygen intake. Furthermore, the Mitbah’s long, fine characteristics prevent the windpipe from being constricted when the head is in a collected frame, which promotes the free flowing of oxygen to the lungs at all times. And the deep chest and wide ribcage permit lung expansion.

• The breed’s Arabian name “Kohl-ani” is a reference to its eyes and skin. The smooth skin is the color of Kohl, a bluish-black substance that was used in Egypt in ancient times as eyeliner and eye shadow.
• Mares were prized over stallions because they perpetuated the breed. They were also preferred for war because they wouldn’t nicker to the enemy’s mounts during raids. Mares were so valued that they were rarely sold. If they changed owners, it was considered a very honorable gift

“The Bedouins and their horses depended on each other for survival, and this interdependency created a very strong human-animal bond,” says Meyer. “Also, only the soundest, most trainable and hardiest individuals survived and bred on. The Bedouins recognized the importance of preserving the attributes that they depended on so much, and their selective breeding practices concentrated on the positive attributes of individual lines. Because of this concentration of blood, even today’s Arabians are able to consistently and predictably pass on their abilities to their offspring. This makes them highly prized as breeding animals.”

Cultural Influence

The Arabian’s physical traits and ability to pass them on to other horse breeds became a major force behind its appeal to other societies in history. About 3,500 years ago, the Arabian helped expand empires such as Egypt and shaped cultures by influencing the horses that were used to settle nations, fight wars and grow economies.

When Arabia worked to spread Islam in 600 A.D., the Arabian horse carried Arab warriors throughout the Middle East and as far as North Africa, Spain and China. Through this effort, and as a result of the expansive Christian Crusades during the 11th and 13th centuries, the Arabian horse began leaving its mark on European horses. It added refinement to heavier draft breeds and height to smaller ponies.

However, its greatest influence was likely that of developing the English Thoroughbred. Three stallions—the Godolphin Barb, Darley Arabian, and Byerly Turk—are credited with being the foundation sires of the Thoroughbred breed between the late 1600s and mid-1700s. Today, the majority of Thoroughbreds can be traced to one of these sires. In turn, the Thoroughbred added to the influence of the Arabian by passing on the traits it inherited from this ancient horse to many other breeds, particularly the American Quarter Horse.

“The Arabian has demonstrated a unique ability to consistently pass on its desirable traits,” says Meyer. “For centuries, nearly all light horse breeds and some draft and warmblood breeds have used the Arabian horse to develop or improve their breed. The Arabian’s ability to influence other breeds is well demonstrated by today’s Thoroughbred racehorses. Genetic testing has proven that 95 percent of all modern Thoroughbred racehorses trace to [one of these foundation] stallions. The mighty Secretariat traced to all three of the foundation stallions.”

Rise and Fall of the Arabian Horse in History

In the 1800s, influential Arabian stud farms were established all over Europe. The historic Crabbet Arabian Stud in England, founded by 15th Baroness Wentworth Lady Anne Blunt and her husband, Wilfred Blunt, produced horses that contributed to the spread of the Arabian breed to Russia, Poland, Australia, Egypt, and North and South America.

In the United States, Randolph Huntington started what is considered to be the first purebred Arabian horse breeding program in history, established in 1888. Later, 45 Arabian horses exhibited at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair inspired further interest in the breed in America. This led to the formation of the first stud book and the Arabian Horse Club of America registry in 1908, now known as the Arabian Horse Association. Subsequent breeding farms and importations in the early and mid-1920s led to further growth of the breed in the United States. Davenport Arabians and Kellogg Ranch, which was established by cereal tycoon W.K. Kellogg, were two of the breeding farms that moved to the forefront of the industry at that time.

“In the late 1800s and early 1900s, several wealthy American entrepreneurs became enthralled with the history, beauty, athletic ability and unique human-animal bond that the Arabian horse represented,” says Meyer. “They began importing Arabian horses from the Middle East and Europe. These horses were not only used to cross with indigenous horses, but they were also used to establish herds of breeding stock to preserve a source of purebred Arabians here in the United States.

