Bringing my horse to college???

Question

Hi, I am going to be a junior this year in high school and am going through the college finding process.

I really want to be in a state like montana or Idaho, somewhere where there are lots of ranches and lots of land. ( i am from california, and i live in a big city that i cant even ride my bike around in. I hate it.)

I am wondering how my horse would adapt to Montana or a really cold place like that. He is 21 and has been in the california type of weather his whole life.

How do you think he would be in cold weather?

what type of weather do they really get in like montana, wyoming, or idaho? Is it that harsh?

I have to find a college that my horse will be able to adapt to ( he will be at a local boarding facility wherever the college is)

any ideas of colleges, i would like to go to an equine science school, but major as something else ( i woudl like to meet some nice ranch guys there LOL)

anyways please help me :D

Answer 1

I live in southwestern Montana, he will need to be blanketed in the winter and probably housed in a stall at night and in severe weather- the first year he will not grow nearly as much hair as horses used to the climate do and will likely need to be blanketed more heavily than a 'native' horse.  

Highs in the winter here are usually below freezing, and in the double digit negatives at night is not entirely uncommon.  This year, we had snow on the ground til May, and it continued to snow off and on through early June.  Wyoming would have a similar climate to here, as would eastern and northern Idaho, western Idaho (like Boise area) is milder in the winter.  

The two Universities in Montana that I would recommend to you are University of Montana in Missoula and Montana State University in Bozeman.

Answer 2

Look for a school in Iowa.

Answer 3

Well you might need to get your horse some heavy blankets if he doesn't usually have to grow a thick coat.   You shouls also expect that he might be a little "high" in the winter months.  Most horse's should be fine, although some do much better in warmer climates.  It depends on your horse really.

Idaho, Montana, and Idaho, get pretty cold, and get snow.  I think you should look into Colorado State University even though Colorado isn't on your list of states. Their equine program has a good reputation.

Answer 4

You are a funny girl - ranch guys HA!....silly girl...

Ya know there's horse colleges all over - William Woods, Findlay College, etc.

I live in Michigan and we've got something kinda neat going on - maybe watch for this too.  There are about 5 colleges in the state who've embraced equine sports which are not horse-type colleges.  Western Michigan, Central, Ferris - I believe are some.  They have a club of people who travel to each other's colleges, ride horses either owned by each other or by the club and compete - so they don't KNOW the horse until they get there - they meet it, and then proceed to show.

I think the horse world is scattered about enough that you could find a boarding facility or a private residence looking for someone like you just about anywhere if you start looking now.

You're a junior in HS - you have the time to identify first what you wish to have as a career to support your horse hobby - and trust me, unless you're set and ready to live a 'starving' kind of life, it's tough to make money with a horse education unless it's something in vet school - which might be an option for you - Michigan State is within an hour of me - in our area we have a serious shortage of horse vets - wanna come here and be a vet?

You will likely need to blanket your horse in cold weather - you say he's 21 and been in the warmth all his life - he won't adapt well at that age - you'll have to baby him.  Also consider that in horses, anything over 20 is a gift - so taking him to a place with extreme temperatures might not be good for his health.  Additionally he's 21 now - by the time you go to school, he'll be what, 23 or so?

Wyoming, Idaho and Montana are similar in climate - and all have a certain amount of elevation difference that affects how long it is cold as well as how cold it gets.  I might suggest given the age of your horse that perhaps you could find a college with the best curriculum for your chosen career in a warmer climate or at least milder and not such a shock to him.

I doubt you'll meet nice ranch guys at the proper college - many of the best raised on ranches stay on the ranch and keep ranching.  But if you're smart you'll start to consider what you like about "ranch guys" and look for that.

Take it from a 41 year old woman who started out with similar goals.  

1.  Do you admire and respect your father?  If so, look for someone with similar traits as him because although you might not realize it now, you've become accustomed to him and his habits - if he's the type of guy like my dad who can fix anything and likes working and staying busy all the time, good with construction, etc - you won't like a guy that has someone else always fix his stuff or hires someone to do it for him or puts off getting things fixed.  Trust me -been there done that.

