Three years ago, she moved from the Channel Island of Jersey to join the equine program at the private university located outside of Lexington, Kentucky. While she considered many different colleges around the world, this one stuck out because of the unique program tailored to her career goals. After graduating next year with a degree in Equine Studies with a focus on Equine Rehabilitation, Ibbotson hopes to take what she has learned at college to her career in the racing world.

“Midway University was perfect for me because the classes you have in the equine program are very specific in targeting different areas of education,” she said. “Not only do you have the basic anatomy classes, but you also have classes like Eastern Medicine, which is really interesting to learn different things like traditional Chinese medicine. These are classes that a lot of other colleges don't include in their equine program. It's really interesting to get an overall view of the entire equine world and learn how different people do different things.”

Located in the heart of horse country within walking distance to the small-town community of Midway, the equine program at Midway University is one of just a few in the nation to house an on-campus, working horse farm. With 160 acres and over 30 horses to tend to, students are in the barns each morning and afternoon, including on weekends and holidays, to complete daily chores.

With an emphasis on hands-on learning, most of the program's classes are held outside of the traditional classroom space. This fall, they will be opening a new, 18-stall barn with a built-in, 40-by-60 foot equine classroom to provide even more opportunity for practical experiences for their students.

Midway University's Dean of the School of Business, Equine and Sport Studies Mark Gill said the real-life situations their students go through daily have led to an increasing demand for their graduates as employees.

“In the last several years, we have had 100% of our students fully employed in the equine industry upon graduation,” Gill said. “One of the reasons why our students are so sought after is that they have a great deal of experience by the time they leave our farm. We're able to bring horses into the equine classroom and have hands-on activities as part of the instruction. Students learn how to drive tractors. They can back up horse trailers. They're taking horses to and from lessons throughout the day. They're involved in every aspect of running our farm.”

“One of the things that is really important in the equine industry is work ethic,” he continued. “We impart that on our freshman and our students quickly learn that they're willing to work at the level expected in the equine industry.”

Asked what applicable skills she has learned during her time at Midway, Ibbotson rattled off a lengthy list.

“Anything from wrapping and bandaging legs, giving IV and IM [injections], knowing when to deworm, knowing which medications are used for what, the anatomy of a horse, rehabilitation modalities and a whole load of other things that really help someone going into that career.”

Students are required to complete an internship during their four years in the program to gain additional experience and make connections in their specific area of interest. Last year, Ibbotson interned at Margaux Farm and spent time working in their rehabilitation program.

The basis of Midway University's growing equine program is their on-campus, in-person program, which currently has about 120 students and includes three different pathways: equine science, equine management and equine rehabilitation. In addition, their MBA program with a concentration in equine management is geared toward professionals in the equine industry moving into managerial roles. This fall, they are also launching a new, fully-online Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Business and Sales.

While the university in its entirety has seen record growth in recent years, it wasn't long ago that the college was facing millions of dollars in debt and serious enrollment decline.

Students gain hands-on experience working with the 37-horse herd at Midway University | Katie Petrunyak

John Marsden, Ph.D., stepped on as President in 2013. He implemented several major changes, the first being a transition to co-education. Prior to 2015, the school was the only women's college remaining in Kentucky. Since the transition, total enrollment has nearly doubled from under 1,000 students to over 1,800 last year. The name of the school was also changed from Midway College to Midway University to reflect expanding graduate programs.

With the increase in enrollment, Marsden turned his attention to campus improvements. One of the institution's oldest buildings from the mid-19^th century was converted into a third residence hall. The campus also benefitted from the addition of an athletic field house, an admissions welcome center, a baseball stadium and tennis courts.

“All of this was done without incurring any debt,” Marsden said. “Rising debt levels and decreasing enrollment are two of the biggest challenges among private colleges in the United States, but we have been paying down our debt. We've paid it down 38%.”

Marsden added that despite the improvements, Midway University remains financially accessible to prospective students.

“We are one of the most affordable institutions in the state,” he said. “Our graduate programs are the most affordable in Central Kentucky and of the 18 private colleges in the state, our traditional daytime program is the fifth most affordable.”

This year, Midway University is celebrating its 175^th anniversary at their annual Spotlight Awards on Thursday, May 26. The funds from this event support ongoing academic programing and student scholarships.  With this year's theme of 'Making History,' they will be honoring two equine industry leaders.

“As part our Spotlight Awards, we honor two individuals,” Marsden explained. “The first award that we give out is called the Pinkerton Vision Award. This year it will be given to Shannon Arvin, who is making history as the first female president of Keeneland. The second individual we are honoring with the Legacy Award, which goes to someone who has made a difference with time, talent and treasure at Midway University. That will be awarded to former trustee and horseman Tracy Farmer.”

