UWRF Equi-Updates Brooke Beardsley – Student Editor | September 2026 Edition
Faculty & Staff Welcome Notes Dr. Jen Weinert-Nelson Assistant Professor Equine Program Director Welcome back to UWRF for the Fall 2026 Semester! I am so excited for all the opportunities that lie ahead for our Program and our students as we progress not just through the Fall, but over the course of the full upcoming academic year. We are hours away from the gates opening for the 62nd Falcon Frontier Days Rodeo! We hope to see you there for one of the performances tonight or tomorrow! I love seeing the Campus Farm come alive after the quieter summer months – it has been so great to see so many of you out at the facility either for your classes or our many extracurricular clubs and teams. In this issue we are going to feature welcomes from our returning faculty and staff as well as introductions for new members of our equine team.
¨ Katie Ripple – English Riding & IHSA ¨ Jordan Kurtz – Intro to Equitation & Horse Judging ¨ Patti Hovland – Rodeo Team Coach We are so grateful to have them on board and for all they are going to bring to our UWRF Equine Program. We also are spotlighting key partnerships with Walk On Therapeutic Riding Programs and Lauren Barwick Horsemanship Clinics that provide high-value additional opportunities for our Equine Program students outside our traditional offerings. We will also spotlight one of students Maddie Stalsberg, who completed a summer internship with Purina Animal Nutrition and Fluegel’s
Farm, Garden & Pet in Rosemount, MN, as well as two new school horse additions out at the Campus Farm. Finally, we will catch up with our equine clubs and teams as they begin their meetings and practices. 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!
Nathan O’Connor Instructional Administrator – Equine Management, Western Riding, and Colts-In-Training Program The summer of 2026 was both busy and rewarding. Professionally, I traveled to several NRHA reining competitions, attended horse sales, and presented at a western riding and colt-starting clinic. These opportunities allowed me to remain connected with the equine industry while gaining valuable insights and experiences to bring back to the classroom. Our family also enjoyed a full summer. My wife, Brenna, competed in NRHA reining and ranch riding competitions, while my daughter, Kendra, judged several local ranch riding horse shows. My son, Andrew, exhibited a market steer at jackpot shows and the county fair, where he had the champion market steer for the second consecutive year. As the advisor to the UWRF Rodeo Team, I am excited for the upcoming Falcon Frontier Days Rodeo and for our team’s fall travel schedule. The team will compete in intercollegiate rodeos in Mid-Plains, Nebraska; Mandan, North Dakota; and Fort Dodge, Iowa.
As we begin the fall 2026 semester, I want to welcome everyone back to UWRF. If this is your first semester here, welcome to our campus community. I wish each of you success in your courses and look forward to seeing you in class, in the barn, and around campus.
Katie Ripple Lecturer – Balanced Seat Applications; IHSA Hunt Seat Team Coach and IHSA Head Coach Hello, and welcome! My name is Katie Ripple, and I am excited to be back at UWRF and working with students this fall. I serve as a lecturer in the Animal and Food Science Department. I teach ANSC 268: Balanced Seat Applications, UWRF's advanced English riding class. This semester, I look forward to helping students develop practical horsemanship skills and build confidence in the saddle. In addition to teaching, I serve as the IHSA Head Coach and work with the Hunt Seat Team. Throughout the fall, I will be focused on creating hands-on learning opportunities that help prepare students for successful careers in the equine industry. I am especially excited to continue growing opportunities for students interested in English riding. I am excited to get to know you and be part of your UWRF experience. Please don't hesitate to stop by, say hello, or reach out with questions throughout the semester. I look forward to seeing you around campus and at the barn!
Jordan Kurtz Lecturer – Animal Science 100, Intro to Equine Equitation, Equine Evaluation, Equine Production; Horse Judging Team Coach Hello! My name is Jordan Kurtz, and I am incredibly excited to be here teaching at UWRF! I grew up on a horse farm in Milaca, MN. I completed my bachelor’s degree in agriculture education here at UW-River Falls. I was an active member of our horse judging team placing in the top ten at the AllAmerican Quarter Horse Congress, NRHA Futurity, and AQHA World Show. This is where I discovered my love of coaching judging teams, and perfecting oral reasons. After college I moved to Simi Valley, California to work for Randy Paul, training reining and cow horses. I currently compete in NRHA and AQHA competitions, and co-own LK Performance Horses where we raise and sell western performance prospects. This fall I will be teaching Advanced Equine Evaluation, Introduction to Equitation, ANSC 100 labs, and assisting with Equine Production.
