EAST LANSING, Mich. — A four-unit horse behavior and welfare course, called My Horse University, is the first offering of new online educational programs from Michigan State University (MSU) Global and MSU Horse Programs.

The first online class begins in December. The initial unit is titled Horse Behavior and Welfare. This program allows participants who are not on the MSU campus, or not even in Michigan or the United States for that matter, to take advantage of the bank of equine information that is available through MSU.

“There are a lot of horse owners who are very busy or who aren’t located near a college or university, but they want to know how better to manage and handle their animals,” said Christine Skelly, MSU Extension equine specialist and one of the program’s developers. “We can use technology to give these folks, no matter where they are, access to university experts and to the most up-to-date findings on how horses respond to care and what makes them happiest and healthiest.”

An earlier launch was targeted, but collecting and developing the class information took longer than anticipated, and having everything “just right” has delayed the schedule.

Students in the program can log on to learn and complete hands-on exercises developed by equine scientists. Camie Heleski, an animal behavioral scientist in MSU’s animal behavioral and welfare group, is the lead instructor. The material is designed to help horse owners better understand how horses learn, why they react in various situations and how to use this information in handling and training.

Heleski said she is excited about what this new venue permits people to plug into from distant places, but local people can also benefit from the opportunity, as well.

The program will not help someone to become a DVM without touching a horse, but it does allow a wider range of experienced people to update their level of knowledge, without having to visit or return to campus.

Changing professions can often urge people to learn and grow. The role of horses in people’s lives is ever changing and also growing in importance. Participants have up to six months to complete all the units to earn a certificate of completion. Future My Horse University programs will focus on equine nutrition, conformation and selection, horse health, reproduction and exercise physiology.

Registration for the horse behavior and welfare program is $200. To enroll or for more information, visit www.myhorseuniversity.com Rural families are being joined by city people seeking a different way of life, and anyone traveling country roads today will witness an increase in horse farms as well as horses being used on farms.

Equine breeding programs are increasing in size and in numbers, and every program that includes all breed participation attracts a growing audience of the community. Large crowds are attending the messages from clinicians.

The North American Horse Spectacular at Novi, Mich. was a good example of this trend, as is the Michigan Great Lakes International Draft Horse Show in East Lansing in October. There are also increases in breed shows and draft horse field-working activities.

Heleski has included some of the material from a class she teaches on campus in the My Horse University programs. An equine nutrition will be available online in early 2007, and it will be joined by Horse Conformation and Selection class, soon after. Also on the upcoming agenda are Equine Health, Equine Reproduction, Equine Exercise and Physiology and Developing and Evaluating Horse Facilities. Also underway is a DVD series that will include Restraining Horses, Basic Ground Training Techniques, Halter-breaking Weanlings and Foaling out the Mare.

Heleski grew up on a Michigan Thumb-area farm that included horses. She enjoys dressage and remembers once when she was growing up and falling off a horse.

Her dad said to her, “You have set that horse back three weeks by falling off like that.”

That was one of many lessons that she hasn’t forgotten and will continue to teach.

This farm news was published in the Nov. 29, 2006 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.