UWRF Equi-Updates
Elijah Boe | November 2025
As the semester moves into its final stretch and the temperatures begin to drop, our equine department continues to thrive with dedication and spirit. This issue brings you the latest updates from our faculty, showcases student accomplishments with internships, highlights the progress of our competitive teams, and celebrates the successes of our alumni. From fall meetings and judging contests to preparations for end-of-semester events, November ’s stories capture the hard work, gratitude, and momentum that define our equine community as we head toward the close of another successful semester.
Notes from Faculty & Staff
Dr. Jen Weinert-Nelson
Assistant Professor Equine Program Director
It is hard to believe that the Fall 2025 Semester is already winding down! October was an incredibly busy month for our program and at the Campus Farm.
October saw the UWRF Rodeo Team wrapping things up for the fall and the IHSA teams begin their competitive season. We also welcomed Minnesota FFA members for the Falcon Ag Challenge. And the farm was generally bustling, hosting hundreds of additional students for Intro to Animal Science and Domestic Animal Nutrition labs. Block and Bridle Club members also spent time at the farm preparing for their Royal showmanship contest, and EPTA continued their efforts to help keep our schoolies happy and in the best condition possible as we work our way through the heart the Fall Semester.
I want to offer my personal thanks for all of the students, staff, faculty, alumni, and other community members who have contributed so much to the efforts of the UWRF Equine Program over the past few weeks – we couldn’t have done it without you!
Falcon Ag Challenge
On Friday, October 11th UWRF hosted 450+ Minnesota FFA members competing in livestock evaluation, poultry, equine, and dairy CDE contests.
At the Campus Farm, 49 teams – nearly 200 contestants –judged four equine classes including two stock-type halter classes, an English Equitation class, and Western Ranch Pleasure Class. This opportunity was made possible by the combined efforts of our great UWRF student volunteers, our Campus Farm student workers, staff, and faculty.
We also greatly appreciated the contributions of our UWRF alumni and industry partners. UWRF Alumni Jordan Kurtz served as the official judge for the contest – we are so grateful for the time and effort
Jordan dedicated in planning and preparing for the contest. We also would like to recognize Christie Steed and her team members at Steed Performance Horses, including UWRF alumni Alexia Harelsted. Steed Performance horses provided high quality western performance horses for both our halter and riding classes. These contributions were essential in providing the best contest experience for our visiting FFA members.
And finally, a big thank you to Dr. Julie Ketterling from the Agricultural Education Department and students from the Ag Ed Society for all of their work in organizing and this event!
UWRF Course Highlight
WALK ON THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP
This semester there are 15 UWRF students enrolled in the Therapeutic Horsemanship 169 Animal Science class.
Students learn about therapeutic riding which involves developing knowledge about individuals with special needs and specific disabilities, how to teach adaptive horsemanship and adaptive riding skills, and how to develop a therapeutic horseback riding program.
The class also emphasizes the requirements and components of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH International) to become a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. With this certification and becoming a CTRI, the students develop the skills and knowledge of teaching a safe and fun riding experience for the riders. During the semester, the UWRF students attend 2 hours of in classroom lecture discussing the various components of therapeutic riding. The students also attend 2 hours of lab per week at Walk ON Therapeutic Riding Programs, Inc. as a side walker or horse leader to learn about therapeutic horsemanship by working with riders with a disability. They also do actual practice teaching of a therapeutic riding class. While attending the lab, the students see the powerful effects and bonding that occurs between the equine and the riders and how that bonding changes the rider's physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing.
At the conclusion of the semester, the UWRF students are able to pursue the PATH International Certification process over the next year by completely required teaching, volunteering, and horsemanship hours followed up by the PATH International Certification Exam.
As the semester has progressed, it has been great to see the UWRF students developing their learning skills by demonstrating the ability to provide a safe, fun, and rewarding riding experience for all the riders at Walk ON.
Campus Connections & Team Updates
HUNT SEAT IHSA SHOW TEAM
The UWRF IHSA Hunt Seat Team competed at North Dakota State University for their first show of the season and came back with some great highlights! Getting back into the groove of
competition and experiencing our first three-day show, we competed alongside NDSU, Montana State University, Rocky Mountain College, UMN-Twin Cities, and UW-Eau Caire. We had lots of high placings and some great competition. The team earned two Reserve High-Point Team titles and two of our Limit riders Caitlin James and Laura Carlson earned High-Point Rider on Friday and Saturday for placing 1st in both their flat and over fences classes! Also shout out to our new members taking on the competition with stride!
So proud of all the work everyone on the team has put in this semester and all of us are excited to invite you to check out our home show! Next on our competition line up we will be competing here at the campus lab farm November 21st-23rd. We’re working on hosting an amazing show with a potential for people to win some amazing prizes from our silent auction! Stay tuned Falcons!
WESTERN IHSA SHOW TEAM
The IHSA Western Team is gearing up for its first show of the season, hosted by North Dakota State
University in Fargo, North Dakota. With practices in full swing, the team looks strong and confident heading into competition. Riders, both new members and returning, are ready to represent UWRF with pride in the arena.
Next up, we’re thrilled to host our three-day Home Show at Lab Farm 1, December 5–7! Join us for an exciting weekend of reining, ranch riding, and horsemanship, featuring 23 of UWRF’s finest riders. Come cheer on the Falcons and see our beloved school horses shown off by our collegiate athletes!