Elizabeth Olander IHSA Western Team Coach
A little about myself: I have been involved in horses my entire life, from local horse shows to earning my Gold card with the WPRA (Women’s Pro Rodeo Association). My horses have taken me to qualify six times in the Great Lakes Circuit in barrel racing. Last fall, my horse won the 2026 WPRA World Derby Champion. I train and raise barrel horses and after 37 years with Red Wing Shoe Company, where I worked as a Finishing Manager, I recently retired and began an exciting new chapter. My new path is to continue training barrel horses while sharing my knowledge and experience with the next generation of rodeo athletes.
Welcome back everyone! I am Elizabeth Olander, head coach of the UWRF Western IHSA team. I also operate ERO Performance Horses, a professional training business specializing in western pleasure, hunter under saddle, and all-around AQHA show horses. I had a fun and busy summer travelling nearly every week for horse shows. I am excited to get back to working with the Western IHSA Team and prepare for the 2026-2027 season!
Patti Hovland Rodeo Team Coach
I am excited to bring my experience and passion for the sport to the UWRF Rodeo team. Along with the ability to ride and compete, I believe mental toughness is a key part of succeeding in fierce competition. Building confidence, staying focused under pressure, and learning from both successes and challenges are all important parts of becoming a strong competitor. I look forward to getting to know the team, sharing what I have learned throughout my years in the sport, and helping each athlete grow both in and out of the arena. I am excited for the season ahead and proud to be part of the UWRF Rodeo Team.
Levi Dulmes Campus Farm Manager Welcome back students! My name is Levi Dulmes, and I am the UWRF Equine Barn Manager.
Hi, my name is Patti Hovland and I am excited to be coaching the UWRF Rodeo Team this fall.
Over the summer my summer workers and I worked on fencing, maintaining the property, improving footing in the arenas and dry lots, and much more to keep us busy!
This summer my family traveled across the Midwest showing our Boer Goats (Go follow Dulmes Family Boer Goats on Facebook!), and I was able to go home and visit my nephews and see my brothers! All good things!
On Therapeutic Riding 1469 County Road J River Falls, WI 54022. Visit walkontherapeutichorsemanship.org for more info.
I bought two 2-year-olds this spring, Midge and Vera, and have had a lot of fun with them this summer!
Lauren Barwick Clinics
Looking forward to a good year!
UWRF Partnership Spotlights Walk-On Therapeutic Riding Programs Therapeutic Horseback Riding changes lives! Just take a couple of minutes to visit with the families of the riders and the many volunteers that attend and make it happen at Walk ON Therapeutic Riding Programs located just outside of River Fals, WI. UWRF students have been an important part of this process and programming since 2014. The UWRF students participate as volunteers or part of the Therapeutic Horsemanship class 169 as horse leaders or side walkers providing a safe and exciting equine experience for individuals with a disability. The age of the riders is 4 years to adults. Goals of the riders is to develop beginner through independent riding skills while working on cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. Classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings at Walk
One current UW-River Falls equine student will receive a sponsored rider spot in the Lauren Barwick Horsemanship Clinic, held October 23-25 at UWRF! Lauren Barwick is a Paralympic gold and silver medalist, World Para-Reining Champion, horse trainer, and 4-Star Senior Parelli Professional. Her relationship-based approach focuses on helping riders communicate more effectively with their horses while developing greater confidence, responsiveness, and partnership. This sponsorship will provide a UWRF equine student with an additional opportunity to learn directly from an internationally accomplished equestrian and clinician! This sponsorship covers the student’s clinic rider fee. The selected student will be responsible for all stall and horse-related expenses. The selected student must have access to a suitable horse and be available to participate for all three clinic days. Horse suitability, negative Coggins, and participation arrangements must be approved before registration is finalized. The selected student will receive additional information regarding clinic expectations, scheduling, horse accommodations, and participation requirements directly from the clinic coordinator and UWRF Equine Program staff.
To apply for the sponsorship, use the QR Code above or this APPLICATION LINK. Applications are due Wednesday, 9/23 by 6:00 pm. For additional information, contact Katie Ripple (kathryn.ripple@uwrf.edu). All students are welcome to attend the Lauren Barwick Clinics! A discounted auditing rate of $10 per day will be offered to students with a current UWRF ID!
UWRF Internship Spotlight
products at various community and industry events. These experiences gave me valuable insight into the equine nutrition industry and strengthened my understanding of Purina’s product lines and how they support horses across different life stages and performance levels. I highly recommend Purina as a company to work for as they provide a rich learning environment, encourage professional growth, and empower interns to make meaningful contributions within the industry.
