North American Racing Academy
3380 Paris Pike
Lexington, KY 40511
859-246-6678 Contact us online
Description of North American Racing Academy equine courses: Semester 1
Class Number
Class Name
Total Credit Hours
Lecture Hours
Lab Hours
Total Contact Hours
Description
EQM 100**
Introduction to Equine Studies
3
2
1
60
Introduces biology of the horse and an overview of horse care and management. Topics include terminology, identification of body parts, anatomy, behavior, health, nutrition, equipment and facility management.
EQS 102
Introduction to Racehorse Care
3
2
1
75
Introduces principles of care for racehorses in a race barn training environment with students learning industry accepted standards and techniques while providing daily care for 1 or 2 racehorses.
EQS 111
Intro to Riding Racehorses
1
1
0
15
Covers requirements for becoming a licensed professional jockey including physical, mental and emotional components, regulatory agency requirements and necessary life management skills. Includes the history of race riding, identification of important riders in history and noteworthy current riders.
EQS 112
Racehorse Riding Skills I
3
1
2
105
Introduces basic horse riding skills and their application to racehorse riding. Presents and requires daily practice of proper rider position at walk, trot, canter, on turn and in straights. Includes discussion and round pen applications of center of gravity of horse, center of gravity of rider and center of gravity of the combination of horse and rider. Teaches proper techniques for cooling out after exercise and or racing. Requires successful admission to jockey certificate program.
EQS 110
Basic Equine Physiology
3
2
1
60
Continues the study of horses begun in EQM 100 with further examination of the anatomy and functioning of the horse's body systems and applications of this knowledge to the raising, training and management of horses. Discusses three muscle fiber types; types, causes and symptoms of colic; thermoregulation; blood components and flow; upper and lower respiratory airway diseases and infectious neurological diseases.
Description of North American Racing Academy equine courses: Semester 2
Class Number
Class Name
Total Credit Hours
Lecture Hours
Lab Hours
Total Contact Hours
Description
EQM 120**
Intro to Commercial Breeding Practices
4
3
1
75
Introduces equine reproductive physiology and the commercial equine breeding farm environment. Topics discussed include broodmare care, foaling, breeding decisions, stallion care and record keeping as practiced by equine breeding farms.
EQS 103
Racehorse Care II
3
1
2
75
Continues the learning experiences of EQS 102 and expands on advanced industry accepted techniques of caring for racehorses in a race barn training environment.
EQS 113
Racehorse Riding Skills II
3
1
2
105
Continues Racehorse Riding Skills I and adds basic skills of riding race horses in morning exercise sessions. Included in this course are applications of balance to evaluate soundness in racehorses; basic starting gate techniques for riders; principles of teaching young horses to properly enter and leave the starting gate and techniques for handling unruly horses.
EQS 130
Introduction to the Racing Industry
3
2
1
60
Introduces students to racing industry organizations, personnel, facilities and the rules of racing. Includes field trips to local racing industry businesses and guest lectures from industry leaders.
Description of North American Racing Academy equine courses: Semester 3
Class Number
Class Name
Total Credit Hours
Lecture Hours
Lab Hours
Total Contact Hours
Description
EQS 200
Lameness in Racehorses
3
3
0
45
Expands on basic equine anatomy with emphasis on normal function of front and rear leg apparatus and methods of evaluating deviations from normal function presented as lameness in racehorses. Also discusses response to injury, therapy and training methods for horses returning from injury.
EQS 202
Racing Stable Operations I
3
1
2
75
Continues the learning experience of daily caring for a racehorse in training and adds the concept of developing a racing stable training routine and participation in the daily exercise and training of racehorses.
EQS 212
Racehorse Riding Principles
3
1
2
105
Builds on basic skills learned in EQS 113 and adds the principles of riding racehorses on a training track in company of other horses and riders, teaching horses to pass others, working in company, proper use of riding crop and breaking from a starting gate.
Description of North American Racing Academy equine courses: Semester 4
Class Number
Class Name
Total Credit Hours
Lecture Hours
Lab Hours
Total Contact Hours
Description
EQS 203
Racing Stable Operations II
3
1
2
75
Continues the racing stable learning practices begun in EQS 202 adding additional concepts of managing a racing stable including supervision and instruction of hotwalkers and beginning grooms while participating in daily exercise and training of racehorses.
EQS 213
Racehorse Riding Techniques
3
1
2
105
Teaches advanced fundamentals of race riding. In this final course in the Jockey School pathway students breeze racehorses alone and in company, learn techniques of riding at each point in a race, get approved to break horses from a starting gate and practice race riding skills in training races.
EQS 215
Life Skills for Jockeys
3
3
0
45
Prepares student for life as a professional jockey. Includes integration of principles of nutrition into an eating plan that will maintain weight and health. Introduces concepts of practical financial management, insurance and retirement planning on a jockey's salary. Ties together basic riding skills with interpersonal skills necessary for a successful life as a professional jockey
** EQM 100 and 120 are courses have been taught at BCTC under the Equine Management prefix (EQM) since 2002. They will be changed to the Equine Studies prefix (EQS) once final approval of all Equine Studies classes is completed.
