News Release Distributed 08/26/11
BATON ROUGE – The LSU AgCenter will conduct an eight-week Master Horseman program for adults in the Baton Rouge area, with the first class Sept. 27 at Parker Coliseum on the LSU campus.
Participants must be intermediate riders with knowledge and skill in riding and handling horses.
“No matter how long you’ve been riding or how much you know about horses, the program will expose students to new things or new techniques,” said Neely Heidorn, director of the LSU AgCenter Master Horseman program.
After completing the course, students must be willing to teach and demonstrate equine skills to others, volunteering 20 hours to the LSU AgCenter horse program.
Attendance is required for at least 6 of the 8 sessions held on Tuesdays from 5:30-9 p.m.
Cost of the class is $250 to pay expenses of the program. Students are required to provide their own horses and transport them to the classes. All horses must have a negative Coggins test result, and no studs are allowed.
Topics to be covered will include safety, dentistry and health, nutrition, youth development, ground work, basic riding exercises, trailer loading, trail riding, showmanship and conditioning.
Heidorn said the class requires a minimum of 10 students and a maximum of 15.
Riders interested in signing up for the class should submit a registration form with a check for the class fee by Sept. 9. Registration forms and additional information are available from Heidorn at 225-578-5338 or nheidorn@agcenter.lsu.edu.
Bruce Schultz