John Stuart, founder of Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, is a current member of the Board of Trustees at Midway University and is looking forward to the institution's bright future.

“I've learned what a truly impressive job President Marsden and his team have done in the past six years to make this school a university that is going places,” Stuart said. “Our horse community probably is not aware of the quality of the equine program at Midway. If we are going to produce enough foals to fill future race cards, we need equine-educated young people to employ in the local community.”

Members of the equine community in and around Lexington have been an essential piece of the equation in Midway University's recent success. Gill said that the experiences and access students in the equine program receive are some of the most influential factors for prospective students.

“Thoroughbred farms have graciously given our students unparalleled access, whether they're coming to campus to speak or inviting students to go to their farms and observe how their operation works,” he said. “We really look at Midway University as a partner with the Thoroughbred industry, and we're proud of the fact that this is really the Thoroughbred capital of the world. We want to help provide the workforce that will continue the Thoroughbred industry's growth in this area.”

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The post TERF Awards to the University of Minnesota Foundation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Selected by the Board of Directors, grant recipients will receive written notice of TERF's acceptance of their funding request and/or notice via phone or e-mail by no later than June 30 of the application year for education and scholar support, and not later than Sept. 1 for research grant awards.

In 2021, TERF awarded $ 100,500 in grants to 12 organizations.

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For more information, visit www.terfusa.org.

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Grant recipients will receive written notice of TERF's acceptance of their funding request and/or notice via phone or e-mail by no later than July 15 of the application year. In 2020, TERF awarded $108,000 in grants to nine organizations.

Headed by founders Herb and Ellen Moelis, TERF's current Board, includes co-Chairs Kathleen Anderson, DVM, and James Orsini, DVM, Margaret H. Duprey, Gretchen and Roy Jackson, Ellen and Herb Moelis, Wendy Moon, Anita Motion, Scott Palmer VMD, Josh Pons and Lucy Zungailia.

For more information about the Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation, visit www.terfusa.org.

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Annise Montplaisir will be the first person to hold this position and will be responsible for building awareness of the equine industry and the industry's educational and employment opportunities. This will be accomplished through creating relationships with 4-H, FFA, and breed youth councils, among other organizations. Additionally, Montplaisir will be responsible for marketing industry programs through social media, special events, and the KEEP Equine Summit Luncheon Series. Montplaisir will also serve as an ambassador of the horse industry across the Commonwealth, creating a framework for other states in the U.S. and developing international relationships.

Montplaisir will work specifically with multiple programs and entities, including:

• Amplify Horse Racing: a national education and recruitment resource used to leverage current educational and occupational opportunities
• Equine Apprenticeships: a program aimed at providing “earn and learn” training in horsemanship for individuals interested in working in the horse industry
• K-12 School Districts: facilitating emerging relationships with schools and districts across Kentucky to implement work-based learning opportunities and participate in community and industry engagement
• Emerging Populations: working with various entities to engage with, and encourage, industry involvement from various underserved populations

This new position is the result of collaboration among the KEEP Foundation, Fasig-Tipton, Glen Hill Farm, Godolphin, The Jockey Club, and Mt. Brilliant Farm.

Montplaisir grew up near Fargo, North Dakota. She received a Bachelor of Science in management communication and international studies and a minor in Spanish from North Dakota State University. She developed a passion for horse racing and gained experience with the industry through multiple internships. She is a recent graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start program and has worked as the project manager for Together for Racing International, as well as co-hosting a bilingual horse racing show called La Trifecta.

Commenting on the new position, Montplaisir said: “Horses have always been a guiding light through my own educational journey. They've inspired me to dream bigger and explore adventures that once would have been unimaginable. I am thrilled to begin my role as the equine education coordinator, and to teach people that educational programs and careers in the equine industry are accessible to anyone. Through this position, I hope to promote existing programs, encourage collaboration between initiatives, and facilitate connections that will help newcomers get involved. Ultimately, I believe that education can positively impact the sustainability of the Thoroughbred industry – and the equine industry as a whole.”

Katie LaMonica, director of charitable initiatives for Godolphin USA, added: “Following a global forum on education hosted by Godolphin in Newmarket last November, a team of invested U.S. industry professionals came together to explore ways to address the current workforce problem the equine business faces. This position is the result of that collaboration and is an exciting opportunity for Kentucky's signature industry to engage with the youth of the state. For the first time, there will be a dedicated representative marketing the industry to young people and educators across the state, connecting them to the many opportunities our industry offers and streamlining existing equine educational programs in Kentucky. Godolphin is proud to be a partner in this collective effort vested in the future of our industry.”

