QUESTION
UT Martin’s top 10, nationally-ranked equestrian team opens its season Friday, Oct. 2, at Delaware State. How many horses does the equestrian program have for team members, where do horses come from, and who’s responsible for the animals’ care?
RESPONSE
We currently have 39 horses in our program that serve our 40 student-athletes. We compete in four events: fences, flat, horsemanship and reining. Each of our horses is geared toward one or two of those events. Of our 39 horses, seven are leased to the university, and the remainder have been generously donated to our program.
Our horses come to us from a variety of places. Our donors include UT Martin Equestrian alumni and supporters, as well as fellow horsemen and women from across the equine industry. We are incredibly fortunate to have people within the equine community who believe in our program and trust us to provide their horses with a great home and a meaningful next chapter.
Caring for 39 horses is truly a team effort. Our coaching staff oversees the overall management, health and training of the herd. Several of our student-athletes serve as barn managers, taking on additional responsibility for the day-to-day care of the horses. We also employ student feeders who make sure our horses are fed and cared for every morning and evening.
Our herd also provides valuable hands-on learning opportunities for students in UT Martin’s animal science program. Students in the ANSC 211 Horse Science Lab complete a week of stable duty as part of their coursework, gaining practical experience with horse handling, feeding and cleaning stalls. Students in several other lab classes also participate in aspects of the horses’ preventative health care, including vaccinations and deworming, under appropriate supervision.
It really takes a village to care for our herd. Our horses are obviously an important part of our athletic program, but they also play a valuable role in the education of students at UT Martin. Their health and well-being are always at the center of what we do.
(Response courtesy of Kim Leiter-Janes, head coach of the UT Martin equestrian team.)
