UWRF Equi-Updates Brooke Beardsley – Student Editor | October 2026 Edition
Meet The Editor
Outside of UWRF, I show 2 appaloosas, Missy and Louie, along with owning a draft cross (my mom’s horse) and a donkey. Stay tuned for future newsletter updates and how to get involved in the program! Check out the Save The Dates section for information about some of the events scheduled out at the Campus Farm in the coming months. Looking forward to reconnecting with you all as we begin what promises to be an exciting and rewarding academic year!
Rodeo Recap
Hello everyone, and welcome to the October edition of the UWRF Equi-Updates Newsletter. We’re excited to continue to offer updates and information for all of the amazing equine students, faculty, and programs here at UWRF. October is where we really start to ramp up our events in the program. From the first IHSA show, to judging competitions, and everything in-between, we’re glad you’re here for the ride! My name is Brooke Beardsley, and I am serving as this year’s Equi-Updates Newsletter Student Editor. I am a senior studying Animal Science and Agricultural Marketing Communications, and I am also involved in our equine program as a captain of the IHSA Western Show Team!
The UWRF Falcon Frontier Days Rodeo went great! We are extremely thankful for everyone for showing up and supporting our team. We had two UWRF Rodeo Team members, Marty Bauer and Shaylee Noel, make it to the championship round in the barrel racing. We are also excited to announce that Imagen Godfrey was crowned our 2026–2027 UWRF Rodeo Queen! Our team recently traveled to Sutherland, Nebraska, where Shaylee Noel made it into the short go at that rodeo as well. The team has been working hard and is super excited for the rest of the rodeo season and all the opportunities and memories that are still to come! Our next club meeting will be October 20th, where we will be having our first round of nominations for next year’s chair holders. We are looking forward to another great year for UWRF Rodeo Club and can’t wait to see what the rest of the season brings!
Spring 2027: New Course Offerings UWRF will be piloting two new course offerings in the Spring 2027 Semester! Equine Breeding Practicum is designed as an introductory course in equine breeding and reproductive management. Students will be engaged with hands on learning and breeding activities at the Campus Farm, including Foal Watch! Teaching the Techniques of Riding is designed to help students develop skills in riding instruction. This course will combine in-class instruction with opportunities to practice by assisting with our ANSC 168 riding labs.
a focus on the care and management of pregnant mares and foals. Students will participate in routine care and monitoring of pregnant mares, assist with the foaling process, and develop basic skills in postpartum care of mares and newborn foals. Students will also gain exposure to additional equine breeding practices, including semen collection and breeding management of mares. Emphasis is placed on developing practical skills, safe handling techniques, and an understanding of reproductive management practices used in the equine industry.
ANSC 389 – Teaching the Techniques of Riding (2 cr)
Consider adding these courses as you are planning your schedules for the spring semester! If you have any questions, please reach out to Dr. Weinert-Nelson and/or the course instructor.
ANSC 389 – Equine Breeding Practicum (2 cr)
Instructor: Katie Ripple Pre-Requisites: ANSC 168 Meeting Times: • Lecture – Mondays 1 – 2 PM • Lab – Assist with ANSC 168 Labs
Instructor: Jordan Kurtz Pre-Requisites: ANSC 167 Meeting Times: • Lab – Mondays 11 – 1 PM • Out of class work will be assigned for assistance with foaling, mare/foal care, and other Equine Breeding Program activities. Course Description: This course provides students with hands-on introductory experience in equine reproduction and breeding management practices, with
Course Description: This course covers the principles and practices of teaching riding and horsemanship through the study of instructional methods, rider assessment, lesson planning and risk management techniques. Students will examine the knowledge, skills and responsibilities required of riding instructors and trainers, including communications strategies, ethical considerations, and industry standards. Through classroom instruction and supervised teaching experiences, students will develop the ability to effectively communicate riding concepts, evaluate rider performance, provide constructive feedback and design safe, effective learning environments.