This hire speaks to KEEP's investment in education and workforce development that began with the creation of the KEEP Foundation in 2014. The KEEP Foundation is supported by donors and the sale of the KEEP Foundation's Seattle Slew specialty license plate.

In 2018, KEEP and the KEEP Foundation partnered with the Kentucky Chamber Workforce Center to launch the Equine Workforce Initiative. The equine education coordinator is an outgrowth of that program and will work closely with the KEEP Foundation and the Equine Workforce Initiative to help modernize the recruitment, training, and placement of qualified employees into the pipelines of the ever-growing equine industry.

The mission of the KEEP Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), is to support the economic success of Kentucky's signature industry by ensuring its continued economic viability, making the industry accessible for all who want to participate, introducing more young people to the industry and its opportunities, and educating the people of the Commonwealth about the importance of horses to the state, its economy, its heritage, and its people.

The KEEP Foundation seeks to fulfill this mission through:

• Generating wider interest from the general public and creating new fans and participants for Kentucky's horse industry.
• Raising public awareness on the importance of all horse breeds and disciplines in all 120 counties of the “Horse Capitol of the World” through educational events and community engagement that explores the breadth and depth of Kentucky's horse industry.
• Attracting new people and populations to careers in the industry and reducing the barriers of entry to career paths in the industry.

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The Monday session is presented by members of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Animal Ag/Field and Forage Working Group, Melissa Bravo and Hank Bignell. It will focus on assessing hay quality, weeds and weed control, and hay testing. Register for the Monday webinar here.

The Tuesday session investigates what hay is best for horses and what to feed ruminants in winter. This session is presented by Rutgers Equine Extension Specialist Dr. Carey Williams and Animal Science Extension Specialist Dr. Mike Westendorf. Register for the Tuesday event here.

Both webinars are free, but preregistration is required.

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The core of the new program will be three years of courses (in the classroom and hands-on) in addition to an internship or apprenticeship a student could complete at one of the area's Thoroughbred farms. The program will offer older students the ability to customize their studies to focus on equine business, horsemanship/training, or horticulture through the lens of a horse farm. It will also include club activities to attract younger students to horses before they are old enough to have classes available to them. Those activities will coincide with existing chapters of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and the National Society for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANNRS).

The school system's Locust Trace AgriScience Center already offered some equine studies for the high school students from six area schools, in addition to other agricultural, environmental science, and food science courses. Now, those opportunities will be expanded. Thanks to the industry grant, the Fayette County Public Schools will go from one full-time teacher covering equine studies to two, as well as funding for middle and elementary school outreach programs, transportation, and additional operational resources. School officials project a total enrollment of 2,480 into the new equine programs across all grade levels, with 160 to 175 new students attending new equine classes at Locust Trace.

High schoolers will have the opportunity to take dual credit or dual enrollment courses via Bluegrass Community and Technical College, which also offers equine studies programs through the North American Racing Academy.

“Once you get inside the door of the horse industry it's really eye-opening how many avenues there are, but most of them fall back onto those basic horsemanship skills,” said Braxton Lynch, chair of the KTA/KTOB. “I think just that first step of exposure will open up so many doors for them, and really it's up to them where they want to go.”

School officials anticipate the educational programs at Locust Trace could eventually expand to include adult education in the evenings for those who want to build skills to work in the horse industry.

As diversity has become a recent focus in the equestrian and racing industries, Fayette County Public Schools superintendent Manny Caulk said he is working with the Legacy Equine Academy and others to ensure students of all backgrounds recognize that these programs are available to them.

“As our national grapples with the issues of racial and social justice, our moral imperative as a district is to provide access and opportunities for students who otherwise wouldn't have those advantages,” said Caulk. “People of all races have a rich history in the Thoroughbred industry and we want this generation of students to not only see themselves in that history but also to take ownership for writing their own future. That story will be continued as they find themselves and find their life's passion in the equine industry.”

For the industry stakeholders in the project, the investment in the school programs is something of a long-term investment. All involved are hopeful students will complete the program with basic horsemanship skills they can apply to a job in any portion of the business from a breeding farm to a training barn to a bloodstock agency.

“Locust Trace has been here quite a while; our industry has been here for two centuries,” said Chauncey Morris, executive director of the KTA/KTOB. “It's really incumbent on us to maximize how it's going to provide services not only to our industry but to the community as a whole. We look at this very much as a down payment on the community. We know that the instructors and additional operational funds that are being added to this, it's going to take those three years to really see how that's going to mesh in our industry, but we're looking forward to that.”

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