Maddie Stalsberg – Purina This summer I had the wonderful opportunity to intern with Purina Animal Nutrition as a Feed Sales Intern at Fluegel’s Farm, Garden & Pet in Rosemount and Hastings, MN. Throughout my internship, I visited over 100 barns, introducing myself to prospective clients, learning about their facilities, and discussing their current feeding programs. I assisted horse owners with concerns in their nutrition plans and helped identify effective, tailored solutions. My internship also included conducting multiple 60-day feed trials, executing over 70 market analyses, planning and hosting an equine nutrition and hoof health education event at my dealer location, and promoting Purina
Campus Connections & Team Updates UWRF RODEO CLUB
Hello everyone! The UWRF Rodeo Club is excited to start another great rodeo season! Join us this weekend for the annual Falcon Frontier Days Rodeo! Performances are:
¨ Friday, September 11th @ 7 pm ¨ Saturday, September 12th @ 1:30 pm ¨ Saturday, September 12th @ 7 pm
We want to thank all the students and staff that have worked hard over to help make this event possible. We hope to see many of you there this weekend!
(elizabeth.olander@uwrf.edu) to answer any questions you may have. Have a great semester everyone!
For more information about Rodeo Club and the Rodeo Team, please contact Rodeo Club President, Imagen Godfrey (imagen.godfrey@my.uwrf.edu).
HUNT SEAT IHSA SHOW TEAM
Welcome back! We have lots of exciting changes coming to the Hunt Seat Team this year, including welcoming a new head coach.
WESTERN IHSA SHOW TEAM
Katie Ripple may be a familiar face, as she was a rider on the team during her college years and served as our assistant coach last year. We’re so excited for the new perspectives and energy Katie will bring to the team! We’re looking forward to seeing many new and returning faces as we kick off the semester. Here’s to another great year both in and out of the saddle! For more information about the Hunt Seat IHSA Team, contact Team Captain Kinsey Luebker (kinsey.leubker@my.uwrf.edu) or Coach Katie Ripple (kathryn.ripple@uwrf.edu).
EPTA Who’s ready for another year of horsemanship, show shirts, and team bonding? The Western IHSA Show Team sure is! We are extremely excited for everyone to be back on campus and hit the ground running with another year of showing underway soon. Thank you to all who tried out for the team and showed what it means to be a passionate equestrian. We look forward to getting the entire team together soon and beginning practices, team bonding, and more! There is a lot that is ahead of us this year and we’re ready to hit the ground running and make UW-River Falls proud. If you ever have any questions regarding the team, reach out to our Head Coach, Elizabeth
The mission of UWRF Equine Physical Therapy Association (EPTA) is to educate on the use of a variety of therapy modalities that enhance the quality of life for equines. EPTA provides members with hands-on experience using equipment such as MagnaWave, Revitavet, Equi Release, Beamer Blanket, and
Theraplate. Meetings also feature guest speakers and equine-related activities designed to further expand the knowledge and experiences offered. This fall, EPTA officers will be hosting sessions at Lab Farm at different times throughout the week. Meetings will be hosted every other Wednesday at 6pm in AGSCI 331 or the Lab Farm Pavilion. If interested, keep an eye out for updates from our email or social media. If you aren’t on the email list, reach out to equine.pta@uwrf.edu.
School Horse Spotlight DRAFT WEANLINGS
Horse Judging Team Score sheets, angles, and verbal reasons are what make up the UWRF Horse Judging Team, and we could not be more excited to bring in a competitive and fun semester ahead. The team has already begun preparing to compete at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in October and the National Reining Horse Association's Futurity in December! Lead by Head Coach Jordan Kurtz, we could not be more excited to have a strong, knowledge, and passionate leader to pave the way for the team this year. There are always spots and opportunities on this team, so if you want to be a part of this fun group, travel the nation, and learn all about different equine disciplines and how to evaluate them, reach out to Jordan now (jordan.kurtz@uwrf.edu)!
One fun part of the UWRF Equine Program is the new faces we get to see every so often. Heading into this new academic year, the program felt it was time for a new adventure! Meet our newest, and youngest, editions to the program – Bonnie (gray filly) and Walter (bay stud colt)! Students at the Campus Farm named the pair of Draft/Quarter Horse crosses in honor of recently retired, long-time Animal and Food Science Professor, Bonnie Walters. Stop by the farm to say hello! We are excited to see how they develop in the in the program with the eventual goal of joining the school riding herd in hopes of being used for our English riding courses and extracurriculars!
Save the Dates! UWRF Falcon Frontier Days Rodeo:
Friday, September 11th @ 7:00 PM Saturday, September 12th @ 1:30 PM & 7:00 PM UWRF Campus Farm (Lab Farm 1)
MN Farrier Association Certification Friday & Saturday, September 25th – 26th UWRF Campus Farm (Lab Farm 1)
Falcon Ag Challenge FFA Horse Judging Contest Friday, October 9th @ 8:30 AM UWRF Campus Farm (Lab Farm 1)
Lauren Barwick Clinic Friday – Sunday, October 23rd – 25th UWRF Campus Farm (Lab Farm 1)
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)