American Farrier’s Association Certification
On September 25th – 26th, the Minnesota Farrier School hosted the American Farrier’s Association (AFA) certification at the Campus Farm. UWRF students Carly Boers and Laura Carlson attended the certification and have provided the following report for the Equi-Updates Newsletter: We met with Marcus Lindquist, one of the examiners and an instructor at the Minnesota Farrier School, who explained the certification process, “The AFA Certifications provide the best evaluation process for farriers outside farrier school. There are three levels a candidate can be certified in, and each candidate must complete a written test, practical test [demonstrating necessary knowledge and skills without the horse], and practical with a horse”. There are three levels that can be achieved through the AFA: Certified Farrier, Tradesmen, and Journeyman. This certification event had four candidates, one for the Certified Farrier, two for the Tradesman, and one for the Journeyman certifications.
Each candidate is evaluated on trimming, shoeing, and nail placements on the horse they are assigned day of testing. Before the candidate can move onto the next section of the test, they must have a passing score from the examiner in the previous section. Each candidate has two examiners, one to evaluate the front and the other to evaluate the hind hooves. The Certified Fairer has one hour to trim all four hooves and shape and shoe two premade keg shoes. The Tradesman has two hours to trim and shod all four hooves with premade keg shoes, with one set to have toe clips. The Journeyman also has two hours to trim and shod all four hooves but must make their shoes from scratch, and all four must have toe clips. As we attended the certification, our appreciation and understanding for the trade grew tremendously. Now we both would like to participate in the farrier course in the Spring of 2027! We were impressed with the dedication and skill each candidate showed and wished them luck as they finished their exams!
Campus Connections & Team Updates WESTERN IHSA SHOW TEAM
The UWRF Hunt Seat Team is gearing up for their first show at NSDU in October and our Home Show in November. Our falcon riders are excited to get the season started off strong! Instagram: uwrf.ihsa.huntshowteam Facebook: UWRF IHSA Hunt Seat Team
The girls are rocking and rolling as the season has begun and practices are underway! All 24 falcon riders are ready to take on our first show in November, but until then, team bonding will continue and patterns will be ridden. Don’t forget to follow our socials to stay up to date on how the show season goes! Instagram: uwrfihsawestern Facebook: UWRF IHSA Western Show Team
HUNT SEAT IHSA SHOW TEAM
EPTA We had a great turnout for our first meeting, where members learned more about the equipment and watched live demonstrations of the equipment in use. It was wonderful to see so many new faces, and we are excited for a fun semester ahead! Sessions are officially underway at the farm, with a great turnout so far. Our current session times are Mondays from 4–6 PM, Tuesdays from 8–10 AM and 3:30–5:30 PM, and Thursdays from 2–4 PM. At our October 7th meeting, we will be painted muscle on some of the schoolies for a fun, hands-on anatomy activity! We would love to have you join us for more fun at the Campus Farm! If you are interested in joining sessions, please email equine.pta@uwrf.edu
RANCH HORSE CLUB
The Ranch Horse Club has had a great start to the year! We had our first practice with Christy Steed, and it was great to get the club back together and see what horse and rider pairs have been up to over the summer! We will have another practice, along with group photos on Monday 10/12, and the following Monday 10/19 we will hold a group meeting! If you’re interested in joining the club, it is not too late, please reach out to avery.edwards@my.uwrf.edu.
BLOCK AND BRIDLE CLUB
The UWRF Block and Bridle Club brings together students interested in animal science while providing opportunities for academic growth, leadership, service, and social connection. Throughout the year, Block and Bridle participates in events such as the AGR Fall Freeze Cattle Show, Royal Showmanship Competition, Prospect Weekend, Highway Cleanup, and the Texas Trip. These activities allow members to build relationships with other students interested inanimal science, gain hands-on experience, promote animal agriculture, and develop leadership and teamwork skills. Overall, Block and Bridle is a student organization that promotes animal science, leadership, and connections among students and professionals interested in the livestock industry. Danica Alderman, UWRF sophomore majoring in Animal Science – Equine Management, will serve as our Horse Chair for 2026-27.
