This fall, the University of Florida (UF) College of Veterinary Medicine has launched a new online undergraduate course focusing on everything horse, ranging from common health issues to topics in the unique industry of equine business.

The course is team-taught by UF faculty members from several different departments, featuring pre-recorded lectures and an online discussion module, and aims to engage students of sophomore status or above.

The course includes lectures on important topics for any individual seeking a professional career among members of the horse industry; topics such as breeds, preventive health care and biosecurity, genetics, and nutrition are discussed. The course also features a research module, focusing on specific case studies and scientific articles in the equine field, which will allow students to engage in dialogue on the role of scientific inquiry and methods in the equine industry.

“Because it’s online, we are able to offer this course to students at universities where they might not have a strong equine sciences department,” said Patrick Larkin, PhD, equine course coordinator and adjunct lecturer for the department of clinical sciences, “It’s also good exposure for students to decide whether or not they want to go into this field.”

The course also offers students who are interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine or veterinary technology the invaluable opportunity to network with veterinary experts in the competitive equine field.

In addition to students who currently attend UF, about 30 distance-learning students are enrolled in the course’s pilot semester, hailing from states like Tennessee, New York, Minnesota, and an international student has even enrolled all the way from Turkey.