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Course Status: Not Currently Scheduled
The next offering of this course is tentatively planned for January – May 2023. Please join our email list to be notified when registration opens!
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Course Overview
This course is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the nutritional management and requirements of horses. At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to:
- Identify and compare the basic digestive anatomy of horses and how it relates to digestion and absorption.
- Recognize the diversity of a horse’s nutritional requirements based on different life stages.
- Critically evaluate feeding programs, recognize deficits/excesses in the rations, and know the signs to look for in horses fed deficient or excess nutrients.
- Critique feeds and supplements with regard to quality, nutrient content, and necessity in a horse’s ration.
- Design a feeding program for a farm incorporating 3-4 different life stages and one problem horse.
Featured Topics
- Gastrointestinal Physiology
- Digestion
- Essential Nutrients
- Feeds and Supplements
- Reading Feed Tags
- Evaluating a Forage Analysis
- Pasture Management
- Ration Analysis and Balancing
- Nutritional Deficits and Excesses
- Nutrition-related Diseases
- Nutritional Management of Mares, Stallions, Foals, and Performance Horses
Course Format and Assessment
This online course is very interactive. It includes readings, videos, class assessments, and discussions, along with mini case studies and a group project. Each week there are discussions and assignments that have due dates, but there are no scheduled ‘lectures.’ Therefore, when you complete the work is entirely up to you and what works for your schedule. It is required for you to have access to a computer for ease of viewing the material and completing the assignments. Student performance assessment is based on discussions, assignments, quizzes, case studies, and a final project.
Who Should Attend?
This 14-week program is an undergraduate course that is offered on a noncredit basis to horse owners, trainers, feed sales representatives, and anyone else who is interested in the topic. It is appropriate for both novice and experienced horse enthusiasts, though some background in both nutrition and equine science is necessary to excel in the course.
Prerequisites
A high school diploma is required.
Meet Your Instructor
Dr. Carey Williams, Professor, Rutgers Department of Animal Sciences
Student Reviews
“Dr. Williams was outstanding and broke down a lot of the information into easily digestible (no pun intended) parts. I look forward to applying all I have learned at my barn.”
– Past Participant
“I really learned a lot of valuable information to apply to my business and also make my own horses happy and healthier!”
– Past Participant
“Loved this class and everything I learned! The knowledge I gained was amazing. Dr. Williams was an excellent teacher – so smart and funny! I would recommend this class to ANY horse owner, rider, trainer, vet tech, and so on. Excellent job!”
– Past Participant
Continuing Education Credits
Continuing education students who complete this course will receive Rutgers continuing education units (3.6 CEUs) rather than undergraduate college credits.
Program Questions? We’re Here to Help!
If you have any questions about Equine Nutrition, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Assistant Director: Carol Broccoli
848-932-7207
carolbr@njaes.rutgers.edu

Administrative Assistant: Claudine Oleskin
848-932-7204
coleskin@njaes.rutgers.edu
For registration assistance, please contact our Registration Department at 848-932-9271, option 2 or email registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.