History and Vision, University of Minnesota Equine Center

The University of Minnesota¿s College of Veterinary Medicine has provided excellent veterinary care for horses for over 50 years. The number of horses treated annually by the College has grown to more than 3,000. This growth has spurred the development of equine technology to keep pace with the growing, diverse needs of horse owners and their horses.

Horses have become a large and fast-growing sector of Minnesota¿s economy and the state is home to nearly 500 horse associations. There are approximately 9.2 million horses in the United States, and Minnesota¿s horse population ranks 9th in the country. The economic impact of the equine industry is over $100 billion nationally and generates more than 1.5 million jobs and over $ 2 billion in taxes. Minnesota¿s economy benefits from the enthusiastic and caring horse owners in the region, and the University recognizes this opportunity to serve the community.

The Equine Center offers expanded education in equine specialties through collaboration and partnerships within the university and with the expanded equine community. This comprehensive integrated program is dedicated to educating the next generation of equine professionals, from top-flight equine researchers to informed private horse owners. The program includes educational tools for those in the horse industry, a curriculum for undergraduates in Equine Sciences, an equine track to prepare the next generation of equine veterinarians, and graduate and clinical specialty programs to prepare international leaders within the equine profession. The Equine Center is crucial to this program, as the first class facility is attracting qualified faculty, premier students, veterinarians, and research funding.

The Equine Center will build on an internationally recognized equine research program to improve research and clinical services for horses. This equine research program will incorporate the vast resources only available from the University of Minnesota through its numerous Colleges and research centers. Faculty in areas such as endocrinology, internal medicine, orthopedics, colic, exercise physiology and genetics are aligned to focus on equine health. Centers of excellence in Diabetes, Obesity, Muscle Disorders, Musculoskeletal Research, and Nutrition provide strong collaborations.

The Equine Center will create an integrated, comprehensive program that will serve as a single source provider for equine outreach services to meet the needs of veterinarians, equine professionals and horse owners. The new facility features the Nutrena® Conference Hall, available for use by horse associations and others for meetings and educational programs. The Center will host the We Can Ride program as well.

The Equine Center will provide the highest level of service to horse owners and their horses, practicing veterinarians, and students. The current facilities will remain in use and continue to provide equine-related services, probably even after a new large animal hospital is constructed. clinical care will synergize all of the resources available at the U of M to produce meaningful innovative advancements in the health, wellbeing, and performance of the horse of the future.