“In the 1960s, 70s and 80s, the large inventory of purebred Arabians that were the result of these breeding programs enabled the Arabian to become affordable for the average American family, and the same attributes that attracted the early breeders to the Arabian made them extremely attractive to American families,” continues Meyer. “During that time period, more than 30,000 purebred Arabian foals were born every year. These were unprecedented numbers that far exceeded any other country, and as a result, there are as many registered Arabian horses in the United States as nearly all other countries combined.”

An unfortunate result of this boom in the U.S. Arabian population was a severe downturn in its popularity during the 1980s. Changes in the economy and indiscriminate breeding gave rise to misconceptions that left reputable breeders and promoters disheartened and struggling to pick up the pieces.

“After the breed became extremely affordable, it was also embraced by many celebrities, and the most valued breeding stock and show horses sold for astronomical amounts,” says Meyer. “These were the horses with the highest profiles and the stories that were most often publicized, so the perception that Arabians are extremely expensive still persists. However, Arabian horses run the gamut of price ranges, and the vast majority of them are as affordable as any breed.”

Making a Comeback

A new focus in the 1990s on ability and promoting the Arabian as an all-around performer and family horse helped launch a resurgence for the breed after its rich history. Because of this, Arabian horse owners enjoy participating in various equestrian sports today, from reining to dressage. The breed particularly excels in endurance and trail riding.

“Many people in the modern dressage world value Arabian blood to bring lightness and suppleness to their horses,” says Meyer. “Even working western disciplines appreciate the endurance that Arabians can add to their horses that must work long hours over rough terrain. And in distance riding events, the Arabian is king. All of the major distance events are dominated by Arabians.”

The Arabian also continues to fight an enduring misconception about being high-strung, which has a lot to do with the breed’s past, says Meyer.

“The most prized horses of the Bedouins were the mares that were used in raiding other tribes,” explains Meyer. “A mare not only had to be unfailingly loyal to her master, but she also had to be fierce and courageous in battle. The uninformed can believe Arabians are naturally aggressive, when in fact, these traits are learned behaviors.

“The natural brilliance that the Arabian displays while at play has been emphasized in the show-ring in the halter division,” adds Meyer. “This learned behavior has only perpetuated the myth that the Arabian is flighty and nervous. This isn’t the way the Arabian deports itself day in and day out. The Arabian was the original family horse and is still an ideal horse for families today.”

A Bright Future

With so many qualities and rich history to admire about the Arabian horse and an exhibit such as the Arabian Galleries to promote it, the breed can look forward to maintaining its popularity in the horse community, according to Meyer.

“The same qualities that propelled the Arabian horse throughout the world are what ensure its longevity and continued popularity,” she explains. “The Arabian has proven that it has the ability to adapt and be successful. One horse can serve as a mount for [adults] and children in multiple disciplines. In today’s economy, with ever increasing pressures on space and the environment, the ability to serve multiple demands bodes well for the Arabian breed.”

Meyer believes two trends that have made their way into the Arabian horse industry will propel the breed into a successful future that will build upon its expansive history.

“Probably one of the most significant new trends has been the natural horsemanship approach to training,” says Meyer. “It’s especially suited to the Arabian personality. Arabians are naturally curious and interested in people, and particularly enjoy the interaction that is so important in this type of training. Arabians learn much faster and are easier to deal with using this approach versus other methods of training that depend more on negative reinforcement.”

Like most attributes about the Arabian horse, Meyer says this inclination toward natural horsemanship is linked to the breed’s past. “Because Arabians had to live among the Bedouin families, even residing in the tents with them at times, they had to be particularly docile and tractable,” explains Meyer. “The foals were weaned only a few days after birth and were raised by the women and children on camel’s milk and dates. The foals’ lives depended on their bond with humans, and over the centuries, the foals that had this affinity for connecting with humans have been the ones that bred on. The natural horsemanship methods allow this connection to develop to a very high level.”

Meyer says another trend that has secured the Arabian’s top position in the horse industry is the baby boomers’ growing interest in riding, and their desire for suitable mounts that are both athletic and reliable.

“The Arabian’s sensitivity and athletic abilities are particularly suited to the athletic challenges that the mature rider deals with, particularly in competitive disciplines,” says Meyer. “The strength and stamina of the rider is not as crucial when riding Arabians, as they are so easy to collect and maneuver.”

