Equine Program

Miner Institute sponsors a wide variety of educational equine programs for children through adults.
For specific information on any of the programs listed, please contact Karen Lassell at (518) 846-7121, ext. 120.

Summer Experience in Equine Management
Since 1987, the Summer Experience in Equine Management program has offered an intensive 13-week immersion into all facets of managing a stable and breeding farm. It is geared for students that have completed at least their junior year of college and have an equine career as a goal. With a few foals born on the farm each year, as well as outside horses accepted for training, students get a hands-on experience in the start to finish training of a horse for saddle or harness. There are a number of stallions that board year round as well as transient studs, allowing the students to learn how to handle the stallion, collect and process semen for artificial insemination, transport or freezing. Research projects are conducted by each student and presented as a paper and orally at the end of the summer. These tend to focus on either stallion semen preservation or improve the holdings of our educational materials. Many students have gone on to become managers, feed company representatives, veterinarians, or to attend graduate school.

EquiDay
Traditionally held on a Saturday in mid to late March, this annual event is free and open to the public. It features guest and in-house speakers on a variety of horse topics, a trade show, refreshments and door prizes.

Junior Youth EquiDay
Held the first Saturday of November, this annual event features a mix of talks, activities, and demonstrations focusing on several specific horse subjects. Topics are presented with the younger set in mind, with material geared to the under 12 age group. It has become an integral part of the tri-county area’s 4-H program.

Senior Youth EquiDay
This one-day summer program has grown out of the increasing popularity of EquiDay and the expanding interest in horses in northeastern NY, VT, and Quebec. Designed for 4-H seniors or youth 12 and over who are ready for more intense material, we take most of a day to present a few select topics, engage in discussion, and allow more hands-on time to practice new skills.

Equine Reproduction Workshop
Through a long-running collaboration with the UVM Morgan Horse Farm and Middlebury Large Animal Clinic, Miner Institute continues to help present an Equine Reproduction Workshop each spring. From Anatomy and Physiology to Management Techniques to Collection and Artificial Insemination, participants get a well-rounded program. Veterinarians, breeding managers, and researchers will give presentations, demonstrate techniques and guide attendants in hands-on participation.

Farrier and Hoofcare Workshops
Offered periodically, the Farrier and Hoofcare Resource Center’s On The Road seminar is popular with horse owners, veterinarians, farriers, and hoofcare specialists. The 2-day workshops feature a combination of lectures and demonstrations. The principle “No hoof, no horse” is well understood by all who work with equines—we are dedicated to providing continuing education in this important area of horse care.

Therapeutic Riding
In cooperation with the Champlain Valley Education Services’ occupation and physical therapy program, Miner Institute offers this 6-week session for disabled children. There is just something about the beauty and effortless motion of the horse that is able to help disabled people reach goals higher than they had ever imagined! It takes a special horse to meet this kind of challenge and we’ve been blessed with a few of them over the years. This aspect of the industry continues to grow and it is an excellent exposure for our Summer Experience in Equine Management students to the field of hippotherapy.