2.  Realize that you cannot make a proper judgement of a guy without spending some time in all sorts of setting with him - people naturally "put on" at first to make the best impression then are more themselves after time.

3.  Meet his family - all of 'em - Mom, Pop and siblings and see how they interact and treat each other - if his homelife has been similar to yours, chances are you'll be more comfortable with him.

4.  Can you talk with him - and I don't mean about favorite music and the weather - I mean really talk - can you ask him what he likes and dislikes about girls or this or that and get a real answer?  Can you tell him (and you need to learn how) properly when something bothers you and get a respectful response?  Can he talk about feelings?  This kinda relates to #1 above because if you're NOT comfortable laying it all out and he is, it could work the opposite way.

5.  If you're lucky enough to find a cowboy - or at least a young man interested in horses, how does he act around them?  (and other animals) Is he patient?  Is he understanding?  Some guys get "into" horses because they've learned they can control a big animal, dominate it and look tough - while others get "into" horses because they value an ability to fully understand the horse's nature and communicate with it patiently and positively - which type would you rather be with?

Watch for the little things - raised hands, impatience, temper - these things are not good for us girls - we are really quite a different breed than guys and we require similar types of interaction as horses - understanding, acceptance, openness and patience - likewise they are a different breed from us and require the same from us.

David Stoecklein has a great book on Cowboy Wisdom and Cowboy Ethics.  He tells how the cowboy has come to symbolize truth, honesty and integrity - and handshake is as strong as a signed contract - patience and other such virtues - think about what "ranch guy" or "cowboy" cowboy really means to you before you go searching.

Good luck to you - lots of happy horse hours and successful career to you!

Answer 5

You can probably adapt him with no real problems, but at least the first year he would probably need blanketed.  In order to keep him comfortable you will most likely need several blankets to layer and maintain his temperature.  Horses were designed to adapt, so I wouldn't be surprised if he busted out in a nice winter coat.

Answer 6

i am a senoior in High Shcool and want to go to a college with equine majors too.   I have aready done what you are about to do and heres my suggestions.  Don't bring your horse your first year.  I was someone upset by people telling me this but after about 5 colleges saying don't bring them the first year i said ok.  Also,  you don't just get to keep your horse there you have to pay a board and most colleges i visited(on the east coast) it is $500 or more a month.  Now there was the exception of one school that has a work program where you can pay for your board by doing chores around the school.  That was Sterling College in Vermont but if you don't want a small school don't look at it( no joke its only 127 students)  

Also most colleges don't let you bring your own horse unless it is participating in the equestrian team and seeing as yours is 21 the schools may not expcet the horse.

here are some links to schools in the states you want plus a website that has equine schools all over the country.

http://www.rocky.edu/

http://www.cwc.edu/

http://www.a2zcolleges.com/Majors/Equest...

also once you see the colleges you really need to concentrate on meeting proffesors and takinto students in there freshamn year of college with equine majors so you get an idea of what they are going through.

here are schools tha ti am looking at and applying to:

Sterling College (Vermont)

Cazenovia College (New York)

POST University (Connecticut)

UConn ( Ct)

St. Mary of the woods (Indiana)

St. Andrews Presbytiran ( did not spell that right, lol) (North Carolina)

Otterbien College ( Ohio)

Midway College ( Kentcucky) (has eventing team)

Louisville College (Kentucky) (next to Churchill Downs)

i think there are more but i can't remeber of the top of my head.  but i woudl suggest making a list with name, state, Student population, Teacher/student ratio, Tution and scholarships avalible plus financial aid assistance.

good luck.  Wait till the end of the year roles around it kind of sinks in that its almost over.

Answer 7

keep in mind that anywhere in the midwest the winters can be pretty nasty! lots of snow and bitter cold.....