RODEO CLUB
The UW–River Falls Rodeo Team had a successful fall season. The season kicked off with our very own Falcon Frontier Days Rodeo, hosted right
here at home in River Falls. This annual event brought together college rodeo athletes from across the Great Plains Region and gave our team the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of family, friends, and the local community
Following our home rodeo, team members hit the road to represent UWRF at rodeos in North Platte, Nebraska; Dickinson, North Dakota; Bismarck, North Dakota; and Fort Dodge, Iowa. We had individuals competing in team roping, breakaway roping, barrel racing, and goat tying. A special congratulations goes out to Marty Bauer, who is currently sitting 10th in the regional standings in barrel racing. The team now looks forward to the spring semester and rodeo season. GO FALCONS!!!!
EPTA
EPTA has stayed busy this month! We have had a couple of great activities at our meetings, including painting the muscular and skeletal systems on the school horses and making horse treats! Our next meeting is on November 12th, at 6 PM in AGSCI 331.
We have also been keeping busy with our sessions with the horses. We are doing our best to utilize all of our equipment. The sessions regularly use EquiRelease, MagnaWave, RevitaVet, Bemer, and the TheraPlate. Please
reach out to equine.pta@uwrf.edu with any questions! We would love to see you!
PRE-VET CLUB
Pre-Vet continues to offer many unique opportunities for its members. Currently, members are partnering up with Equine Physical Therapy Association to learn how to handle and perform physical therapy on the campus horses. Coming up, Iowa State is coming to speak with students on Monday November 17th and the University of Minnesota will be on campus to present on Monday December 1st.
BLOCK AND BRIDLE CLUB
The 2025 Royal Showmanship Contest, held on November 1st, was an exciting and memorable event that showcased the hard work and dedication of block and bridle members. Competitors demonstrated their skills and hard work. This year ’s event included the horses making a trip to Mann Valley farm to get shown. Members gained valuable hands-on experience preparing and presenting their animals
Congratulations to our Master Showman, Alison George! And
congratulations to all participants on their hard work! Your teamwork, preparation, and sportsmanship were evident throughout the day A special thank-you goes to everyone who helped set up and support the event. Your hard work made this year’s Royal Showmanship Contest a success!
UWRF Internship Spotlight
Avalon Smith – Double H Ranch
Hello everyone! My name is Avalon Smith, and this past summer I had the incredible opportunity to complete an internship at Double H Ranch, part of the Hiram House Camp in Moreland Hills, Ohio. I served as a ranch hand and instructor intern, gaining hands-on experience in an environment that perfectly aligned with my lifelong passion for horses. I am originally from Duluth, Minnesota, and have been riding on and off since childhood—an experience that ultimately inspired me to pursue a career working with horses.
Throughout my internship, I worked closely with the ranch ’s 13 horses under the guidance of the equine program director and barn manager. I learned the day-to-day operations of running a successful barn and riding program—including horse care, facility maintenance, and teaching both group and individual lessons. One of the highlights of my experience was my special
project with Scout, an off-the-track Thoroughbred. I focused on desensitizing him to new objects and situations, helping him grow more confident and manageable. By the end of the summer, Scout was able to calmly walk, trot, and canter over a tarp and even tolerate having the tarp placed on him while being ridden—an exciting milestone for both of us!
This internship was an incredible learning and growth experience, and I truly enjoyed every moment. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to expand their horsemanship skills in a supportive and engaging learning environment.
UWRF Alumni Spotlight
Dr. Nicole Tate – 2014 Graduate
Save the Dates!
IHSA Hunt Seat Show
Fri - Sun, November 21 – 23
UWRF Campus Farm
IHSA Western Show
Fri - Sun, December 5 – 7
UWRF Campus Farm
Ranch Horse Team Info Meeting
Monday, December 8 @ 5 pm UWRF Campus Farm Pavillion
Multi-State EHV-1 Outbreak
Dr. Nicole Tate is a 2014 UWRF graduate. majoring in Animal Science. Dr. Tate earned her Ph.D. in Animal Genetics from the University of Minnesota, with work encompassing both equine and companion animal genetics. Dr. Tate is a postdoctoral researcher in the UMN Equine Genetics and Genomics Lab. Her research focused on better understanding disease and performance traits in Standardbred racehorses was recently highlighted in the HRU Harness Racing Spotlight . Dr. Tate was also recently featured on the UWRF Alumni Association’s Facebook Page .
As many of you are likely aware, state veterinarians and other officials across the U.S. are monitoring an outbreak of EHV-1 linked to barrel racing events in Texas and Oklahoma earlier this month. Our Wisconsin Equine Veterinary Program Manager, Dr. Heather Roney, at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection, Division of Animal Health. Dr. Roney has shared a link to a bulletin with information specific to Wisconsin. Please use this link to read the bulletin and subscribe for updates.
Another great tool and reputable source of information is the Equine Disease Communication Center. Here is the link: EDDC Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy Outbreak.
Here at UWRF, we will continue to monitor this situation and respond proactively as we move forward through the remainder of the semester. Right now, although there are no cases in Wisconsin or surrounding states, we are enhancing our biosecurity practices. We ask that all students, staff, and other visitors make use of footbaths as they enter and exit buildings at our facility. We also recommend changing clothes/boots and thoroughly washing hands if you are riding or working at both the campus farm and other area facilities. Again, these practices are out of abundance of caution, but we appreciate all of your help as we work to keep our UWRF horse herd safe and healthy