HORSE JUDGING TEAM The classes have been evaluated, reasons have been given, and the team is ready to head to their first competition. We will be competing at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, the nation’s largest single breed horse show where the team will be evaluating 12 classes and giving 5 sets of reasons all within 1 day! We’re super excited to start off the judging season and cannot wait to see what fun memories come out of our travels! If you ever have any interest in the team, feel free to reach out to coach Jordan Kurtz to learn more!
Our first big event, our annual Royal Showmanship Contest is coming up fast – Saturday, October 31st at the Mann Valley Farm. Our members have been hard at work preparing our schoolies for this contest. Block & Bridle is hosting a series of Showmanship Clinics this fall to help participants prepare for the contest – our Horse Showmanship Clinic is scheduled for Thursday, October 15th at the Campus Farm Indoor Arena.
Internship Opportunities PURINA ANIMAL NUTRITION Feed Sales Intern – Midwest Region
Contact Caitlin Zimmerman. with requests for additional information or questions about this opportunity. Caitlin Weiss Interim Equine Director 507-533-9933 barn 507- 696-2021 cell wrangler@ironwoodsprings.com
Internship Duration: May – August 2027 For more information and to apply, visit the job posting: Purina Intern Online Posting. You can also contact Leaha Zimmerman with requests for additional information or questions about this opportunity.
WOODEN BRIDGE RANCH Assistant Trainer
Leaha Zimmerman Equine Sales Specialist
Minnesota/Western Wisconsin Purina Animal Nutrition, LLC | Land O’ Lakes Inc. (920) 615.6607 | lzimmerman@landolakes.com
IRONWOOD SPRINGS CHRISTIAN RANCH Summer Ranch Hand Internship Duration: May – August 2027 Location: MN
Stewartville,
Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch currently has a herd of 23 horses, and some other small animals. We serve guests from many walks of life, including providing youth day camps, public trail rides, private lessons, and adaptive rides/experiences for those with mental and/or physical disabilities. The ideal candidate would be comfortable being around and handling multiple horses, enjoy teaching and assisting others (including kids and special needs individuals), have stewardship of animals and is hard working! Employment would start towards the end of May 2027 and end the middle of August 2027 (varying depending on personal plans/school end and start).
Location: Concho, AZ Trish Beres-Zaabel is a UWRF Alumni, who is seeking an student intern or a recent graduate to hire as regular employee at Wooden Bridge Ranch. Trish has worked in multiple disciplines throughout the country plus some experience in Europe. She and her husband created an 80 acre facility in Northeast Arizona. Trish is a John Lyons Certified Trainer plus an ARIA certified riding instructor, working with a variety of different breeds and people. Trish is extremely interested in helping people have good relationships with their horses, and because of her varied experience, has developed an eye for pinpointing where a problem starts. Now, Trish is at the point in her career where she would like to mentor someone to pass on the knowledge she has gained throughout her career. For more information or if you have questions, contact information is below.
Trish Beres-Zaabel
woodenbridgeranch.com (602) 791-1723 trishzaabel@gmail.com
Save the Dates! Lauren Barwick Clinic
Friday – Sunday, October 23rd – 25th UWRF Campus Farm (Lab Farm 1) Student Audit Fee - $10/day
Block & Bridle Club Royal Showmanship Contest Saturday, October 31st UWRF Mann Valley Farm (Lab Farm 2)
Wisconsin 4-H Horse Conference
Saturday & Sunday, November 7th – 8th UWRF Campus Farm (Lab Farm 1) & University Center
Purina WI-MN VIP Event Wednesday, November 11th UWRF Campus Farm (Lab Farm 1)
IHSA Hunt Seat Home Show
Friday – Sunday, November 20th – 22nd UWRF Campus Farm (Lab Farm 1)
IHSA Western Home Show
Friday – Sunday, December 4th – 6th UWRF Campus Farm (Lab Farm 1)