Course Overview
This course provides practical guidance on managing horse facilities to support horse health, environmental stewardship, and biosecurity. Participants will learn best practices for routine equine health care, pasture and manure management, and strategies to protect horses, people, and the environment from disease risks. Together, these units offer a comprehensive foundation for responsible, sustainable horse management.
Each unit consists of an overview, informative topics including pictures and short video clips, plus optional activities. It is estimated to take 4-5 hours to complete the course.
Course Format
This self-paced online course provides participants with nine months of access to all course materials starting from the purchase date.
Price
FREE
Certificate of Completion
Upon completion of each course, participants receive a downloadable certificate of completion. This course is not eligible for university credit.
Questions
For general questions about course access, course content, etc. please email msue.online@msu.edu. Questions relating to the registration process can be directed to the MSU IT Help Desk at 517-432-6200 which is available from 7am to 7pm Monday through Friday except for University holidays.
Outline
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Unit 1: Routine Health Care
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Unit 2: Pasture Management
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Unit 3: Manure Management
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Unit 4: Biosecurity
Key Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
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Apply best practices for routine equine health care, including vaccination, deworming, and dental management
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Implement effective pasture management strategies to promote forage health and reduce risks from toxic plants
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Explain manure management options and their role in protecting water quality and the environment
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Utilize basic composting principles for responsible manure handling
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Identify and apply biosecurity practices to reduce disease risk for horses, people, and facilities
Course Instructor: Dr. Christine Skelly
The Summer Horse Care course is based on the knowledge of equine experts at Michigan State University and nationally recognized equine professionals. For questions regarding this course, please contact Dr. Christine Skelly at skellych@msu.edu.