With an appeal that has drawn people of so many different backgrounds to the Arabian horse over the ages, the breed is sure to continue its influential role for a long time
to come.

Part II: A Fitting Tribute to the Arabian Horse >>
The Enduring Arabian >>
Question of the Week: Skinny Lesson Horse>>

This article about the history of the Arabian horse originally appeared in the January 2011 issue of Horse Illustrated. Click here to subscribe.

The post A Brief History of the Arabian Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Smooth gaits, a sweet temperament and a uniquely American history: All these characteristics belong to a special equine breed known as the Rocky Mountain Horse.

Despite its name, the Rocky hails from the American South. A gaited horse that developed in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky in the early 20th century, it is considered a rare breed.

The story of the breed begins in the Bluegrass State in the late 1800s. Legend has it that a young stallion from the Rocky Mountains was brought to Eastern Kentucky, where he was bred to a group of local mares. The resulting foals turned out to be special horses with a four-beat gait, exceptional temperaments and chocolate-brown coloring with flaxen manes and tails. Because these horses were isolated in the remote Appalachians, these traits became more clearly defined over time, and a distinct breed developed.

Kept by Appalachian farmers who worked hard to make ends meet, these horses performed a variety of tasks, including plowing fields, herding cattle and pulling buggies. They worked every day, and sometimes even had to find their own food when times were tough. The result was a resilient breed where only the hardiest survived.

In 1918, a man named Sam Tuttle purchased his first Rocky Mountain Horse and went on to become the most influential shaper of the breed. Tuttle ran a riding concession at the Kentucky Natural Bridge Park and used Rocky Mountain Horses as trail mounts for guests, exposing the breed too many visitors.

One of his horses was a stallion named Tobe, who became the breed’s primary foundation stallion. At the time, Rocky Mountain Horses were still being used on Kentucky farms, working hard to help local farmers till their land and get from one place to another.

But the advent of technology began to affect the breed’s numbers. Trucks and tractors began replacing horses on farms. By the mid-1980s, not many Rocky Mountain Horses were left.

It was around this time that Rea Swan, a fancier of the breed, set out to save the breed from imminent extinction. Swan first discovered the Rocky Mountain Horse at Tuttle’s Kentucky Natural Bridge State Park concession when she visited the park as a child. She began to track down individual Rocky Mountain Horses that were scattered throughout Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, and sought to bring together people who loved and cared about the breed.

In 1986, as a result of her efforts, the Rocky Mountain Horse Association (RMHA) was formed. The organization’s objective was to record the breed’s history and register the remaining Rocky Mountain Horses and their future progeny.

Today, 26,000 registered Rocky Mountain Horses are in the United States, and their numbers are growing.

Versatility Plus

People who love the breed have no problem explaining why. “Versatile,” “people-oriented” and “smooth to ride” are frequent terms they use to describe this breed.

The most popular job for Rocky Mountain Horses these days is as a trail horse. Given the breed’s history, this makes perfect sense. Not only are Rockies easy to ride because of their smooth lateral gaits, they are also surefooted—the result of decades on the rugged Appalachian trails.

These horses also excel in competition. They are currently being shown in everything from endurance and team penning to show jumping and gaited dressage. Carriage driving, saddle seat and even mounted shooting are all successful disciplines for the Rocky Mountain Horse.

Because of their gentle temperament and their desire to please, Rockies are also popular as mounts for first-time horse owners. Their forgiving, quiet nature makes them a good choice for both children and adults just learning to ride and handle a horse.

Although the Livestock Conservancy lists the Rocky Mountain Horse in its catalog of rare breeds, the RMHA is working hard to expand the breed’s popularity. The association supports several programs to encourage use of these horses, including a show program, a versatility program, and the RMHA Trail Mileage Program. Each program features year-end awards for the horses with the most accomplishments in each area.

The RMHA’s motto for the breed is “one horse for all occasions.” Given the Rocky Mountain Horse’s enduring versatility and willingness to please, this seems to be the perfect description.

Fast Facts Height: 14 to 16 hands Color: Any solid horse color Overall Appearance: Medium boned; wide, deep chest; sloping shoulders. Bold eyes with face neither dished or convex, and medium in size. Neck medium length and gracefully arched. Learn more by visiting the Rocky Mountain Horse Association.

This article about the Rocky Mountain horse originally appeared in the August 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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The small town of Weybridge, Vt., is home to a scenic gem for horse lovers and history buffs alike. Known for its picturesque beauty in the Green Mountains, the University of Vermont (UVM) Morgan Horse Farm is a popular stop for leaf-peeping tourists and city dwellers in search of some authentic rural ambience. But the farm is more than a postcard-ready historic landmark.

For the first half of the 20th century, the UVM Morgan Horse Farm was home to a government-run breeding program for U.S. cavalry horses. And while the federal government no longer breeds horses, the farm preserves the bloodlines of those exceptional Morgan horses to this day, producing strong, sound, and versatile Morgan horses that are appreciated by riders and drivers of all disciplines.

The Morgan Horse as a Versatile Companion

“Tractability is really the No. 1 characteristic we’re breeding for in our setting,” says Kim Demars, Farm Manager at the UVM Morgan Horse Farm. “They need that positive attitude. Conformation and athleticism are secondary to that. Whether a horse is going to be a dressage horse or a park harness horse, or whatever it goes on to do in its career, it needs to be conformationally correct and have athletic ability. Those are the three most important traits that we try to produce here at the farm.”

The qualities that make Morgans a great ambassador at a public-facing program like the UVM farm also make them an ideal fit for riders seeking a truly companionable equine partner.
“Morgans are incredibly versatile. They’re truly an all-around family horse,” says Demars. “The slogan for the American Morgan Horse Association is ‘The horse that chooses you,’ and that is so true with our horses here. They really find their person and become part of the family. They’re just a really cool breed.”

Cavalry History

The property that is now the UVM Morgan Horse Farm was commissioned in 1878 by Col. Joseph Battell, who is recognized as having been instrumental in saving the breed from near extinction at that time.

“Col. Battell created the first Morgan breed registry,” says Demars. “He resurrected the Morgan bloodlines and the Morgan breed. From there, the U.S. Government took over the farm as a cavalry remount station.”

At first glance, the connection between a breeding program intended to produce battlefield-ready cavalry horses and a modern program known for its personable pleasure horses and show-ring stunners may seem unlikely. But the Morgan’s war horse traits from that chapter in its history are part of what makes it a sound, reliable, and athletic partner for riders across many disciplines today.

“[The cavalry] horses needed to have copious amounts of stamina. They had to be very sturdy, very thrifty,” says Demars. “They had to have a horse that could carry soldiers for as long as they needed, and the Morgan really fit that bill.”

After the government ended its horse breeding programs, the University of Vermont took over the iconic Weybridge farm in 1951, and the University has maintained ownership ever since.

Apprenticeships & Internships

Education is an important part of the UVM Farm’s programming, and is achieved through its apprenticeship program, internships, and integration with UVM courses at the University’s main campus in Burlington.

“The apprenticeship program is our longest-running educational program with close to 300 graduates,” says Dylan Burguard, Equine and Academic Coordinator. “The goal of this program is to allow any individual interested in the equine industry an opportunity to spend a full year immersed in it.”

Apprentices are often recent high school or college graduates, although the program is open to all applicants age 18 or over, regardless of their educational status. The Morgans’ versatility, along with the expansive nature of the UVM Farm’s programs, offer a truly comprehensive experience for aspiring equine professionals that want to determine what aspect of the horse industry they’d like to specialize in.

“Apprentices live on-site and work full-time at the farm,” says Burguard. “They assist with every part of the operation, from breeding and foaling to training and sales of horses. They assist with events and demonstrations we put on for the public and for UVM students. They have the opportunity to ride, drive, and train horses and assist with veterinary procedures.”

An internship program allows current college students to earn credit while getting hands-on experience at the farm in one of three specialty programs: training and handling; equine sales and marketing; or reproduction and foaling. While these internships are primarily targeted at UVM students, interns are accepted from colleges and universities across the country.

The farm’s collaboration with the University extends to coursework, bringing Vermont’s official state animal into its state university and introducing more students to this wonderful breed.

This article about the Morgan horse appeared in the July 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe

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